from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

The rope-a-dope thing gets old after a while. Because one of these times it might burn them. One doesn't imagine that general manager Dean Lombardi is overly pleased. The veteran GM has done a lot of research over the past few years, talking to executives and former players from championship teams in other sports, trying to give his Kings every edge in maintaining their top-level ways. This is a franchise that wants to be a dynasty-in-the-making.

This wasn't the opening three months the GM had in mind. Lombardi hasn't been with the Kings on this road trip, instead he's been with his AHL club Manchester over the past two weeks getting a close eye on his prospects. No doubt he's liked what he's seen down there, as the Monarchs have the second-best record in the AHL led by a number of kids who are going to be good NHLers, like center Nick Shore, 22, who might get a look up top before the season is out.

How the rest of this season plays out for the Kings will determine just how many roster spots open up for some of those youngsters in Manchester.

Does Lombardi start re-tooling with youth just a bit this summer or does his veteran, championship core once again give him proof not to tinker too much?

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