Puck Daddy - NHL

Puck Daddy

Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:10 pm EDT

LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi keeps his pimp hand strong

By Greg Wyshynski

At the risk of turning Puck Daddy into The Craig Custance Show this afternoon, we simply cannot ignore this amazing quote The Sporting News hockey writer snagged from Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi this week on his blog regarding RFA offer sheets:

"We're not only going to match any offer sheet, we'll have enough space to go after your guys. Go ahead and make our day. If you sign our guy, we're coming back with both barrels firing. You'd better be damn straight that you have the cap space and all your guys are signed."

Dang, snap, OH NO HE DIDN'T! Sounds like someone wants to dive into rhetorical warfare just in time for the "Yo Momma" round of the Burke/Lowe debates.

Custance asked "someone else in hockey" about Lombardi's comments, and this person responded "that Lombardi better worry about having a job next summer before concerns about offer sheets." And come to think of it, should a general manager really be bragging about cap room when his team is closer to the floor than the 25th round of a Cabo limbo contest?

Can't wait to see someone like Vancouver make a run at Anze Kopitar next off-season. We're sure Mike Gillis is losing sleep about the Kings signing away Lukas Krajicek in retaliation.

H/T to Rich Hammond of Inside the Kings.

digg delicious
more

25 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Michigander21
    1. Posted by Michigander21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This whole RFA thing is REALLY getting under the GM's skin. This is why I think the salary cap should have a clause that players drafted and developed by a team should only count 75% towards the cap. That would allow the GMs to make better deals to keep their RFA's and other teams would be less likely to compete for those players. End result, we fans get to see a player develop and cheer for that player for than a couple years.
  2. Michigander21
    2. Posted by Michigander21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    * "more than a couple years"
  3. Panda God
    3. Posted by Panda God Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Huh. Thats actually an interesting idea, but I would guess the percentage to be around 90% towards the cap. As long as it doesn't turn into a reality tv show its good with me...
  4. Brian S (brianguy)
    4. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    also overheard, he was singing on his lunch break:
    Sometimes I think sitting on trains
    Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
    Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
    Bonafide hustler making my name
    All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
    And (KKKAAAA CHING!)
    And take your money
  5. Matthew
    5. Posted by Matthew Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This quote has also existed since June and is not recent news...
  6. Whistler
    6. Posted by Whistler Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    way to go posting a picture of bailey, the kings mascot. mascots everywhere represent!!!
  7. Dan Bylsma
    7. Posted by Dan Bylsma Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    thats dan clouteir in bailys costume earning the rest of his contract
  8. jibblescribbits
    8. Posted by jibblescribbits Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I would file this under the "idle threats" section. We all know the Kings don't have any players any other team would want to give money too.
  9. gbrobagelman
    9. Posted by gbrobagelman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bruce MacNall under that head. I've seen him......... :)
  10. James S
    10. Posted by James S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey Dean, instead of worrying about other teams "signing our guys" why don't you work a little harder at creating an environment in which they won't want to leave. Here's a thought - WIN. Bringing Mark Hardy back is a start. Your formula for San Jose won't work in LA. Would avoid the threats to other teams right now - you really don't have a lot of ground to stand on and frankly it is making you look like an idiot.
  11. evar
    11. Posted by evar Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    As far as i am concerned Lombardi is an idiot, what the hell is he doing? Who wants to go and watch a team that has been losing for the last decade and every year we are friggin still rebuilding? Give us a break and put someone on the ice who we can watch Deano!!!!
  12. evar
    12. Posted by evar Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Oh....and get rid of the stupid stuffed animal...Jesus Christ I used to laugh at the Mighty Ducks with that stupid wild wing ... just shoot me now and put me out of my misery!!!
  13. Brian S (brianguy)
    13. Posted by Brian S (brianguy) Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bailey is actually hilarious... I thought when they brought in a mascot a couple years ago "oh god this is going to be stupid, what a dumb idea", as was their old mascot Kingston aka the Gritty Kitty for his dirty white costume that never got a wash, that always got in people's way. Bailey is consistently great and deserves no ridicule.
    OTOH "Ice Girls" may be fun to ogle online... and I understand some teams they've been there from the get go and/or are a big hit that are now ingrained as part of the home team experience. but the 2 games the Kings tried this last year, fans ripped them to shreds. in So Cal it just comes off as very minor league or "Mighty Ducks"
  14. Kingfan1967
    14. Posted by Kingfan1967 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    jibblescribbits: "We all know the Kings don't have any players any other team would want to give money too."
    Well, besides being grammatically incorrect, I think you'd better ask someone who actually knows something about hockey before talking out of your backside.
    You ever hear of Anze Kopitar, Jack Johnson, Patrick O'Sullivan, Dustin Brown, (this list could get VERY long)...
    Try reading hockeysfuture.com about the Kings' young prospects, not to mention the young players on the team itself.
  15. Hyphen
    15. Posted by Hyphen Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That is a quality quote and getting that completely makes up for the waste of time his 5 NHL changes was. I'm gonna feel bad for the Kings next year once they lose Frolov. Here's an idea LA, make a move and bring in the Bulin Wall. The Hawks need cap space badly and hey LA has some craptastic goaltending behind a fantastic young defensive core, didnt they start about 28 goalies last year? The Kings could be a real good team in the future if they can address some of their glaring holes.
  16. Hyphen
    16. Posted by Hyphen Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That is a quality quote and getting that completely makes up for the waste of time his 5 NHL changes was. I'm gonna feel bad for the Kings next year once they lose Frolov. Here's an idea LA, make a move and bring in the Bulin Wall. The Hawks need cap space badly and hey LA has some craptastic goaltending behind a fantastic young defensive core, didnt they start about 28 goalies last year? The Kings could be a real good team in the future if they can address some of their glaring holes.
  17. guidedbyvoices
    17. Posted by guidedbyvoices Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Does this quote remind anyone of that scene in "Taxi Driver" where DeNiro stands in front of his mirror and practices his "Are You Talkin' Ta Me???" Sadly for Lombardi, it was actually scary when DeNiro said it.
  18. ~jai~
    18. Posted by ~jai~ Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    To borrow a quote from my then-2-year-old nephew "You wanna piece of meat?" (Yes, he did mean 'piece of me' but where's the humor in that?)
    I'm just wondering if when he tossed that quote out he had one foot cocked out, a hand on a hip and waggled his head back and forth...
  19. Dutch
    19. Posted by Dutch Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Pretty toothless threat. We know full well those cheap ba$tards, AEG, won't pony up any money to grab any other teams headline names. Sad truth is these Puckers just don't care, so Dean Lombardi is left to cast out empty threats while the team slinks further into despair. The Kings have a good core of young players, but don't expect AEG to pay up when these guys get to the point of making the big bucks. BTW I like M21's suggestion of making a draft and developed player count less towards the cap. Of course you may as well just but in the "Soft Cap" if you're going to do that. Truth is some teams have Owners and Managers that really strive to win and some teams don't....Big F-U to AEG!
  20. puddin
    20. Posted by puddin Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    #8
    I am not a Kings fan at all but if they can keep that team together and find a tender (or if Bernier or one of there young guys turns out) they could be a very good squad for many years.
  21. evar
    21. Posted by evar Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Doesn't AEG have interest in the L.A. Galaxy? I wonder where the money came from to pay Mr. Beckham? Oh but I forgot for a second how popular soccer is in the United States and how much Becks has done for the MLS, so I suppose the 150 bazillion dollar he is making is worth it! The Kings can play second fiddle to the Galaxy because the fans allow it to happen by selling the Staples Center out and supporting a perennial loser... I am getting sick of this s@#$, 30 some years of waiting and I get Beckham?
  22. cristobal
    22. Posted by cristobal Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    evar - AEG is the villain, not Beckham. He makes AEG more money than the Kings and is helping MLS actually draw fans. He's like a winter classic wherever he goes.
    AEG and their stooge, Bettman, are clueless. The league has gotten worse since both parties came in, and there is no vision. It does no good to bash soccer's popularity because the NHL's ratings prove nobody's watching outside of a core group. Meanwhile, soccer truly is the biggest, most popular sport on the planet. Its just that in North America the league is owned and controlled by AEG, and we all know that they don't understand sports, they only understand profits and losses.
  23. Kings Rule
    23. Posted by Kings Rule Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Dutch you are right, I have been suffering too f-ing long with the krapp AEG has been feeding us Liewicke is a JERK and AEG cares nothing about winning hockey games they care only about building buildings and making money.
    I live in Newport Beach and have been a Kings fan all of my life and it gets harder and harder each year to drive by the Pond/Honda Center where the ducks play knowing that at least ownership want's to win and will put thier money where thier mouth is.
    In the next couple of years if AEG doesn't sell or change thier ways I will no longer spend thousands on season seats. I will end up going where they want to actually give something in return for my hard earned money and that would be the team closer to home!!!
    Remember how crummy the ducks were when Disney owned them? AEG SUCKS
  24. Rob
    24. Posted by Rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Patrick O'Sullivan traded? How could this happen? The Kings keep screwing up year after year. I've been a fan for 17 long, long years, but my loyalty is starting to disappear. If anyone has Dean Lombardi's contact info, I would really appreciated it. I can't let this one go without expressing my EXTREME displeasure in this f up.
  25. Rob
    25. Posted by Rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Just read your post Kings Rule and I completely agree. I live in Costa Mesa and way too close to the Honda Center and I still drive over 40 miles (one way) to catch home games in LA. I cringe at the thought of being a Ducks fan since I have been a loyal Kings fan for some many years, but for what? AEG is robbing the fans of what could be a great hockey team in LA, but they care for nothing other than making money.

Puck Daddy

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Greg Wyshynski

Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Sean Leahy, Ross McKeon, Matt Romig, Dmitry Chesnokov, Ryan Lambert, Dobber, Scott Pianowski,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More NHL Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Puck Daddy Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)

Watch Live Hockey Online with GameCenter Live™