Did Gabe Vilardi take a shot at LA while talking to the Winnipeg media? Also, where do people around NHL think the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade ranks among the best offseason moves? Plus did Kings fans get a glimpse of what it will be like when Anze Kopitar calls it a career? That and more on this edition of Locked on LA Kings.
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23 Comments
I haven't listen yet, but I tweeted him when he said LA fans weren't big hockey fans. I said sure kid, but we've got 2 cups. He's an immature jackass. Just wish I could be at the first game when Jets come to LA.
#everydayer
Enjoy Winnipeg Gabe.
Hi Eddie I’m a everydayer and I want to tell you that I feel actually disappointed how vilardi said that kings fans are not actually fans I just don’t get it I feel kinda hurt a little bit because he was my favorite player I wanted him to stay in LA but after what he said he can get boo on and ram to the bored of all I care GO Kings GO
As a Canadian I don't think Vilardi is trying to say American fans aren't as good, but it comes down to the city itself not being as good of a hockey town…. Everywhere you go in a Canadian city you hear people talking about their team or hockey in general. During work, at lunch, at the bar, etc… I work construction and hear at least 5-6 convos a day of ppl talking about hockey in general, how much does that happen in L.A.?
I think he’s just a misunderstood personality. Not warm and fuzzy. Reminds me of Jason Alison in that regard. Not the type of guy to go out of his way to say things softly. Dry and to the point, and a little bit dull. But not a bad guy. Like you said, it’s just lazy with words. And I don’t mind it. Not sure why we’re so sensitive when he’s lazy with his words and yet we don’t hear anything at all when he praised Todd M for helping him grow as a player during his interview on the NHL network a couple of days ago.
Gabe is just hurt because he got traded to Winnipeg he didn’t want to get traded so now he’s making it seem like La fans aren’t passionate about hockey we know that it’s not true
I always felt like Gabe wasn’t happy. Like he felt he should be playing top 6. And he could be justified in that but it wasn’t gonna happen on the LA kings.
I felt like he felt like he got the short e d of the stick.
A new start will be good for Gabe. He is going to do well.
I like our 3 deep phenomenal center men.
The thing with Gabe was he just seemed reallllllllly slow. It was amazing to watch him when he could use his hands close to the goal but besides that he had trouble reaching the goal before others.Ya got to feel bad for Gabe, he got traded to Winnipeg from sunny California.
Dubois trade was definitely the biggest move of the summer. Not only was it a blockbuster, but it also improved the kings immensely down the middle. Something that has been their biggest weakness the last few seasons. I also found toffolli addition by devils intriguing. Devils vs. Kings rematch from 2012? That would be something.
Gabe is classless and often injured.
It's a different type of market. As he said there are many different teams in LA itself. In Winnipeg there is nothing but the Jets.
The town consists of 750k. LA consists of 3.8 million.
Even if Winnipeg had 2/3'rds of their population die hard Jets fans, we are only talking about 500k fans.
LA can crack 500k on a bad day. Kings fans probably double that in LA alone.
LA doesn't have a community entirely dedicated to 1 team but that doesn't make it less significant.
I get his comment. In a smaller town hockey is different as far as his importance in the community.
What a weird comment…
I mean, Canadas entire population is the size of California.
There are easily more fans of the game in the USA.
My nephew plays varsity hockey in Texas and they too have a large fan base…and great hockey programs
My father lives in Vegas, that fan base is hard core as well…
🤷♀️
On a side note I’m curious to see if Gabe will ever be a playmaker…
He can score goals but he is not a playmaker
🏒
Hmm. Players who have played for both Edmonton and LA? Mike Krushelnyski? Petr Sekera? Martin Gelinas?
Winnipeg metropolitan population: 834,678. Los Angeles county population: 10 Million. Lots of Kings fans in LA. Winnipeg is a backwater. Not much to do in Winnipeg. Let them cry about peni$ envy. Wait, when was it last time a Canadian team won the THE CUP? We got two cups in the last decade, Canada zip. SO maybe LA is bigger in hockey than Canada? Ya, its tiring listening to this trope. Its a joke.
I liked Gabe, but he was likely carted out of here because of the Teenage angst and attitude he can't kick.
Gabe is right, cause if you look at Gabe's career. He was able to hide each year with not much attention focused on himself. In Canada, the limelight would've been shined over and over by even the smallest of media families. Here in Cali, the fire under Gabe was found in online global Kings group. Most were done with Gabe years ago. I feel absolutely horrible the amount of pressure Gabe's going to be immediately under now. I hope the pressure doesn't invoke some lingering problem or complete disappearance this go around. Really hope Gabe's able to rise up and provide some scoring and maybe even consistency in the long term.
He was upset with how he got moved
Gabe insulted the fans, which is always idiotic. They're the ones who cheered for you. You have a problem with the organization? Fine. But Shaq did the same thing when he left LA, but worse. Trashed the fans and called them fake. Stupid. Then he apologized, rightfully. You don't need to undercut the fans you're leaving to prop up the fans in your new town.
He’s going to miss the anonymity. Well, good luck to him. He clearly needed the change of scenery.
Eddie, why has it surprise you what Vilardi said? I remember you yourself said after attending a LA kings game that the fans were practically asleep. In the words of Kopitar: "It is what it is"
I'm thinking that Vilardi is sore about leaving LA. Where would you prefer to play sunny LA or miserably cold Winnipeg. I think LA wins that competition. Now, I admit hockey is not the most popular sport in LA, but the Kings do have a passionate and loyal fan base. I love hockey and the Kings are my favorite team. Go Kings Go.
I mean sure, maybe? However, if you get traded, you get a window of saying whatever you want within reason without judgement.