Getty Images The Los Angeles Kings received a serious scare on Saturday as Anze Kopitar suffered a knee injury overseas, but it looks like fans can breathe a sigh of relief since it doesn’t appear to be very serious.
GM Dean Lombardi says the issue is only of the two to three week variety, according to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times.
With that in mind, Kopitar will probably be in street clothes when the Kings reportedly open their season (and raise that first-ever Stanley Cup banner) against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 19.
Perhaps he could be back if a) that two-week window pertained to the date of that Jan. 5 injury itself instead of today or b) he recovers ahead of schedule, but the Kings would likely be wise to take caution with the Slovenian star.
The talented playmaker had arguably the best year of his career last season, putting up 76 points in the regular season before going a point-per-game in 20 playoff contests. To little surprise, he also dominated in Sweden’s second league with 34 points in 30 games during the lockout.
In other words, the reigning Slovenian sportsman of the year should be worth the wait.
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*Insert slipping on banana peel sound effect*
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Mike Milbury isn’t totally certain.
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Limited to one joke regarding that Jeremy Roenick quip.
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Boston’s lineup stays the same as the first three contests.
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Gotta pay Zach Parise and Ryan Suter somehow, huh?
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“The L.A. Kings were a game away from missing the playoffs, and now suddenly they’re the template for everything good in hockey, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
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It’s official: Colorado names Roy sixth head coach in franchise history
May 23, 2013, 4:55 PM EDT
Franchise legend returns, nearly 10 years after retirement.
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Torey Krug, Dougie Hamilton (and Matt Bartkowski) all expected to stick.
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Shutting down the Blackhawks will do that.
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But Drew Doughty says Galiardi is the biggest diver on the Sharks, so there.
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For a headshot on Flyers prospect Taylor Leier.
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Good news for Phoenix hockey fans? (Or just…news.)
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Goalless Toews: adversity ‘something you have to face come playoff time’
May 23, 2013, 2:34 PM EDT
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“You don’t win a Stanley Cup without going through something like that.”
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It’s not pretty.
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What happens to the coach if the Rangers get swept tonight?
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Alfredsson says postgame comments ‘probably’ taken out of context
May 23, 2013, 1:24 PM EDT
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When asked if Ottawa could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh, he said “probably not.”
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“That’s the way he plays.”
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It would cost them $24 million over 14 years.
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Cue the buyout speculation.
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Enroth ‘ready’ to take Sabres starting goalie gig: ‘I want to play more’
May 23, 2013, 11:34 AM EDT
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Will he be challenging Ryan Miller for it?
