Kings Veteran Daryl Evans Talks All Things Hockey

By Emily Redenbach
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Updated: September 2, 2015

Daryl Evans is a staple of the LA Kings organization. He was a player from 1981-1985, scoring what was arguably the most important overtime goal in playoff history (pre Alec Martinez obviously) as part of the Miracle on Manchester. He returned to the organization in 1998 as a color commentator and has grown his role to include TV analysis and a power skating consultant. (See his full bio here, it’s quite impressive.) I caught up with him at the Kings Youth Camp last week to check in with the Kings upcoming season.

What’s your favorite memory as a King?
There are a lot of examples. Putting that uniform on for the first time, you know, hearing your name being drafted, at the draft in Montreal and then finally getting a chance to put the jersey on and wear it, then playing in your first league game, and scoring your first goal, then what we were able to accomplish in the playoffs in 82 was special, you know that, those were all great times, but I think as I look back at it now the things that I’ve accomplished here post career on the ice with the broadcasting, getting involved in the community, and our camps and clinics, watching the growth of the game, I take a lot of pride in that, and I put a lot of time in on it, to see where it’s come is really gratifying.

What made you want to come back to LA, I know you’ve played for other organizations.
I married a girl from Los Angeles, and we came back here, and it looked like it’d be a good place to retire. I got involved in the automobile business for a little while, and then kinda left the game of hockey for a little while, it was the best thing that ever happened to me, getting back involved in it. There’s been no looking back since. Starting on the radio in I think ’97, ’98, I think was the first year that I did a couple of games, and then after full time coming on board in ’99, so it’s been good.

How many years have you been involved in the Kings Youth Camp?
I’m not sure exactly how many years, but I know I’ve done, we moved, we opened this rink in ’99, I’ve been here every year that we’ve been here so that’s 16 or 17 years in this building, then 2 or 3 in the other one prior to that, so probably coming on 20 years myself. I think this is our 26th year, so yeah, it’s been a long time.

What do you like to teach the kids?
Everything. I put a lot of emphasis on the skating part of it; I feel like if the kids learn what a good foundation skating wise underneath them the game will come easier for them. So I make sure that I do all the power skating sessions and you know I wish I could be on both sheets every time but there’s only one of me but I know they’re in good hands on the other side. I really enjoy teaching the skating element, just the basics, the fundamentals, just to get them a real solid foundation.

Dean Lombardi was just named the GM of Team USA. How do you feel about him and what he’s done for the Kings?
Dean’s done a great job coming on beard here. He came in after Dave Taylor. Dave was the one who started things by retaining draft choices and knowing that’s the way the Kings are going to have to be built, and I think when Dean came on board, he had the same philosophy as Dave, that this is the way it’s got to go, Dave had started something good. Dean and his staff, his right hand man at the time was Ron Hextall, they did a great job of putting the team together that we have, or had in place for the Stanley Cup, then eventually the second Stanley Cup. Dean’s done a great job at continuing not only maintaining a good team presently but also building and loading the forces up with prospects to build us up and have us stronger going forward. Hopefully that’ll be the case and we’ll continue to reap the rewards because of it, but he’s done a great job especially in a salary cap it’s difficult and he’s been able to keep our core together.

So you’re seeing good things for the Kings this season?
I do. I like the addition of Milan Lucic I think he’s a top end player and he’ll really round out our forwards. We still have a little bit of a question mark back on the blue line. Hopefully we’ll have some decisions on Slava Voynov as to when he’s able to return, if he’s able return and when he’s able to return, and if that’s the case then I think our defense will be in a really good spot. (We have Drew Doughty.) We have Drew Doughty but I think as we saw last season he was taxed a little bit. He had to play a lot of minutes this year; it’s a lot to ask of an individual no matter how good he is, and Drew’s one of the best in his position. It’s a team game and we need everybody on board.*

*This interview took place before the signing of Ehrhoff. I think it’s safe to say Lombardi is clearing up the question mark on the blue line.

On behalf of CaliSports News we would like to thank Mr. Evans for providing this interview for our valued readers. And thank you to Emily for bringing it to us!

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