The new lighting scheme at Staples Center, which "focuses the arena’s newly installed LED lights on the ice surface and leaves the stands darkened, has drawn some criticism" from Kings players, according to Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. Kings coach Darryl Sutter on Friday said that players "have told him that they don’t like having the stands darkened in the background, and it’s for one logical reason." Sutter: "They can’t see the puck at a certain height. When we practiced down there, I couldn’t see the puck, either. When it got above the boards, I couldn’t see the puck. But I thought it was because the seats were all black and there was nobody in them." He added that the lights on the ice "had been adjusted, but not the lack of lighting directed to the stands." Kings D Alec Martinez said, "It certainly is different. It’s almost brighter on the ice but it’s darker in the building." Staples Center President Lee Zeidman said that he "will take the players' comments into account." Zeidman: "It is very important for us that the Kings are happy with the new system and we will continue to work with both the team and the NHL to make tweaks as needed" (L.A. TIMES, 10/11).
