Los Angeles — The Kings have acquired forward Jeff Carter of the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jack Johnson AND a first-round pick in either the 2012 or 2013 draft.  On November 13, 2010, Carter signed an 11-year, $58 Million contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers through the 2021-2022 season. But Carter was dealt a blow when the Flyers traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 23, 2011 for Jakub Voracek and both a first and third round pick in the 2011 draft. Carter, who was reportedly not happy with the trade, never really found his place with the Blue Jackets. “I am obviouslyexcited,” Carter told the Kings’ website. “I am familiar with the team and a lot of guys on the team. I looked at the Kings at the start of the year as being a club in a good position to win. I look forward to coming to L.A. and being a part of it all.”

GM Dean Lombardi of the Kings had this to say about the trade in a conference call: “This isn’t your classic Trade Deadline deal. This is a good young player for a good young player. This is a hockey deal.” Lombardi who is on the hot seat to hold his job, has to be worried about the Kings play and thus, the slide in standings in the Western Conference. Since the Kings rank last in the league among goal scoring, the only read I can take away from this situation is that Lombardi is doing the best he can to jump start the Kings offense. Jack Johnson is an amazing player and it will be sad for me to see him go. But if this will help jolt the Kings to the team I know they are, then I am all for it. The Kings have recalled top prospect Slava Voynov from Manchester of the American Hockey League to replace Johnson. Voynov has four goals and 11 points in 33 games with the Kings this season.

A Dustin Brown Trade?!!??

The Kings are getting lots of interest in captain Dustin Brown. They may not move him in the end but are seeing what’s out there for him. Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia and the New York Rangers are among a long list of teams that have interest in the Team USA Olympian. One source told ESPN.com that the Kings would like to get defenseman Luke Schenn and highly touted forward prospect Matt Frattin from the Leafs in a Brown deal. My sense is that Toronto would find that price too rich, but GM Brian Burke — who had Brown on Team USA in 2010 — really loves Brown.

The only thing I can say is: If they trade Brownie, Dean Lombardi is a FOOL!!!

Steve Yzerman

1993 - Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) scored his 1,000th career point.

1982 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) scored his 77th goal of the season to break the NHL record of 76 held by Phil Esposito. Gretzky ended up with 92 goals for the season and 212 points. He was the first player to finish a season with more than 200 points.

Though not NHL History per se, a nice piece of trivia and a follow up from our February 22 edition…

1980 - In Lake Placid, NY, the U.S. hockey team defeated Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games.

1980 - Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) became the first player in NHL history to score 100 points in a season before the age of 20.

1894 - Ottawa refused to travel to Toronto to play in the first Stanley Cup game. The Cup was awarded to the Montreal AAA.

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1993 - Glenn Anderson (Toronto Maple Leafs) became the 36th NHL player to score 1,000 points.

1980 - The U.S. beat the U.S.S.R. 4-3 in Olympic hockey en route to a gold medal

Ah yes, the iconic call of that game 32 years ago from the incomparable Al Michaels. For your viewing and listening pleasure, enjoy!

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The following is excerpted from the February/March edition of Blackhawks Magazine. Pick up the latest issue at all Blackhawks home games, starting Feb. 19 vs. St. Louis, and at the Blackhawks Store by calling (800) GO-HAWKS.

Wayne Gretzky as an idol, you can understand. When Marian Hossa was a child in Czechoslovakia, learning to skate and to love hockey, The Great One dominated the sport at long distance. He shattered scoring records while his Edmonton Oilers collected Stanley Cups, so a youngster in a faraway place could be excused for gathering every morsel of information from North America, just as he would be permitted to arise in the middle of the night, to dream while wide awake.

“We got the finals on TV back home,” recalls Hossa. “My parents watched, too. My first reaction was ‘Wow!’ How about this man Wayne Gretzky. How about this National Hockey League. I was hooked.”

So, yes, you can understand why, to this day, the Chicago Blackhawks’ all-world right wing designates Gretzky as one of his heroes.

But Michael Jordan? In Hossa’s native land, the Chicago Bulls and pro basketball were not talking points, yet he had an eye for genius. The NBA Finals were also on the tube, and Hossa marveled at how Jordan ran the floor as his team captured twin three-peat championships. When Michael’s shot wasn’t dropping and he didn’t drive to the basket, he played defense in games as he did in practice: with absolute ferocity. 

He would rebound, harass opponents with the ball, then deprive them of it. He was dangerous with hands free and different from winter to winter because he always seemed to develop another weapon every summer.

“Fantastic,” says Hossa. “I mean, being here in Chicago now, you look up at all the banners in the United Center from Michael Jordan and the Bulls. I did the same thing when he was on TV. Middle of the night. Unbelievable. I liked the way he came back [to play defense] on the court. He would beat you any way he could. Whatever it takes to beat you.”

Hossa is so unassuming that he would never mention his name in the same breath as Jordan’s — “I am not a superstar, no. A star, well, maybe,” says Marian. Yet he is one of the NHL’s shining examples of doing whatever it takes. 

As a first-round draft choice and the 12th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in 1997, Hossa admits he viewed the game through a narrow prism. He was offense-first, offense-only. But sooner than most, Hossa discovered the joys of experiencing the entire rink. Stripping an adversary of the puck can be a hoot and so is returning to the bench after a shift and hearing your defensemen compliment you on a job well done.

“Yes,” says Hossa. “I like that. Some nights, the bounces aren’t going your way, and you might not feel like you have the legs on offense. Even if it is going your way on offense, takeaways are nice. Scoring goals or passing for an assist is fun but so is the other part of the game. I learned a lot from watching guys like Pavel Datsyuk in Detroit, where I played before I came here. He’s great in both ends. He’s everywhere.”

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1973 - The Chicago Blackhawks played their 262nd game without being shut out

1970 - Bobby Hull (Chicago Blackhawks) scored his 500th career point. 

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Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers unintentionally uses his head to stop a shot on goal! Unbelievable!

2004 - Defenseman Sergei Zubov (Dallas Stars) posted his 600th point.

1993 - The New York Islanders retired Billy Smith’s #31.

1974 - Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play for the Houston Aeros with his two sons

1971 - Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) became the quickest NHL player to reach 50 goals in a season.

1930 - Clint Benedict (Montreal Maroons) became the first goalie to wear a mask in the NHL. Benedict wore the mask temporarily during an injury.

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