The one reality that we perhaps miss in the world of sports most frequently is, sadly, the human effect.
Changing jobs is hard. Moving is a pain in the neck. Getting used to a new environment can be stressful.
For hockey players these stressors that every normal human endures also comes with a special twist of learning new systems, around an entirely new team, usually across the country, and in a profession that is so highly scrutinized and publicized that the average person cannot mimic it. I'm not trying to put hockey players on a pedestal here, but it is a very unique challenge.
It is a challenge, however, that summer signee Zach Trotman approached with a matter of fact attitude in his post Kings v Kings scrimmage interview with me on Sunday.
"It’s part of our jobs as professional athletes to be able to adjust."
For the former Boston Bruin, the adjustments may not seem like all that much on the ice. But some adjustments are still needing to be ironed out and worked on. A game like Sunday's Kings versus Kings scrimmage provided an excellent opportunity for Trotman to hone in on things.
"It's been good so far, two different playing styles so it is something I am getting used to. It’s a little bit more aggressive here so there is some stuff to work on. It was good to get out there today, get some of that system stuff ingrained in my head before we start playing some preseason games."
He went on to elaborate on the importance of the pre-season intrasquad scrimmage despite, perhaps, the teams not fooling each other tactically.
"Yeah, it was a bit of a deadlock out there today, everyone kind of knew what the other person was going to be doing. (Laugh) But it is good to get those habits going. Maybe you kind of catch yourself doing a pivot a certain way or ya know pulling back on something, and it kind of clicks 'Oh I’m supposed to be up on this!' So it’s something good to start getting repetitions in with and start recognizing that game of when I need to step up or do whatever that is different."
The 26-year old is no newbie to the league, having spent the last four seasons between the Providence and Boston Bruins. He still has just 67 games NHL experience though, and is coming into a very tightly contested Kings defensive corps instead of a more aging and perhaps rebuilding Boston corps where he got the minutes. Here, those minutes are still in the "need to be earned" category for Zach.
"I think it’s one of those things, like you said, it’s no secret. I’m going into camp battling for a spot. You’re going to have your chances and it is up to you to work, make the most of your opportunities and try to win that spot."
And with the difficulties of a new system and perhaps a short adjustment period, one can definitely see how new players to new teams can sometimes not go according to plan. As far as adjustment periods go, Trotman was again refreshingly matter of fact, like he had mulled over these things already.
"Ya know I think it varies. The more reps you get the quicker that goes. So I don’t think there is a certain time period. Sometimes things just click right away, sometimes there are certain systems or certain scenarios you’ve been doing for a long time…so I don’t think it should take too long. So hopefully a couple more practices and a couple of games and I should have everything dialed in."
One thing that will be missing for Trotman though is his regular partner from last season, and someone that has helped him quite a bit, Zdeno Chara. "He’s a great guy, a great leader, he helped me out a lot coming up and learning my way. He’s a legend of the game and it was huge for me to be able to play with him for the last two seasons."
But Trotman already has his own new veteran presence helping him grow with the Kings. When asked if anyone was taking up the mantle of mentor for him, Trotman smiled and said, "Everyone is good, but in the locker room I sit between Scuderi and Greener. Those are two great guys, everyone says I got the golden spot in the locker room right now. It’s nice to be able to sit between those two and chit chat with em, bounce stuff off of them with systems and the adjustments I’m going through. It’s nice."
Trotman will be considered for the 6-8 defense position for the Kings with a good training camp. Given the limited right handed options currently going, he stands as perhaps one of the best of the group to grab the opportunity.
A similar position battle has risen on the forward group, and a player in a rather similar position to Trotman is Washington import Michael Latta.
Drafted in 2009, the now 25-year old Latta was one of the key pieces coming across in the disastrous Filip Forsberg/Martin Erat swap between Washington and Nashville in 2013. Despite the now one-sided looking deal, Latta has earned his keep in the NHL, playing as a gritty, hard-nosed and defensively responsible bottom line forward. Sounds like the right kind of fit for the Los Angeles Kings right? With Latta's versatility and commitment to hard hitting defensive hockey, the fit just made sense for Lombardi this offseason.
Latta was quick to point out the "Culture" that we so often hear about as Kings fans but rarely get to see behind closed doors of the LA locker room
"It has been great, obviously I’m really happy to sign here. It is a team that has a chance to win every year, and it is pretty special to be on that team and come out here and see the culture, just how the guys act, and they took me in really well, and it’s been really good."
He also seems to know that his style might just be a good fit for the Kings and for him.
"The style here really fits me, so I think that’s a real good thing. I think it’s more grind it down, and very structured in the sense that there are five guys always together. I felt in other years we may have been stretched out a little more (With Washington) but I like the sense here that it’s a five-man unit all the time. They play hard, the conference is a little harder over here. I think it is just going to be a good fit and hopefully I can do well."
Any fan of the Kings should be taking note of the key words there. "Structure" "five-man unit" and "fit".
These are all words we've come to expect in the Lombardi press conferences. The structure in which Latta speaks of has been paramount in the Kings winning ways over the past six to seven years. When asked if that tight structure was helpful, the Ottawa 67's forward brought up the high pressure style, which has also been key to the Kings success.
"Yeah, for sure, it’s still an adjustment period. They pressure a lot harder than in Wash so I’m still getting used to that. I think in Wash we kind of sat back at times, but here it is "Go go go". So I’m still getting used to the but once I get the hang of it I think it’s going to be a really good thing for me."
The reality is though, there is still a spot that will have to be won for the new forward. "Yeah it’s wide open. Obviously though they signed me for a reason. That said, they got 14 really good forwards on one-way contracts so it’s gunna be a grind, but that’s a good thing. This is a tight season what with the world cup, so depth…you’re going to need depth. A lot of games a lot of days. I’m just hoping to get in, crack the line-up, find some linemates, find some chemistry, and see what happens."
Where he ends up though is still up for debate. Latta can play both center and wing, and has switched off through parts of last season in Washington and through training camp thus far. Nevertheless, his versatility was highlighted when asked which he prefers
"I’ve played center my whole life, but ya know this is a tough league to make and you have to make sacrifices sometimes and I’ll play the wing too, I don’t mind that. Anything to get in the lineup."
Before I let Latta go, I had to ask his thoughts on Citizen's Business Bank Arena given that he had played at both Giant Center (the legendary arena of the Hershey Bears) and the cavernous Bradley Center (the 20,000 seat basketball arena home to the Milwaukee Bucks and Admirals).
"It’s GREAT here. Hershey has a great building too, but I mean the facilities are a lot newer and nicer here. This building…I was really surprised how nice this building was. It’s great."
As the season approaches the pressure is going to ramp up for these two incoming players to win a roster spot. As Latta put it, both were signed for a reason, and we may very well see them in a Kings uniform in a few weeks and understand that very reason. Until then, it is battle on.
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