HOCKEY TALK

The Los Angeles Kings traded Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a second pick in the 2012 NHL reentry draft for Mike Richards.  This is huge for the Kings. They now have a young center (26) to pair with Anze Kopitar. Richards, who has reached the 30 goal a year plateau twice, brings a great two-way brand of hockey to Los Angeles. With good goaltending and in my opinion, one of the best defensemen in the game,  Drew Doughty, the Kings already look to be one of the best teams in the West.

I have mixed results on this trade for purely selfish reasons. One, I was hoping that the Rangers could make a deal with the Flyers for Richards and two, I am glad he is gone from the Rangers division.  

Hats off to the Kings for bringing in a proven commodity and taking a chance that by giving up Brayden Schenn was worth the risk. Wayne Simmonds, who is a fan favorite, took a few steps backwards last year and he was expected to want a  few more dollars by July 1.

I have a pet peeve about expansion cities. I am all for cities wanting to have a professional ______ team. (You put the name of the sport in the space) But when a city, such as Atlanta, has had two hockey teams in my life, and has been unable to maintain either, then that is it. Atlanta is banned from getting another hockey franchise. They had the Atlanta Flames and eventually that team left for Calgary.  In 1999, Atlanta received an expansion team in the form of the Atlanta Thrashers and now, they were sold to a group from Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Jets were originally a WHA team and during the 1979 merger of the NHL with the WHA, Winnipeg was one of the teams that moved to the NHL. The three other teams that merged with the NHL were the New England Whalers (Hartford Whalers once they entered the NHL). They became the Carolina Hurricanes in 97.  The Quebec Nordiques who became the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers, who still remain in Edmonton and have won the Stanley Cup. In 1996, the Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes and now Winnipeg has a second chance. Remember Winnipeg, if this don't work.........