Mike Cammalleri Interview: Lil Engine that Could

Leading the Los Angeles Kings in scoring this season, Mike Cammalleri has been one of the few bright spots on a team that has been anything but spectacular this year. The fact that he plays on the West Coast may diminish his accomplishments this season, as many people have not been able to see him play. McKeen's caught up to him after a disappointing loss in Hockeytown and was able to talk about his progress thus far.

McKeen's: How frustrating is it to play for this Kings team this season?

Cammalleri: Every year when you start training camp and the season you come in with one goal in mind and that is to win the Stanley Cup. To do that however you have to compete and make the playoffs, so it has been hard knowing that we are not going to be in a position to do what we set out to do. I think we have a lot of good pieces here and I don't think it will be long before we are able to compete in the playoffs.

McKeen's: Speaking of that optimism, this team went through a series of changes personnel wise, as you got rid of some key players at the deadline. What do you think of the direction of this team in that regard?

Cammalleri: It is pretty evident that we are making some moves that ideally make us younger and prepare us better for the future. I can tell you this, that this bunch of guys and this dressing room does not take well to losing and there is a considerable degree of hope and that it won't take as long as some people think for us to be competitive.

McKeen's: You have made tremendous strides in your defensive game, as you are among the leaders on your team. Did Craig Conroy teach you anything?

Cammalleri: Conroy taught me a lot. Aside from being a great teammate and leader, he is an even better friend. I have always prided myself in my defensive play. I think that stat (plus/minus) can be a little misleading and sometimes you are pegged as to the type of player you are by it.

McKeen's: You picked up your game offensively. However, were you surprised as to how long it took to develop that aspect of your game in the AHL?

Cammalleri: I played the better parts of three years up and down with both Manchester and Los Angeles however, that is part of the process of becoming a pro. The lockout year playing there was really good for me.

McKeen's: Let us go back to that lockout year. How much did that help you develop as a player?

Cammalleri: I had a great coach, Bruce Boudreau, and he played me in many key situations. I played a lot of hockey and it was great for just becoming a better professional.

McKeen's: On the topic of coach's, how has coach Crawford been with you?

Cammalleri: It has been a good relationship. We understand each other very well. He is a coach that expects full efforts from his players and I demand that from myself as well, so I have no problems with his coaching practices.

McKeen's: Can you comment on the development of Anze Kopitar, and how much he means to this team already?

Cammalleri: He is such a gifted hockey player. For his age, he is so composed and poised with the puck. He doesn't force plays rather, he lets them develop and come to him. It is going to be special to watch him develop but he already means so much to us in terms of getting better as a team.

McKeen's: Finally, has everything between you and coach Red Berenson (Michigan NCAA) been settled?

Cammalleri: I think it was a situation back then where he may have taken it a tad personally because he was losing a player but we have talked since then and everything is fine.