alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />There was a question earlier about the Kings’ record with and without Justin Williams. For the season, they’re 19-13-1 in games with Williams and 19-9-3 in games without Williams. So that’s a two-point difference.
The other question about Williams is whether, after two months away from game action, he will need to play any rehab games in the AHL before he returns to the Kings. It wouldn’t be shocking to see it happen, certainly, but those who have seen Williams practice can attest to the fact that he looks pretty strong out there right now, and Terry Murray indicated that Williams might be able to jump right back into things at the NHL level…
MURRAY: “Willy is one of those guys, he’s not a big-bodied guy, as far as the physical conditioning side of it. A little bit of it will be timing, but usually when you send a player down, it’s to get in game shape. Meaning, to me, it’s more about getting up to the speed of the game and pushing yourself through training or conditioning while on the job. I don’t think Willy really fits that. His conditioning, I believe, is going to be fine. He’s going to be ready to get going. It’s going to be just that chemistry, high skill set, that he will have to work through. Maybe we can create some practice drills that will push him.”
Any word on his visit to the doctor today?
is he back?
When news first broke of his recovery, I predicted a 3/14 return date. I think that is looking very real now.
Big Willie style needs to get back on the ice ASAP.
Sorry about the repost, but Rich made me do it…
http://www.lakingsnetwork.com/hammond/?p=4458&cpage=1#comment-60698
@Bob Bobson & @Daniel,
The current team slump and the loss of the banner can intuitively be blamed upon Bob Miller’s case of shingles. I feel that Bob’s illness, coming on at the end of the Dallas game and gaining momentum during the Nashville loss, can clearly be associated with the horrible play of the boys through the Montreal game.
Now, if the Kings give a stellar effort tonight, I guarantee that Bob is on the mend, and his recovery will correspond with a drop in the hypertension Jim Fox is currently experiencing.
If only Juraj Mikus could be here to finish the healing process; he must be busy making sure Justin Williams finishes his miracle recovery this week from his broken leg.
One thing for certain, though…
This is the year the Kings get over their recent late-season choke jobs. I’ll know for sure after Rich finishes talking on NHL Home Ice, starting right after 3pm on SiriusXM…
Most NHL players do not go down to the AHL when rehabbing an injury. Contractually, the veterans generally have the right to veto that anyway.
Agreed Marc, but with your team trying to get home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs and finish strong, wouldn’t you want to see Williams return only after he is 100%? AHL conditioning would help that.
the most important thing is to make sure that he is 100% when he returns. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. the last thing we need is for him to get reinjured or something, though i’m not sure if that’s a problem with his type of injury.
Good point too, I think the moment he’s able to skate 100% again, he gets back on the roster with no questions asked, we need him at a time like this, especially when the playoffs are around the corner.
Rich just said that Mike Kalinowski will be on the radio with Darryl Evans; does that mean Nick Nickson will be on the TV side? Does that mean Rich’s promising radio career has been derailed?
;)
@hockeysureshoot, It could also hurt him; the speed down there isn’t as fast as NHL speed. He might think he is ready just because he can dance circles around AHLers. If he is totally healthy, I throw him into the fire. Not full minutes the first couple games, maybe 10-15
The level of competition isn’t the same, but Ontario Reign of the ECHL is much closer…saving JW a cross country flight for rehab. A game or two to get fine-tuned? Why not. Then again, TM might go NHL route and throw JW in for 5-10 mins w/ Kings to accomplish the same. Sort of.
With JW luck, don’t send him down, he will only get injured.
@hockeysureshoot, Nah…I think what TM is saying is that apparently Willy is ready now conditioning wise and just needs to get into some line flow with Kopi and Smitty. This isn’t going to take several games in Manchester; these guys gelled immediately during camp. Personally and I think TM and DL agree, a trip to the AHL would be counterproductive given that he’s so close to returning. If the doc gives JDub the green light today it’s then in TM’s hands. We could easily see him by Sunday, maybe sooner. Normally the Kings don’t take injured players on road trips; Willy traveled with the team the last trip. He’s pretty close……
@VanKingsFan, Gotta agree with ya on this. I don’t think a stint in the AHL for Willy is warranted, plus I agree with you in that the fact that he can skate circles around lesser competition won’t translate into immediate success in the NHL. This isn’t like the MLB where pitchers are sent to Rancho Cucomonga to get a few innings of work before coming back to the parent club.
I think we’re going to see Willy soon, very soon…..possibly????
@Crash Davis, Agreed but…..If Willy runs 5-10 minutes half way thru the 2nd period and he’s got the afterburners on, you’ll see him on the 1st line with Smitty & Kopi in the 3rd period faster than you can blink……
Off topic: Anybody notice the contest for the “Ultimate Kings Expierience”? The games listed, Apr6 or Apr11 are away games. What are they trying to say?
if you saw the Kings practice and didnt know who the injured player was….you wouldve never guessed Williams…he was skating hard…stopping and looked like he could play right now….
DITTO what Neil’s said..he did not look like he was recoverying from an injury.
@Deker, probably get to travel with the team on a road trip.
@Jeff, That could work out as the Apr6 game is away vs Duckies….I actually live closer to the Pond..I mean Honda Center.
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Another friend of mine made the same observation. Clearly the “losing streak” is the result of not having Bob Miller doing the play-by-play
@Deker,
Yeah, was there last time Kings where, and while waiting in line wondered why they didnt call it the Honda Civic Center.
Seems so obviose to me. I’m going to keep calling it the Pond. That even makes more sence than Center.
But it is the %ucks. Stopped going to @ggies’s becuase they’ve been a sponcer for a while now.
So did the doctor clear him to play? When is he returning, the 14th or 18th? If he’s skating hard and taking contact, then if he’s healthy, get him in there with Kopi and Smytty already!