alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Justin Williams has played in 18 games this season on a line with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. In those 18 games, the trio has combined for 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists). They’ll get a chance to recapture that magic Friday night, when they play together against the Dallas Stars.
It will be Williams’ first game since he broke his leg on Dec. 26 against Phoenix. Williams has eight goals and 16 assists in 33 games this season. Here’s what he had to say about his return…
WILLIAMS: “I’ll be having a grin on my face for a while. I have, ever since I’ve known that I’ve been close. It will just be good to be in the room again, getting ready for a game and put the jersey on and enjoy this playoff run. This is going to be fun.”
Question: And you get to go back to playing with your old linemates…
WILLIAMS: “I do? Oh. This is news. I don’t know in what capacity he [Terry Murray] was going to use me, or how much, but I’m ready to rock. I don’t think I need to be coddled or whatnot. I’m going to try to make an impact right away.”
Question: So what was your target date all along?
WILLIAMS: “It was the last game. I missed it. When I got injured, I flipped through the calendar and I was like, `You know what? I could maybe do this date?’ It was close. I was one game off. I was pretty close. I’m happy I can be back, because I didn’t know how long I was going to be out for. I feel good and I just want to be involved. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore. Watching this team be successful, I want to be a part of it. The best part of the year is right now.”
Question: Given what the intial timetable was (at least three months), it’s safe to say you were pretty far ahead of schedule, right?
WILLIAMS: “Yeah, I would imagine. It’s so different for rehab for the average person and an athlete. I’m getting the best care here. The guys have worked with me, the training staff, coming in after hours, during the Olympic break. They’ve done all they can to get me back, and I’ve done the same in turn, so I’m grateful for that.”
Question: You’ve come back from big injuries before. What’s the most important thing to work on, in those first few games back?
WILLIAMS: “I think it’s your mind, getting your mind right. Just realizing that injuries happen, and they’re freak injuries. They’re not anything that I should feel I could have avoided. I’m going to go in the corners. I’m going to be the first one in, to hit, to get into the game or to get hit, just to get myself involved and let adrenaline take over and let instinct take over. That’s what us hockey players use. We don’t need to be cautious, or we’re going to get hurt again.”
YIPEEEEEEE
sure can’t blame him…..
YYYEEESSSS!
I think Rich just showed us a big part of the reason DL traded for Williams.
cant wait for that first line to get back in rhythm in time for the playoffs!!!!
i like the look of out top 3 lines!!!! totally solid for a good playoff run!
I have a bad feeling that Kopitar is going to be injured 5 minutes into the game.
@wontonkings01,
haha. that would follow pattern wouldn’t it?
@DougS,
agreed
@wontonkings01,
We need a filter that keeps Ducks fans out of this blog.
This is like making a nice trade at deadline without giving up anything. This is going to really improve our chances. With expeirenced teams on the outside looking in, this could be the year to see a cup rise at Staples….GO KINGS GO!
@McDonalds,
That, or the Kings allowing the usual goal in the first three minutes of a game
@Schoeny, pass it through “the quacker”
I don’t buy it. jW knew darn well he was going back on the 1st
My prayer is:
HEALTH FOR MR. JUSTIN WILLIAMS, until he retires years from now…
He certainly deserves it!
–He may outscore POS, yet!–
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, not sure it matters….I haven’t seen anthony, or anthonyy, or whatever in a while.
@jet, you can buy one at the ponda center.
@Tookie, I was just thinking the same thing. Or what name is he/she using?
@wontonkings01, WHY would you even think that????? GEEZ
@Tookie & @pautna,
Don’t care about him posting…
It’s about the knowledge that, despite a devastating leg injury JW could still outscore POS… whose only hardship was a few healthy scratches!
@DougS,
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, If Deano was right about the “3 injury’s and no more” rule, than the trade was a steal, still could be when JW helps us win the cup this year….ooops :)
@DougS, No way! I would much rather have POS and his gritty inside play and positive attitude instead of this candy ass! I long for the days when we could see Patty O flying down the ice and shooting the puck high and wide of the net sending our opponents on fast wide open breakouts. Such sorrow. Our franchise has seen better days.
@DougS,
Where is that anthony person? Where you at son? Oh Patty!!
@Schoeny, you can be assured that I am no Quacks fan. Quacks fans are a joke. I’m just saying that it was kind of like a curse how Williams was injured the same game Smyth got back. I hope it won’t come true, but you never know.
@Tookie, but if we win the cup, then we’ll have to give up a precious 7th round pick to the Jackets!
I cant wait to see Williams on the radio!!!!
I still have visions of Williams injury that night in Phoenix and can’t believe he’s back already. Shows what a pro the guy is and also kudos to the Kings training staff.
@neil,
lol
Man if we can get our top line back that would be amazing!
@neil, The irony :)
Sure is a big diffrence of opnion between JW and Cloutier’s descritpion of the way the Kings treat injured players…..
@wontonkings01,
Yeah, you never know, so why bring it up? Afraid of success? Loser attitude, get your mind right.
It’s unbelievable that our top line has been intact for only 18 games this year and we are where we are in the standings. These injuries have forced our secondary scorers to step up – and they have – which makes the reunion of that first line all the more significant. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
@wontonkings01,
Now I can’t get the thought of DL just looking at a Mock Draft Board holding the little plague of the 7th slot during the Finals. Saying oh, but if we win I will lose my PRECIOUS!
PRECIOUS!LMAO
@rick,
I agree, and we still get pretty regular blogs criticizing TM, and line combos. I don’t get it,
we have done very well for whats happened this year.
I am very happy with the development of young players which is arguably still the coach’s biggest responsability with this young of a team. JJ, Doughty, Richardson, Kopi, Parse, Simmonds, etc. I say coach of the year is between TM, Tippet(Phx), & Sacco(Col). Its likely whomever takes the highest seed in the playoffs.
Great interview Rich,
Its great to have someone covering the team so closely.
This season has been extra special as a Kings fan with your addition to the website, and resurgence of the team. JW I am looking forward to your return and reuniting of the dominate line that started this great season. Best of wishes for the remainder of the season may it be very, very long and end with a win.
Williams is old school warrior. Welcome home Willy. I have no doubt you will make a difference.
@Lepper, ha ha I almost posted the same thing earlier.
@Craigy, Maybe JW upgraded form the “Dan Cloutier Standard” room, with giant holes in it to the “Kings Suite” with therapeutic hot tub? Man, that sure is a fancy Motel 6!!!
Well, no matter what Williams does over the rest of his Kings career, I will always be grateful to him for introducing me to the term “shinny hockey.”
As happy as I am to see Williams playing, I am equally happy at how the rest of the lines shape up because of his return. From the lines yesterday, it seems the Kings will be rolling with much more balance and chemistry.
Anyone know a bar in either south bay or Santa Monica showing the game tonight?
@wontonkings01,
You know, we’re all thinking it, why do you have to say it? If it happens, it’s your fault. Jackass. It’s like saying “i hope Quick gets a shutout” with a minute left. Then they always score.
I kind of like Rich getting the exclusive for Williams to discover about playing with his buddies on the 1st line tonight. How cool it must have been to make Williams that much happier at that moment after all his hard rehab work.
I can see Terry chiding Rich now….
“Thanks a lot for ruining my moment with Willie. I wanted to tell him, Rich. No more soup for you!”
Nice article Rich.
Does anyone know what Williams’ contract situation is?