Playoff Preview Party – Kings vs Canucks: Then & Now
Because it’s been nearly 2 years since the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs I thought it would be best to show the fans in Vancouver how much this Kings team has changed since April of 2010. In fact, a lot of players from that LA Kings team that finished with 101 points and was the 6th seed in West have come and gone. So I thought it would be helpful to the influx of Canucks fans who are suddenly taking an interest in the current Kings team to identify the players who are no longer with the team and those players that have replaced them on the roster. Especially because I’m not sure if they have the internet or NHL.com in Canada.
2010 PLAYER – JACK JOHNSON
6 Playoff Games
0 Goals, 7 Assists, -5
Jack Johnson was a Top 3 Draft Pick who seemed to struggle to fulfill his potential on the LA Kings blueline. He would show flashes of brilliance in one instance and then have complete defensive breakdowns the other. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Jack Johnson is…
2010 JACK JOHNSON = 2012 DREW DOUGHTY
Click Here to See the Rest of the 2010 LA Kings and their 2012 Counterparts!!!
2010 PLAYER – MICHAL HANDZUS
6 Playoff Games
3 Goals, 2 Assists, -5
Michal Handzus was a fan favorite at the center position who was known much more for his penalty killing and defensive abilities than any sort of offensive contribution. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Michal Handzus is…
2010 MICHAL HANDZUS = 2012 MIKE RICHARDS
Think I’m kidding on this one?
Handzus had 20 G, 22 A, 42 PTS in 2009-2010.
Richards had 18 G, 26 A, 44 PTS in 2011-2012.
2010 PLAYER – ALEX FROLOV
6 Playoff Games
1 Goal, 3 Assists, -5
Alex Frolov was an enigmatic offensive player that would show incredible strength with the puck but would more often than not fail to capitalize on his scoring chances. Frolov would constantly frustrate fans by playing the entire game with a smile on his face… making it seem like he didn’t take it seriously. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Alex Frolov is…
2010 ALEX FROLOV = 2012 DREW DOUGHTY
2010 PLAYER – FREDRIK MODIN
6 Playoff Games
3 Goals, 1 Assist, -3
Fredrik Modin was a late season acquisition whose excellent play at the end of the year thrilled fans and whose movie-star quality looks tickled the hearts of women everywhere. And when the rest of the team was unable to score, Modin tied for the goal lead during the 2010 1st Round Series. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Fredrick Modin is…
2010 FREDRIK MODIN = 2012 JEFF CARTER
2010 PLAYER – WAYNE SIMMONDS
6 Playoff Games
2 Goals, 1 Assist, +1
Don’t even try. Because there is only 1 player in the NHL that is better than the 2010 version of Wayne Simmonds…
The 2012 Version of Wayne Simmonds.
2010 PLAYER – RYAN SMYTH
6 Playoff Games
1 Goal, 1 Assist, 0
Although there were high hopes for Ryan Smyth to bring some offensive firepower to the LA Kings, his broken-down, beat-up body couldn’t take the rigors of the NHL season. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Ryan Smyth is…
2010 RYAN SMYTH = 2012 SIMON GAGNE
2010 PLAYER – SEAN O’DONNELL
6 Playoff Games
0 Goals, 1 Assist, -2
Sean O’Donnell was a veteran defenseman who was brought in on a 2 year contract to mentor the young defensemen of the Kings and at points throughout the season O’Donnell actually played better than most of the young guns. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Sean O’Donnell is…
2010 SEAN O’DONNELL = 2012 WILLIE MITCHELL
2010 PLAYER – PETER HARROLD
2010 PLAYER – RAITIS IVANANS
2010 PLAYER – JEFF HALPERN
2010 PLAYER – RICH CLUNE
2010 PLAYER – ERIK ERSBERG
14 Playoff Games
0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Wins
Peter Harrold, Raitis Ivanans, Jeff Halpern, Rich Clune and Erik Ersberg were complete spare parts during the 2010 Playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks. They contributed nothing offensively or defensively, at times they looked like they didn’t even belong on the ice and no LA Kings fans in their right mind thought any of these players could help the team in any way whatsoever. The player from the current LA Kings roster that best represents 2010 Peter Harrold, Raitis Ivanans, Jeff Halpern, Rich Clune and Erik Ersberg is…
2010 PETER HARROLD, RAITIS IVANANS, JEFF HALPERN, RICH CLUNE, ERIK ERSBERG =
2012 DUSTIN PENNER
2010 PLAYER – RANDY JONES
This photo is the closest proof I could find to Randy Jones playing in the playoffs.
4 Playoff Games
0 Goals, 0 Assists, -2
Honestly… if you don’t get the joke by now then you’ll never get it.
Check out that game clock… 2 minutes left in the 3rd period losing 2-1 to Florida.
Never change, Drew Doughty. Well… actually. Yes, please change.
