Illegal Curve ran into Los Angeles Kings Assistant GM Ron Hextall at the NHL Entry draft, and had the opportunity to ask him about LA’s recent trade to acquire Mike Richards.
IC: How did the trade to acquire come about to acquire Mike Richards?
Ron Hextall: Well, obviously our GM Dean Lombardi, talkin to Paul Holmgren, we both had needs, and they needed some cap space and quite frankly we want to move forward as an organization and take a big step. Richie (Mike Richards) obviously, we knew him well from my time in Philadelphia, and we love the player and he brings a culture that we covet, and the fit for us was really good. We gave up alot, but they needed cap space and we needed a good player so it worked for both sides, I think both sides did well.
Read the full interview after the jump
IC: Who is Los Angeles targeting in the 2nd round?
Ron Hextall: We don’t pick until the 2nd round but its hard to say will we move up, I have absolutely no idea if its a possibility, its probably slight, but we pick 49th so we think we’re going to get a good player there, at that point there is too much guessing but its difficult to pinpoint one player.
IC: Can you share with us your favourite memory of playing in Winnipeg?
Ron Hextall: I had some good games against the Jets there, but no playoff games. The biggest thing for me was when I was 15 years old, our midget team beat St. James Canadians to represent Manitoba in the Air Canada Cup, that was in Winnipeg, we were heavy underdogs.
When I think of Winnipeg it was a good organization, Dale Hawerchuk comes to mind, having an NHL team in Winnipeg, I was so excited when I heard the news, the people deserve it and the province deserves it.
