(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“The other similar player that I had...when I got Mike Ricci in San Jose, remember he had been hurt a lot,” added Lombardi. “Everybody said ‘he’s always hurt, blah, blah, blah.’ Yeah, he had a string of injuries in Colorado, but when I got him he played 82 games every year. So you never know.”

“As long as the guy competes and knows he’ll play hurt. That’s the way Ricci was and again, because I know Williams, there are some similarities there with Ricci in terms of the way he loves to play. I know he knows the difference between ‘hurt’ and ‘injured.’”

Looking back to the 2008-09 season, Lombardi wondered what could have been if Williams could have contributed upon his arrival from the Carolina Hurricanes instead of being ineffective in the few games he was able to suit up for.

Before joining the Kings, Williams was on injured reserve after suffering a broken hand when he was struck by a shot by Carolina teammate Anton Babchuk in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 15.

“Don’t forget, we’re going to have Williams the whole year,” Lombardi noted. “There were so many games [last season] where we were right there that could’ve gone either way that would’ve been the difference between being in the playoffs and not.”

More favorable scheduling is likely to help the Kings as well.

“This isn’t an excuse and this is a credit to this team that they never used it as an excuse,” said Lombardi. “But don’t forget, that schedule from January on, we essentially had three home games and I love the fact that our players never complained, but I don’t know who could’ve stayed in the hunt the way those guys were on the road.”

“When I say ‘three home games,’ I don’t consider it a home game after being on the road for a week when you come home and play one game at home and then you’re on the road again? I don’t really consider that being at home,” added Lombardi.

“That’s just a pit stop and to their credit, they never quit. I was on the road with them the whole time and I was beat up. I was thinking, and I remember we were in Nashville, that I’m beat up from being on the road so much and these guys are playing. I’m not playing.”

“I’m thinking how many points that would’ve been. That’s changed with [Vice President/Hockey Operations and Legal Affairs] Jeff Solomon fighting with the league and making sure we get the building dates Downtown. That’s probably six points at least. But what I loved about this team, not one guy complained.

"Not one. I heard one comment that whole February and March when we were on the road the whole time and in the playoff hunt. They could’ve taken the easy way and they didn’t.”

Something new will be added to the plates of the young Kings...greater expectations, namely postseason play.

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