LA Kings : Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Season Finale

The Los Angeles Kings have been done for the season since the game 5 playoff elimination in the first round at the hands of the San Jose Sharks back in April but stories continue on. So much so that I now have enough info (or ammo depending of your perspective) to write one more, “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down : LA Kings Edition – Season Finale! So let’s get right to it!

THUMBS UP TO THE ONTARIO REIGN

Even though the Reign got swept against the Erie Lake Monsters in the AHL Western Conference Final, they still had one hell of a playoff run, in defense of the Calder Cup, (that they had won last season as the Manchester Monarchs).  Defeats in the playoffs are tough to swallow but let’s not forget the wonderful season that the Reign had in their first year as an American Hockey League franchise.  Attendance and support was fantastic, as acknowledged by AHL president David Andrews back at the AHL All-Star Classic.  Head coach Mike Stothers keeps showing that he is going to be a phenomenal coach in the NHL someday, (hopefully for the Kings) and veteran NHL goalie, Peter Budaj had a Les Cunningham Award like year as MVP of the entire league, at least in my opinion. He may have even played his way to be the new back-up for Jonathan Quick, if free-agent goalie Jhonas Enroth isn’t brought back.

Star forwards such as Michael Mersch, Nic Dowd (if re-signed, as he is currently a restricted free-agent), and defenseman Kevin Gravel should all graduate to the Kings roster (permanently) next season, (of course this all depends on Kings’ coach Darryl Sutter keeping his old school stubbornness in check), while Adrian Kempe and Paul LaDue may have some auditions with the team throughout the season, plus it’ll be exciting to see Mike Amadio further develop in the coming years. I have a feeling that RFA Derek Forbort will be not be back next year but it wouldn’t surprise me either if Kings GM Dean Lombardi re-signed him due to the lack of defensive depth that has been plaguing the organization right now.

Whatever happens over the summer (or next season) will be worried and talked about next season, but for right now, Thumbs Up (and thank you) to the Ontario Reign for providing us with another successful and exciting season, (I know when the Reign beat the Shark’s affiliated San Jose Barracuda and the Anaheim Ducks’ San Diego Gulls, it did make me feel a little bit better after the Kings got eliminated from the NHL playoffs. At least a little).