Goalie Start
Jonathan Quick will start tomorrow, but Murray would not commit to a starting goalie for Saturday.
Quick stopped 20 of 21 shots in his only start against the Rangers, naturally receiving the win.
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“I’m not sure if (Zibanejad making the team) is a done deal at this point,” MacLean said. “We still have, counting tonight, 10 games we can still evaluate him, but it certainly appears, with the injuries to Peter Regin and Jesse Winchester, that the door is open for him to walk into at this point in time.”
Zibanejad is probably too good for any junior club at this point but could be sent to the AHL as a player drafted in Europe. Expect at least a nine-game tryout.
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Meanwhile, Zibanejad is doing everything he can to start the season in the NHL. He scored a nifty goal in tight against the Winnipeg Jets Monday and roofed a one-timer against the Bruins in overtime last week.
Zibanejad could play in the NHL, the question is whether he has earned a spot. Last season he only played 26 games professionally, scoring five goals and nine points with Djurgardens IF Stockholm. Look for him to continue competing with Peter Regin and Stefan Da Costa.
Call up / Send down
PLAYERS RETURNED TO JUNIORS: Forwards: Shane McColgan (Kelowna, WHL), J.T. Miller (Plymouth, OHL), Michael St. Croix (Edmonton, WHL), Christian Thomas (Oshawa, OHL), Andrew Yogan (Peterborough, OHL)
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Finally, Mika Zibanejad’s battle for the 2nd line centre position certainly took a turn for the better with last night’s OT winner.
Sounds like Zibanejad could beat out Peter Regin and Stephane Da Costa for the second-line role. In 26 games for Djurgardens IF Stockholm of the SEL, Zibanejad scored five goals and nine points. He most likely sticks with the big club.
He said that Quick would “start the season” as the No. 1 goalie. Murray added yet another wrinkle today when, for the first time, he said he would not map out a strict schedule for Quick and Jonathan Bernier, as he did at the start of last season, and would lean toward playing the hot hand in goal. In other words, Quick is the No. 1 goalie on Oct. 1, but check back on Nov. 1.
If you take Quick in the early rounds, remember to draft his counterpart, Jonathan Bernier, as a handcuff. Bernier still could be the Kings long-term plan in net as he possesses a higher ceiling.
The young center confessed to having stars in his eyes while playing alongside one of his idols, Daniel Alfredsson. Zibanejad skated on the same line as the captain and Milan Michalek for both the practice and scrimmage.
The two wingers were slated to flank star center Jason Spezza so don't expect Zibanejad to earn the top line role right now. However, this audition proves that the Sens are interested in their 2011 top pick playing this season.
Jonathan Quick is going into the start of the season as my No. 1 goalie
In case there was any doubt, Jonathan Quick will be the Kings' starting goalie this season. He posted a 2.24 GAA and .918 SV% with six shutouts in 61 appearances last season.
The #NYR have agreed to terms with 2011 first round draft pick JT Miller
The Ottawa Senators signed first-round pick Mika Zibanejad to a 3-year entry level contract on July 13.
kings take to ice for warmups, behind jonathan quick. sharks take to ice, behind niemi
but Quick was the first goalie off the ice after practice today, and Murray left no doubt that he intends to stay with Quick, rather than even thinking about giving the Game 5 start to Jonathan Bernier…
Jonathan Quick gets the start in goal
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick will have to play at the top of his game if the Kings are going to upset San Jose in the Western Conference quarterfinals.