Kings Place Garon on IR; Recall Fukufuji From Manchester

[VodkaFish]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have placed goaltender Mathieu Garon (finger) on injured reserve and recalled goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji (emergency basis) from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Garon, 28, has a record of 8-7-3, a goals-against-average of 2.80, a save-percentage of .904 and two shutouts in 20 appearances with the Kings this season. The Kings acquired the 6-2, 192-pound native of Chandler, Quebec, from Montreal with a third-round choice (Paul Baier) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft for Radek Bonk and goaltender Cristobal Huet on June 26, 2004. Originally selected by Montreal in the second-round (44th overall) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Garon has a record of 55-53-3, a goals-against-average of 2.91, a save-percentage of .902 and 10 shutouts in 126 career NHL appearances with the Kings and Montreal.

Fukufuji, 24, has a record of 2-0-0, a goals-against-average of 1.30, a save-percentage of .954 and no shutouts in three games with the Monarchs this season. In addition, the 6-1, 180-pound native of Tokyo, Japan, and the first player born in Japan to ever dress for in an NHL game (Kings vs. Dallas at STAPLES Center on December 16, 2006), has a record of 3-3-0, a goals-against-average of 3.19 and a save-percentage of .898 in 10 appearances with the Reading Royals (ECHL) this season. Originally selected by the Kings in the eighth-round (238th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Fukufuji has not appeared in an NHL game.

[forsberg21]

hahaha, yukata fukufuji, funny name. but seriously, the kings are screwed.

[cottonzway]

That guy sounds like he is fighting in PRIDE or Shooto. lol That's cool that the game has gotten to the point where someone from Japan is now playing in the NHL.

[reddmarksmen]

having Yutaka Fukufuji playing is a good thing for the NHL. it gives more exposure and puts asians on the map (other than richard park). We got to admit, hockey is predominately a european and north american sport, hope he does well.

[WanderingEye]

The Kings are down to Barry Brust and Yutaka Fukufuji... yipes. I guess they can't do much worse than Cloutier was doing.

[Isles4life]

Cloutier may not have been bad news when he went down, but Garon is. At least a guy with an awesome name might actually get to play.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Hey Fuk Yu Fugi is back!

He didnt even play the last time they called him did he?

[2Robitaille4]

Originally Posted by AVALANCHE FAN

Hey Fuk Yu Fugi is back!

He didnt even play the last time they called him did he?

Nice!!! Way to read between the lines, He played damn good for Reading in the ECHL, but the NHL is a whole different Ballgame.

[slopp133]

yes!! Fukufuji is back fellas! and this time hes here to stay.

[royalschick9]

Originally Posted by 2Robitaille4

Nice!!! Way to read between the lines, He played damn good for Reading in the ECHL, but the NHL is a whole different Ballgame.

yeah played well when he wasn't getting hurt...he got hurt every game he played with us...never failed.


BUT HE DID MAKE NHL HISTORY YESTURDAY!!
1ST Japenese player ever to appear in an NHL game!!

[hockeyfighter20]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

hahaha, yukata fukufuji, funny name. but seriously, the kings are screwed.

Not really Fukufuji is a pretty good goalie, but we shall see.