Free agency a bust so far for Kings

Hockey Betting Lines

07/08/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles area is home to Venice Beach, Hollywood and the famous 90210 zip code. The Fresh Prince once called it home (on television at least), and former Yankee icon Joe Torre made the jump from the Big Apple to the City of Angels.

There is no doubt that Los Angeles has a certain appeal that draws in the masses.

Unless you play in the NHL.

Despite being considered a franchise back on the rise, the Los Angeles Kings have yet to make a splash in free agency. Apparently, a team coming off a 12- win, 22-point improvement isn't very enticing for those skaters looking to relocate.

Not that the Kings haven't been in the headlines since free agency began on July 1. Los Angeles had been linked to the top unemployed prize, Ilya Kovalchuk, but was unable to convince the Russian sniper to lower his asking price and come out west, leading general manager Dean Lombardi to announce on Monday that his team was pulling out of the bidding war.

(The Los Angeles Times did report on Wednesday that the Kings were back in the hunt for Kovalchuk's services, but followed up on Thursday that they were again backing away from the high-priced winger.)

While the Kings were wasting their time courting Kovalchuk, they failed to add scoring help alongside lamp-lighter Anze Kopitar, the hard-working Dustin Brown and veteran leader Ryan Smyth, while Norris Trophy nominee Drew Doughty and fellow young blueliner Jack Johnson have yet to receive any new help at the back end.

Off the market are forward Ray Whitney and defensemen Anton Volchenkov, Dan Hamhuis and Paul Martin, leaving the Kings staring at a free agency list that now includes a host of players that come with questions, including hot-and- cold forwards Lee Stempniak and Alexei Ponikarovsky and injury-plagued defenders Willie Mitchell and Kim Johnsson.

That's not what you want to see when you are a club that is coming off its first playoff appearance since 2002 and resides in a tough Pacific Division.

In fact, free agency has so far only seen the losses of enforcer Raitis Ivanans (whose toughness has yet to be replaced) and defenseman Sean O'Donnell. It also appears as if the Kings aren't interested in bringing back their own free agent Alexander Frolov, a talented forward with questionable work ethic who could end up jumping ship to the KHL.

Cap space isn't an issue for the Kings, but appeal apparently is. The good news for Los Angeles is that years of stockpiling top-end draft picks, in addition to a logjam in net, gives the team depth to make some trades.

Reports have linked Philadelphia Flyers forward Simon Gagne, a two-time 40-goal scorer, to the Kings, and Ducks forward Bobby Ryan's name has popped up as well. Gagne comes with some risk as he has dealt with injuries in two of his last three seasons (including the dreaded concussion), and a move for the unhappy Ryan out in Anaheim will likely deal quite a blow to Los Angeles' prospects pool.

The Kings say they passed on Kovalchuk, a two-time 50-goal scorer, because his cost wouldn't allow them to keep together their young core. Doughty, Johnson and Wayne Simmonds are set for restricted free agency following 2010-11, and the philosophy based on keeping them around also smartly kept them from overpaying for some of this year's free agency group (think six years for Volchenkov by New Jersey or four years, $6.5 million by the Rangers for Derek Boogaard).

Still, for a club that hasn't been a fixture in the playoffs for the good part of this century, not making any type of moves has Los Angeles on the brink of losing the momentum captured with an excellent 2009-10 campaign.

Perhaps the Kings had too many eggs in the Kovalchuk basket or maybe the west coast just doesn't appeal to those who skate on a frozen pond, but hey, it was good enough for Wayne Gretzky.

And if Gretzky can't make some calls on the Kings behalf, maybe Jed Clampett can.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.