King-sized task: Filling in for Jonathan Quick

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The 20-year-old was walking out of the Kings’ training facility in El Segundo on Monday with a smile about as big as his equipment bag.

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter, who was chatting with reporters in the corridor at the time, stopped for a moment and bid goodbye to his goalie for the day.

‘Your Mum and Dad get everything they wanted? Awesome,’ Sutter said.

Salvatore Tecci replied with a ‘thank you.’

Tecci, who plays goalie for the Long Beach Bombers of the Western States Hockey League, was a one-day substitute for the Kings’ Jonathan Quick at practice. Quick traveled back to Los Angeles from the NHL All-Star game in Ottawa on Monday but didn’t return until the afternoon.

Sutter seemed to get a kick out of it all.

‘He’s from Henderson (Nev.) and plays Junior B in Long Beach,’ Sutter said. ‘His mum and dad came in last night and drove in and got a room. And I think that was them videoing practice. That’s pretty cool. Sign the waiver and get out there, right?’

Meanwhile, Sutter spent time at the Kings’ practice facility during the All-Star break, managed to get to Disneyland with his son Christopher and even scouted a bit in Manchester, the Kings’ affiliate in the American Hockey League.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see some movement between players in Los Angeles and Manchester.

‘There’s forwards [in Manchester] that are good players,’ Sutter said. ‘They’re sooner-than-later guys, that’s for sure.’

The Kings had an abbreviated session Monday, practicing about 40 minutes, and don’t play until Wednesday night against Columbus.

‘They were flying out there today,’ Sutter said. ‘I wish we would’ve played tonight.’

ALSO:

Hunt for playoff spots to get really serious soon

NHL: Pluses and minuses from around the league

Team Charra wins All-Star game, 12-9, over Team Alfredsson

--Lisa Dillman