KINGS: DEFENSE SHORED UP BY TRADE.Byline: RICH HAMMOND Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer In a trade designed to strengthen their defense in the present and future, the Kings on Friday acquired top prospect Jack Johnson Jack Johnson may refer to:
Gleason was drafted twenty-third overall from the Windsor Spitfires in the first round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. . The move came exactly one week before the Kings' season opener against the Ducks. Tverdovsky, who will make $2.5 million this season, will fit into the lineup immediately, while the Kings only acquired the rights to Johnson, who was the third overall pick of the 2005 entry draft by the Hurricanes. Johnson, 19, is the long-term prize of the deal. Johnson is a sophomore defenseman at the University of Michigan (body, education) University of Michigan - A large cosmopolitan university in the Midwest USA. Over 50000 students are enrolled at the University of Michigan's three campuses. The students come from 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. , who last season set a school record for most points (32) by a freshman defenseman. He is expected to play at least one more season of college hockey College hockey most often refers to the American hockey competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. There are 3 national divisions, I, II and III, each having many conferences, and supporting both men's and women's teams. . ``We are prepared to be patient,'' Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi This article or section has multiple issues: * It needs to be expanded. Please help [ improve the article] or discuss these issues on the talk page. Dean Lombardi (born 1958 in Holyoke, Massachusetts) is president and general manager of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. said. ``I think it will be good for him to spend another year there and re-evaluate in March after his season is over.'' A 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Johnson represented the United States at this year's World Junior Championships and was named to the tournament's All-Star team. ``He potentially fills a position that's hard to find,'' Lombardi said. ``These type of players aren't often available at a younger age, so we felt we had to be aggressive.'' Despite the Kings' apparent need for top-level scoring, they dealt for Tverdovsky, another veteran defenseman to join Rob Blake, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Brent Sopel and Lubomir Visnovsky. Tverdovsky had three goals and 20 assists in 72 games last season and was a part-time contributor in the playoffs as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. Tverdovsky also won the Cup in New Jersey in 2003. Gleason, 23, signed a two-year contract with the Kings this month. A first-round pick by Ottawa in 2001, Gleason was slowed by injuries, including a sore knee for most of last season. Gleason totaled two goals and 19 assists in 78 games last season. Belanger, 29, had career highs with 17 goals and 20 assists last season. The salary tradeoff is almost exactly equal. Tverdovsky is due $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons while Belanger will make $1.3 millionand Gleason is due roughly $1.2 million. Belanger's departure also likely ensures that fellow center Anze Kopitar, who was selected eight picks after Johnson in the 2005 draft, will make the Kings' opening-night roster. Kings win: Alexander Frolov had a goal and two assists in the first period, and Kopitar added a goal and an assist in the Kings' 5-2 preseason victory over host San Jose. Associated Press contributed rich.hammond@dailynews.com (818) 713-3611 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) JOHNSON (2) TVERDOVSKY |
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