How much for Cammy?

Feel free to add you predictions on the amount Michael Cammalleri will get from arbitration.

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Are Noronen or Hiller a solution to goaltending woes?

In the recent Rich Hammond interview, Dean Lombardi does say that he and coach Crawford might consider going into next season carrying three goalies.

Assuming that Garon walks (UFA) and Cloutier and LaBarbera are under contract, Mikka Noronen seems the only viable solution for the "third guy" on the NHL roster come fall 2007 from the list that has been circulating around lately. He does have quite a lot of NHL experience, which is way more than the large majority of the other Euros there.

Do you think he will/should beat out Barry Brust for the third goalie spot in LA? If not, and Lombardi signs someone else (like a Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller?), where does he end up? Manchester? Is he better than Fuji?

Lombardi has also had a positive spin on Jonathan Quick. Where does this situation leave him and Jeff Zatkoff? I know it seems like a good problem to have for a hockey club - curious about your: "where does the potential Euro goalie fit?" thoughts .

Keep your fingers crossed for the Monarchs!

With LA Kings not going anywhere after this season (unless you count the San Bernardino valley golf courses as a viable option), the shift of attention of the Purple and Black nation moves to the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings primary affiliate in the American Hockey League.

The Monarchs have already gone past the first round of the Calder Cup play-offs, for the first time in their six year history in NH, by eliminating Worcester Sharks 4-2.

They are now tied 1-1 after two games at home against the Providence Bruins (with Game Three coming up on Wednesday). The winner of this conference semi-final will most likely play the defending champion, Hershey Bears, who are up 3-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Keep your fingers crossed for the AHL top goalie, Jason LaBarbera and the rest of the team in the days to come!

I love my Kings

I love my Los Angeles Kings deeply and truly enough not to abandon this project. I might not be able to cover individual games any more (not that there are too many of in the remainder of the season), but I'd like to throw something valuable your way 2-3 times a week on regular basis from now till the draft day, let's say.

When I was tracking when the chores of life took hold of me in a way as to prevent me from covering the Kings on a (almost) daily basis, I realized it was just about the trading deadline. Right about the time that Matthias Norstrom departed, Sean Avery was traded and subsequently Jack Johnson came to town.

Could anybody positively bring me up to speed about the team, please? I know the scores, the standings and the bif picture. I need to get an information pill on who do you think emerged in the last 25 games or so - much like I used to present it in the Kings Three Stars for every ten games they had played.

Would anyone be so kind (perhaps people that actually watch the games?) as to brief me on how JMFJ is doing in the NHL. I did see the hipcheck that Jan Bulis administered on him, but not much more.

So, we're back in the chase, folks! Let me hear from you.

Stats

To help you answer the question(s) I posted in the post below, here's the monthly round-up of visits to my blog.