2014-2015 Manchester Monarchs - 2015 Calder Cup Champions!

[KINGS17]

I have yet to see an NHL team make a substantial offer to an RFA that hasn't played a significant number of NHL games. Weal and Shore will not be getting offer sheets.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I have yet to see an NHL team make a substantial offer to an RFA that hasn't played a significant number of NHL games. Weal and Shore will not be getting offer sheets.

I agree, but I wouldn't be shocked to see the offer sheets get pulled out this season if only because of cap hell...but on the flipside of the coin, just about EVERYONE is in cap hell, so seems like a bad move due to future retribution. The AHL's offensive MVPs are ripping it up in manchester so someone is going to be after them, the question is what to give up.

 

[CTKingsFan]

I highly doubt Weal is even offered a offer sheet. Toffoli is the only candidate for an offer sheet, and I doubt even he's offered one. It's just not good business.


I think Weal will be on the Kings next season.

 

[regulate]

I highly doubt Weal is even offered a offer sheet. Toffoli is are only candidate for an offer sheet, and I doubt even he's offered one. It's just not good business.


I think Weal will be on the Kings next season.

Exactly.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Wolfpack have a lead 4-2 in the 2nd. If they hang on, they'll oust the Hershey Bears in 6 games, setting up the Monarchs' Eastern Conference opponents.

Over in the Western Conference, Utica (VAN) has a 3-2 lead over Oklahoma City (EDM), and Grand Rapids (DET) has a 3-1 lead in their series against Rockford (CHI).

 

[cali101]

^thanks for the update ziggy.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Hartford wins. Hartford is the Rangers AHL team.

 

[CNS]

Monarchs To Battle Wolf Pack In Conference Finals

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Monarchs To Battle Wolf Pack In Conference Finals

We're ****ed

[Yt]fdMxRG9Jol0[/MEDIA]

 

[triplcrown]

Any opinions on how we match-up against The Pack?

I know The Monarchs dd well against them in the reg season.

Any reason to fear the trend will not continue?

 

[CNS]

Any opinions on how we match-up against The Pack?

I know The Monarchs dd well against them in the reg season.

Any reason to fear the trend will not continue?

Look two posts above yours.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

It must be hard to be Zykov and Brodzinski (to some extent) to be there for 3 (or whatever) weeks and practicing and wanting a chance. But understandable that they are not getting a shot to play in a game yet, the way Manch is rolling. It's a good experience for them to be there and practicing every day and being hungry, for sure.
Ordinarily, it would be off season for them and not skating. I bet they will be ready in September and both cut from LA, but will be ready to make impacts in Ontario. I bet Kempe gets a long look in LA. Weal? I don't thimk he will be in Ontario. On the Kings more likely...but somewhere other than Ontario.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

It must be hard to be Zykov and Brodzinski (to some extent) to be there for 3 (or whatever) weeks and practicing and wanting a chance.

Isn't Johnny B still hurt?

 

[seen em all]

It must be hard to be Zykov and Brodzinski (to some extent) to be there for 3 (or whatever) weeks and practicing and wanting a chance. But understandable that they are not getting a shot to play in a game yet, the way Manch is rolling. It's a good experience for them to be there and practicing every day and being hungry, for sure.
Ordinarily, it would be off season for them and not skating. I bet they will be ready in September and both cut from LA, but will be ready to make impacts in Ontario. I bet Kempe gets a long look in LA. Weal? I don't thimk he will be in Ontario. On the Kings more likely...but somewhere other than Ontario.

Zykov and Brozinski? what about Sabourin, Ebert, Raine, Biz, Gratton? who have not had a chance yet? Saby Ebert please......players who have been here all season or 2 + seasons for Saby? it sucks.

 

[CTKingsFan]

I beleive Zykov, Brodzinski, and Lintuniemi have already been sent home.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Monarchs To Battle Wolf Pack In Conference Finals

Thanks, CNS, for the info on Hartford's team. It's always more fun when you know something about the other team. I'll be referring to that piece a few times before Thursday's game.

New article up at Mayor's Manor: Jordan Weal Dishes on His Monarchs Teammates He talks about O'Brien's nicknames, Kempe, Brodzinski and Zykov, J.F. Berube and Coach Mike Stothers. I believe this is part 1 of an interview with him.

On the coach:

“He’s a good coach. I think the biggest thing is his calm demeanor behind the bench. He doesn’t say much. He always has that calm, quiet look on his face. Sometimes, in the room, when we’re not playing up to par, he definitely lets us know, but you have to do that sometimes. I think the biggest thing is when he’s behind the bench. Say we’re in a one goal game, in the third period, when he’s calm, it definitely works down to the players and the players feel calm too.â€

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Jason Lewis has written a good piece called: The Undervalued, Undersized Player

The Kings, for better or for worse, like players who are "Hard to play against."

Jordan Weal has played two outstanding seasons with the Los Angeles Kings organization. He is not the only undersized yet productive player trying to make the big show either. Brian O'Neill, a 27-year old Yale grade and the AHL MVP this season, stands at a towering 5'9" and 175 pounds. With two solid years in the AHL under his belt, very few players know of him despite being on the Monarchs top line and the league MVP. While no one seems to doubt the ability of either player, the question of whether or not they can stand up to the physicality of the NHL game often comes up.

Will Dean Lombardi and crew take the plunge and actually dress an undersized player though? That will definitely be one of the major storylines going into next season. The Kings' bottom-six is packed like a mail truck on Mother's Day already, so he will have to take the job from someone else.

---------------------------------

This is the Wolf Pack’s first appearance in the Conference Finals since 2004, when they lost in seven games to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and the fourth in the history of the franchise. The Wolf Pack were 1-2-1-0 this year in regular-season action vs. the Monarchs,

Jordan Weal isn't the only one to score a hat trick in these playoffs. Hartford's Marek Hrivek scored a hattie in Game 6 of the series against Hershey.

 

[bob77]

As crazy as it sounds, DS doesn't like players who can score if they are not good defensively. Patrick Kane wouldn't play for him.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Nice article.

I think Kings are willing to go with an undersized player. I'm just don't think they have found him yet. But it's not for a lack of trying. You look at the drafts since Lombardi has come in, and the Kings have taken several undersized, high end skilled players. From earlier picks like Moller and Loktionov, to Kozun and Weal, to recent picks like Watson. Even undrafted guys likes Brain O'Neill. Those undersized guys with NHL skill are hard to come by, but when you find one, it's like finding gold. You even look a recent successful smaller players like Tyler Johnson (undrafted) and Johnny Gaudreau (4th rounder), those players are drafted late, if drafted at all. Now... with all that said, I think Jordan Weal maybe our best pick yet when it comes to undersized players. All those guys have skills. But Jordan Weal maybe the smartest of them all, and has the best vision of them all. I'm not saying he's gonna have Johnson or Gaudreau skills. But I think he has the best shot a being solid NHL player then any of our previous undersized players have had. I really hope the Kings don't trade him at the draft, I think it would be a mistake if they do.

 

[cali101]

gr8 articles. liked weal's comments on stother's calmness and trust. that's key!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Never saw that one. Thanks for nothing, Jason Lewis Edit; ahh, because it's from literally today a few hours ago, no wonder I hadn't read it yet

DOn't have a chance to read it right now but I agree that it's less about undersized players and more about hard-to-play-against with the Kings. The guy can have all the grit in the world, but is a guy like Oscar Moller really that hard to play against? Smallest dude that fits that bill in our org is vintage Mike Richards. This team is built for a 7-game war, so it's hard to say if they actually will take a shot/flyer on a guy like Weal. Actually, let me put it this way--there's no way the 2012-2013 Kings do; the 2014 Kings were ready to but were blocked by the cap, though ultimately I doubt he would have been around for the playoffs unless he blew everyone's socks off; the 2015 Kings have yet to be seen but imo I think they'll feel the winds of change.

I do think there's absolutely a place for these guys in the NHL and if the Kings are looking to these teams that get outshot like mad but have the skill to pop one in when they get a chance as a sort of model, maybe there's space for 1-2 of said players on the roster next year.

As a side note, the reason the Kings were so dominant from 2012-2014 is no one had that combo of the size and skill to do it. The Blues had the size, but no elite first liners like Kopitar and (2012) Brown. The Sharks had the skill and SOME size, but mostly couldn't hang with us late in the series'. The Hawks had the skill and a way to neutralize the size. The Ducks had a good combo of both but just not enough. THIS YEAR, though, the Jets had us outdone in size and speed (and debatably, skill--but that's with our guys having bad years), our size wasn't intimidating anyone because we weren't catching them to pound them, and our skill wasn't enough to bury teams when we ground them down. I'm not sure what the answer is other than hopefully rest, but it will be interesting to see the organizational philosophy transform (or not) the rosters from the NHL to the Reign to the Monarchs.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Ugh, this wait is brutal! I want some hockey!

The Grand Rapids Griffins (Red Wings) eliminated the Rockford IceHogs (Blackhawks) tonight. IF the Monarchs make into the Calder Cup Finals. There's a good chance that would be their opponent. They've been equally as dominate as the Monarchs have been in the playoffs. They're still waitng on their opponent. It'll either be the Utica Comets (Canucks) or the Oklahoma City Barons (Oilers) Utica has 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is tomorrow.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Excellent post, Brad Doty.

Ugh, this wait is brutal! I want some hockey!

The Grand Rapids Griffins (Red Wings) eliminated the Rockford IceHogs (Blackhawks) tonight. IF the Monarchs make into the Calder Cup Finals. There's a good chance that would be their opponent. They've been equally as dominate as the Monarchs have been in the playoffs. They're still waitng on their opponent. It'll either be the Utica Comets (Canucks) or the Oklahoma City Barons (Oilers) Utica has 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is tomorrow.

So would the Griffins be the Blackhawks in this scenario?

Part 2 of the interview with Jordan Weal: Jordan Weal – ‘I am not on a personal vendetta’:

On the possibility of moving to wing, rather than playing center:

“In Regina [playing junior hockey in the WHL], I didn’t really play at wing because we had a lot of good wingers, but not as much depth down the middle; so I was playing a lot of center. Then, here, it’s been mostly center. But, when I was younger, I used to play a lot of wing when I was in bantam and stuff. I played with guys like Jaden Schwartz from St. Louis. We’d always play together and he’d go down the middle. It’s a pretty natural changeover for a centerman to go to wing. I’d say it’s a little easier, because as a winger, it’s a different kind of energy system – you kind of wait, wait, wait, and explode. You need to use that quick burst of energy. I’m definitely used to playing on thewing, that’s for sure.â€

 

[triplcrown]

Look two posts above yours.

Yeah, I read that.
I guess I should have said I was curious about the opinions of any *posters on this BBS who have seen the Pack play this season*.

I know what the sportswriter thinks.

Now I want to hear from the real experts ---- The folks on this BBS.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Excellent post, Brad Doty.



So would the Griffins be the Blackhawks in this scenario?

Part 2 of the interview with Jordan Weal: Jordan Weal – ‘I am not on a personal vendetta’:

How do you mean? If you mean our toughest opponent. Then yeah, I would say so. Teemu Pulkkinen has 13 goals in 10 games, which is pretty freakin impressive. But that's geting ahead of our selves. We gotta take care of Hartford first.