Coming into this season one of the more
interesting stories was the contingent of three players called “The
Royal 3”. Why do we call them The Royal 3? Because these three players
played with the top line of the Los Angeles Kings last season and almost
took them to the playoffs which has been a long time coming for the
Kings franchise. This article will talk about the history of one of the
more potent offensive lines in OTHL history.
Vincent Lecavalier is a Ile Bizard, Quebec native who has been a star the first day he stepped onto the ice. He was on the fast track of being the face of the OTHL, and with that causes fame and notoriety which causes teams to be very interest in this star player, Which in cause has caused him to be one of the most traded star players in the league.
In 2009 the Penguins traded Vincnet Lecavalier, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jay Bouwmeester, Alexander Semin, prospects Jack Skille, and Dimitri Vorobiev, and a third round pick in the 2010 Draft.
Fast forward a year later just a few weeks before Deadline time the Blues traded Vincent, and a 4th Round pick to Minnesota for Jakub Voracek, Michael Del Zotto, and Jordan Eberle. Vincent thought he was going to stay the next two years in Minnesota and really bring up a highly young team to parade with Lord Stanley in downtown Minneapolis. It didn’t work out and instead he signed a 20M/2 Year deal with the Nashville Predators.
“I signed on in Nashville hoping to just stay put in one franchise, and after my first year I thought they were going to stay the course, except I was wrong and I was packing my bags again.”, mentioned Lecavalier.
Before the 2011 Season the Predators traded Lecavalier to Los Angeles for highly touted prospect Mark Schiefele, Matt Niskanen, 1st Round Pick in 2012 (Filip Forsberg), and the Capitals first round pick in 2013. Vincent played a significant role and was named Captain for the Kings and produced very well in his year with the Kings.
The next member of “The Royal Three” took a different path in Marian Gabroik. Gaborik played majority of his career in Buffalo during the years of the dominance. Gaborik and Sid the Kid where a havoc in the Eastern Conference and went on long playoff runs, but were never really able to get over the hill and hoist Lord Stanley. Marian Gaborik’s contract was up in 2011 and had a hard time leaving the Sabres.
“I loved my time in Buffalo, they had some amazing fans, and the front office did its best, and they made me a very nice offer, but it was time for me to move on.”, said Gaborik
Gaborik was the biggest fish on the market in the summer of 2011. Many felt like he was going to be one of the last players that was going to ink a contract, instead he was one of the first and signed a massive deal to go to LaLa land, which in cause brought in that blockbuster trade for Vincent Lecavalier.
The last member of “The Royal Three”, is winger Michael Ryder. Ryder was known for his goal scoring, but has been inconsistent over the few years spending time in Calgary, and Florida. In 2010-11 in his contract year he seemed to play his best and scored 50 points in 82 games.
“I thought the Panthers were going to keep me, I got a call from my agent and said my rights have been traded to Los Angeles for just a sixth round pick. Once I talked to management in Los Angeles I knew that’s where I wanted to play, so my agent signed on to the three year deal.”, said Ryder
The Kings fought pretty hard through the season and was pretty much in the thick of things but towards the end their defense didn’t hold up enough for a playoff run. The top line for the Kings made boasting huge numbers which they equivalent to 40% of the Kings offense, which totaled out to be 85 goals from last season.
In the 2012 offseason the Kings were going into new management under Jordan Hansford, and Vincent Lecavalier becoming a unrestricted free agent. With the cupboard bare for prospects and the future looking bleak for the Kings, so they had to trade away superstar Marian Gaborik. Days before the 2012 Entry Draft the Senators got involved and tried to bring him in.
“Our owner, and I were in deep discussions on what to do with the team. We could of went to directions. Either to go for it and bring in Gabby (Marian Gaborik), or continue with the status quo on rebuilding. We knew once a talent like Gabby gets on the market you have to snag him up. He is a true impact player and we went out there and got him.”, said Senators GM Burkholder.
Two days before the draft the Senators and Kings agreed to deal. In exchange the Senators gave up Malcolm Subban, Matt Finn, Ben Hanowski, and Adam Janosik, along with two 2nd round picks, and a 4th round pick in the 2013 Draft. During the discussions a name was brought up and that was Michael Ryder. At that time the Kings didn’t want to part with Ryder, so the Senators continued on their offseason plans.
“We were out there for all the big names. Once we got Gabby in the fold we needed wanted to keep the momentum going so we end up talking to Patrick Marleau, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, and Mike Cammalleri. When we got a call from Vincent agent we were extremely happy. It really all came together.”, said Burkholder.
With Burkholder brining in two superstars, they just needed that complimentary scoring winger in Michael Ryder. Burkholder kept going on and searching in free agency, until he got a call from Los Angeles and they struck another deal. The Senators ended up trading Beau Bennett, Daniel Cantanacci, Gabriel Beaupre, and a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick.
“The Royal Three” has shown that they are for real, and with the three thus far early in the season are combined for a mind boggling 61 (26G-35A) total points in 17 games. They have played so well they are on a pace for 258 point (125 G-133A).
“These guys are talented and they deserve to be called The Royal Three. With these three guys we can be a scary team. We have the depth, and Backstrom has played very well, and I’m glad that those three play for us, I would hate facing them.”, said Burkholder.
The Senators haven’t played all that well this season, but the last few games they have started to gel, and starting to put a little bit of a cushion in standings, and the fans will be watching hockey come early may in Ottawa.
Vincent Lecavalier is a Ile Bizard, Quebec native who has been a star the first day he stepped onto the ice. He was on the fast track of being the face of the OTHL, and with that causes fame and notoriety which causes teams to be very interest in this star player, Which in cause has caused him to be one of the most traded star players in the league.
In 2009 the Penguins traded Vincnet Lecavalier, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Jay Bouwmeester, Alexander Semin, prospects Jack Skille, and Dimitri Vorobiev, and a third round pick in the 2010 Draft.
Fast forward a year later just a few weeks before Deadline time the Blues traded Vincent, and a 4th Round pick to Minnesota for Jakub Voracek, Michael Del Zotto, and Jordan Eberle. Vincent thought he was going to stay the next two years in Minnesota and really bring up a highly young team to parade with Lord Stanley in downtown Minneapolis. It didn’t work out and instead he signed a 20M/2 Year deal with the Nashville Predators.
“I signed on in Nashville hoping to just stay put in one franchise, and after my first year I thought they were going to stay the course, except I was wrong and I was packing my bags again.”, mentioned Lecavalier.
Before the 2011 Season the Predators traded Lecavalier to Los Angeles for highly touted prospect Mark Schiefele, Matt Niskanen, 1st Round Pick in 2012 (Filip Forsberg), and the Capitals first round pick in 2013. Vincent played a significant role and was named Captain for the Kings and produced very well in his year with the Kings.
The next member of “The Royal Three” took a different path in Marian Gabroik. Gaborik played majority of his career in Buffalo during the years of the dominance. Gaborik and Sid the Kid where a havoc in the Eastern Conference and went on long playoff runs, but were never really able to get over the hill and hoist Lord Stanley. Marian Gaborik’s contract was up in 2011 and had a hard time leaving the Sabres.
“I loved my time in Buffalo, they had some amazing fans, and the front office did its best, and they made me a very nice offer, but it was time for me to move on.”, said Gaborik
Gaborik was the biggest fish on the market in the summer of 2011. Many felt like he was going to be one of the last players that was going to ink a contract, instead he was one of the first and signed a massive deal to go to LaLa land, which in cause brought in that blockbuster trade for Vincent Lecavalier.
The last member of “The Royal Three”, is winger Michael Ryder. Ryder was known for his goal scoring, but has been inconsistent over the few years spending time in Calgary, and Florida. In 2010-11 in his contract year he seemed to play his best and scored 50 points in 82 games.
“I thought the Panthers were going to keep me, I got a call from my agent and said my rights have been traded to Los Angeles for just a sixth round pick. Once I talked to management in Los Angeles I knew that’s where I wanted to play, so my agent signed on to the three year deal.”, said Ryder
The Kings fought pretty hard through the season and was pretty much in the thick of things but towards the end their defense didn’t hold up enough for a playoff run. The top line for the Kings made boasting huge numbers which they equivalent to 40% of the Kings offense, which totaled out to be 85 goals from last season.
In the 2012 offseason the Kings were going into new management under Jordan Hansford, and Vincent Lecavalier becoming a unrestricted free agent. With the cupboard bare for prospects and the future looking bleak for the Kings, so they had to trade away superstar Marian Gaborik. Days before the 2012 Entry Draft the Senators got involved and tried to bring him in.
“Our owner, and I were in deep discussions on what to do with the team. We could of went to directions. Either to go for it and bring in Gabby (Marian Gaborik), or continue with the status quo on rebuilding. We knew once a talent like Gabby gets on the market you have to snag him up. He is a true impact player and we went out there and got him.”, said Senators GM Burkholder.
Two days before the draft the Senators and Kings agreed to deal. In exchange the Senators gave up Malcolm Subban, Matt Finn, Ben Hanowski, and Adam Janosik, along with two 2nd round picks, and a 4th round pick in the 2013 Draft. During the discussions a name was brought up and that was Michael Ryder. At that time the Kings didn’t want to part with Ryder, so the Senators continued on their offseason plans.
“We were out there for all the big names. Once we got Gabby in the fold we needed wanted to keep the momentum going so we end up talking to Patrick Marleau, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, and Mike Cammalleri. When we got a call from Vincent agent we were extremely happy. It really all came together.”, said Burkholder.
With Burkholder brining in two superstars, they just needed that complimentary scoring winger in Michael Ryder. Burkholder kept going on and searching in free agency, until he got a call from Los Angeles and they struck another deal. The Senators ended up trading Beau Bennett, Daniel Cantanacci, Gabriel Beaupre, and a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick.
“The Royal Three” has shown that they are for real, and with the three thus far early in the season are combined for a mind boggling 61 (26G-35A) total points in 17 games. They have played so well they are on a pace for 258 point (125 G-133A).
“These guys are talented and they deserve to be called The Royal Three. With these three guys we can be a scary team. We have the depth, and Backstrom has played very well, and I’m glad that those three play for us, I would hate facing them.”, said Burkholder.
The Senators haven’t played all that well this season, but the last few games they have started to gel, and starting to put a little bit of a cushion in standings, and the fans will be watching hockey come early may in Ottawa.
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