For one of the last times before the start of the upcoming regular season next week in early October against the Avalanche in Colorado, the Los Angeles Kings' players spoke to the media amid training camp and the preseason on Wednesday (Oct. 1).
Top Los Angeles Kings forwards share their thoughts on training camp this fall
Kings' forwards Anze Kopitar and Quinton Byfield spoke to the LA media on Wednesday before the team's preseason matchup on Oct. 2 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City against the Utah Mammoth.
Here's a look at everything Kopitar and Byfield said to the media in training camp on Oct. 1.
Anze Kopitar
On how training camp has felt with the Kings this fall
"Yeah, definitely. When you're coming down the stretch here with camp, I think everybody's eager to get going. Obviously, there's still a couple more games that uh, you know, are definitely going to come in handy to get up to speed and get all the kinks out of our game. You know, individually get yourself ready mentally more than anything. So it would be nice to play two games, but then again it will be nice to get going again."
On the remaining preseason games for the Kings
"Yeah, I think that was the plan all along to have, you know, a full squad going for the last two games. So uh it'll be good. Obviously, it'll be good to be in the same room with everybody, and I guess I just really get mentally prepared for Tuesday. "
On the preseason moving to four games next year
"I don't care. I do not care."
On having a full offseason, training camp, and preseason with Andrei Kuzmenko
"Yeah, I mean we've played what close to 30 games last year, too. So, it's a good chunk of games to get the chemistry going. You just got to kind of remind everything, and you know, refresher course, I guess, if you want to call it that way. We just want to make sure that we have two strong games and then be ready to go on Tuesday."
On the chemistry with Andrei Kuzmenko and Adrian Kempe
"Yeah, for sure. The unit is the exact same one that we finished off last year, and in the playoffs, our percentage was pretty good, you know, that was last year, this is this year, so we got to work on it a little bit more. Just really fine timing with it, and we'll use these next two games for that."
On killing penalties more this season
"I feel okay with that. I mean, if there's ice time that you give up, it's definitely penalty killing, you know. Um, you know, there's something that if you're not killing penalties, then you're most likely the line next up right after the penalty kill. So, maybe gets more five-on-five out of which I'm not opposed to."
On the experience with the Amazon Faceoff Show
"It was pretty good. Obviously, the crew did a good job. They were very respectful of the privacy if something was maybe a little bit too personal and that they would check and ask and everything. So we had a good experience. The kids had fun being in front of the cameras for a little bit. But I don't think I want to do it every day like some people, but it was a fun experience."
Quinton Byfield
On the feeling in training camp this fall
"Yeah, it's been a good camp. I think it's nice to be at home for the most part and we've had some games on the road a little little trips but nothing compared to as you said the Australia and Quebec like those were kind of crammed in there you're always on the road weren't home much to start the season so it's a different feel and it feels good to be at home sleeping your own bed good, cooking staying with the guys around town here so um feels a lot different it feels nice."
On playing with the potential regular season lineup late this preseason in the last two games
"Yeah, I think it's good to get a feel for it before the real thing starts and a lot of guys playing multiple different games. We haven't played with some lines in the lineup. So, just getting those guys back in the locker room, back on the ice together, it's nice. And, having hopefully two games here altogether before we get into it will be good.
On the chemistry in training camp this fall
"Everybody's been with the same guys throughout the whole training camp and even when we came back in the summer, everybody's with each other. So, I think everybody has a pretty good feel for each other and excited to get back going and we've had some long practice here, good a lot of up and down the ice and we've been getting a good feel."
On playing with his linemates and the mindset on the ice
"Yeah, I feel like just my line like we always look for the extra pass for sure. I feel like towards the end of the year we're more so a mindset of just shooting. You know, you shoot the puck, you might not score, but you get it back, and you kind of break teams down that way, too. More of a mindset of shoot first. We all know we want to pass to each other. So, we just got to be a little more selfish at times."
On stepping up into the first line forward role
"I wouldn't say there's any talk about that, but I feel like everybody in here is trying to do the best for the team and always step up. So, I think we got four solid lines that can be the line on any given night. So, I think it's going to be a competitive battle through all of us, and each night's going to be a different line. I think as a team that's our strong suit through depth, and we're all excited for that."
On the experience with the Amazon Faceoff Show
"Yeah, it was cool. It was a lot of fun, honestly. You kind of just follow when the camera's around you, you know, kind of be yourself, but it's also hard to. So, um, as a fan, um, if I had that growing up, I'd be all over that, and I'm obviously going to watch it."
On having Kopitar involved in the faceoff show this fall
"Yeah, for sure. And I think again from a fan perspective, like I feel there hasn't been that much insight on Kopi sharing that much of his life. So, just being able to see you know that you know he's had an amazing career, and you know what he's done. So you can see what he does, how good he is as a leader and as a family guy as well. So just being able to see that side of him is really cool as well."