Peter Harrold steps into the breach for Kings vs. Ducks
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With Jack Johnson expected to be out until the All-Star game because of a shoulder injury and surgery, Peter Harrold was told he would get his first chance to play today, when the Kings face the Ducks at Staples Center.
Harrold, who wasn’t in uniform for the Kings’ first two games, is hoping to make the most of whatever playing time he gets. He wished he had gotten it on merit rather than because of Johnson’s misfortune.
‘They said he’s going to be out for a while. No one wants that, but I’m given an opportunity and I hope to take advantage of it,’ said the 5-11, 188-pound native of Kirtland Hills, Ohio.
His expectations and those of his coaches are likely to align. He probably will get a good amount of power-play time, and Coach Terry Murray said he planned to use Harrold -- who shoots right-handed -- on the left side with Matt Greene.
‘I’m a puck-moving [defenseman]. I’ve got to make a good first pass and I’ve got to be really strong positionally,’ he said. ‘Being a smallish [defenseman] that’s huge, me having good body position, and hopefully chipping in offensively.’
Harrold spent most of last season with the Kings’ American Hockey League farm team in Manchester, N.H., were he played 49 games and contributed seven goals and 43 points. He also played 25 games for the Kings last season, and 12 in 2006-07.
With him in the lineup the Kings will have three defensemen 25 or younger. Harrold and Matt Greene are both 25 and Drew Doughty is 18. Sean O’Donnell (37), Denis Gauthier (32) and Tom Preissing are on the other side of the generation gap. Kyle Quincey, also 25 and claimed off waivers from Detroit on Monday, reported to the Kings today but didn’t skate and won’t play tonight.
‘The older guys have been awesome,’ Harrold said. ‘The younger guys can learn a lot if you watch guys like O’Donnell and Matt Greene. He’s on the younger side but he’s got a lot of experience.’
-- Helene Elliott