For the first time under the stewardship of General Manager Rob Blake, the Kings are a national topic of discussion, and that ascension – as well as one in the works for the Ducks – was reflected in comments from one of the most visible groups of pundits in hockey.
Seeking to build on its success with “Inside the NBA,” TNT has brought back its NHL studio crew for its third season of hockey coverage. It will broadcast 62 games nationally this season, beginning Oct. 11 when the Kings and Vegas Golden Knights will face off in the back half of a doubleheader to kick off the 2023-24 campaign. Wayne Gretzky, Anson Carter, Liam McHugh, Henrik Lundqvist and Paul Bissonnette will be on set then, but most of the ensemble could not wait until the puck dropped to start talking about the Kings’ Stanley Cup prognosis.
“I’m extremely bullish on the Kings. I love their depth up the middle,” said Bissonnette, whose fame as a media personality has eclipsed his renown from more than 200 NHL games played.
Bissonnette acknowledged that the Kings would feel the losses of the plethora of players they pumped out of the organization to facilitate the acquisition of center Pierre-Luc Dubois and the re-signing of defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, mentioning Alex Iafallo and Gabe Vilardi specifically. He also said that while the Kings’ bargain-bin goaltending options – they have Cam Talbot, Pheonix Copley and David Rittich making combined less than what an established starter typically earns – created question marks, Vegas proved last year that a lesser-known goalie can suffice with the right support system.
“Obviously Edmonton is the other team in the West, but for me the underdog is L.A. and I think that they could end up coming out, so that’s my pick,” Bissonnette said.
“I like L.A. as well,” Lundqvist chimed in. “Edmonton, because they have [Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl], they’re always in the mix, no question about it.”
Lundqvist conveyed skepticism toward the Golden Knights’ ability to repeat. The former Vezina Trophy winner for the New York Rangers felt decidedly more assured about the fit of former Vegas and Kings goalie Jonathan Quick as the Rangers’ No. 2 goalie behind another Vezina honoree, Igor Shesterkin.
“I’ve always been a fan of Quickie, just the way he plays the game. He’s like a gymnast out there and he makes saves that you didn’t think were possible,” said Lundqvist, who faced Quick in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. “It’s cool, him growing up out here and Mike Richter being a big idol for him, to get this opportunity to play here is great.”
“He’s going to fit in great, I think he understands that Igor is the guy, but at the same time with his experience and the way he competes, that’s going to bring a lot of good energy to the team,” Lundqvist added.
From one already consecrated Southern California hockey legend to an aspiring star, Lundqvist and Bissonnette also evaluated the Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, who has managed to create something of a brand at just 22. He’s graced prominent covers and accumulated more than 400,000 Instagram followers (well on his way to surpassing one million the way stars like McDavid and Alex Ovechkin have already). In fact, he has nearly caught Bissonnette’s figure, which sits around 475,000.
“He’s a special kid, it takes a special kid to be able to balance the on-ice production. I mean, he led their team in points last year, and then also do all those things away from the rink that not only help garner new fans but, from a marketing standpoint, for the league in general,” Bissonnette said.
Bissonnette also touched on the fact that the Ducks signed Zegras to a three-year extension Monday rather than attempting to lock him down long-term, much as Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has favored during Ottawa’s rebuild, which has largely synchronized with that of the Ducks. He said Zegras wants to be “the guy” and earn a top-level salary over the maximum term, and he will be expected to have a greater impact defensively and in detailed areas of his game.
In addition to Zegras’ own skill set, Lundqvist said the Ducks’ development as a group would factor significantly into the level of success and profile Zegras achieved in the future. He felt similarly about the Chicago Blackhawks and their No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, whom the Ducks narrowly missed the opportunity to draft, selecting second. He said Zegras possibly “will be a big part of who they market around the NHL” if the Ducks can return to contention.
“If the team is competitive, it’s going to help your game so much, to be in situations where they count on you to be the difference-maker in a tight game, in an important game. I think that’s when he will be able to take the next step,” Lundqvist said.
Not all the attention that Zegras has attracted has been positive. Some of the less flattering looks have been lighthearted – like his admission that he had no idea who or what “The Oppenheimer” was – while other incidents have been less fun-loving, like when he made an incendiary comment to veteran defenseman Troy Stecher that was believed to have crossed the line and found himself benched after berating an official last season. There have also been gray areas, like Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella who was then a TV analyst, calling some of his less conventional and more eye-catching techniques showy and less “honest” than traditional hockey.
“Players of hockey who stick out a little bit are always going to garner that hate. I felt like P.K. [Subban] was probably one of the first guys to do it, where he’d be having fun or he’d be getting involved socially, and the old guard didn’t like that very much,” Bissonnette said. “But there’s got to be a way to draw in the younger fan and these types of players do it.”
