KingsOfCali25
Start up the Tank!
In terms of roles they would best succeed in, I think you have some good comparisons. Although it's extremely optimistic that any number of them would be able to fill in for current NHLers.
Just a brief summation of a chunk of them, if not all, from my perspective:
Kempe would definitely be able to benefit more from his speed through the neutral zone, so he may thrive at center like Carter. However, he's very tenacious and speedy along the boards too, and I thought he played a lot like Trevor Lewis.
Prokhorkin wouldn't play in Carter's role, if he decided to commit to the NHL. I'm not as optimistic about him as years past. At best, he would make a good 3rd line center, something along the Shore mold.
Watson isn't too different from Weal, in terms of being a smaller guy whose speed, skill and tenacity has allowed him to be successful. Could he make it as a 2nd line winger, like Gaborik? He COULD, but like Weal, he may find more success in a different organization.
I agree Mersch could eventually develop into a top line powerforward, although he's not as menacing as Lucic. He really has to improve on his skating, however, and consequently, he will need another offseason to (pardon the pun) make strides.
Brodzinski has a better chance than Watson of having that second line sniper role. His technique is much better refined. Kubalik, I think, still sealed his fate by returning to Europe instead of staying and developing his game in North America.
Zykov, skillwise, has been a little lukewarm. He's more competitive than skillful. I think he would find himself in a more suitable role on the third line, like Brown or King. Mistele is such a wild card. I don't know how to project him.
Cernak I think is closer to the role of what Voynov provided, in terms of having a combination of skill and gritty play. He's still very immature, in my opinion. LaDue, I've heard comparisons of him to Willie Mitchell, which as a stay-at-home defenseman with some ability to chip in offensively, I think is pretty fair.
I actually agree Leslie is a perfect comparison to Martinez as far as role and style of play. Ebert would also have a similar role as a bottom pairing offensive defenseman, although he's a more skilled puck carrier like Doughty.
Sharipziyanov might succeed as a bottom pairing stay at home defenseman at best. I don't see much of Voynov in him.
Lowry could top off as a third line wing like Brown, but I just don't see it happening. He's a high energy player. Kitsyn is still in the ECHL at the age of 24, and even after the Kings have lost Weal, Mersch to the NHL and Kempe temporarily to the WJC, he wasn't called up to the AHL. I think we can assume the organization has no long term plans for him.
Dergachev would fit in perfectly in the third line grinding winger's role. I agree.
Amadio and Dowd are both fantastic two way centers; I feel both would be okay as bottom 6 centers.
Schenn is a good style and role comparison to Gravel; bottom pairing stay at home defenseman who can play physical. Forbort is not nearly assertive enough in his game, and I've compared him for years to Jeff Schultz before the Kings signed Jeff Schultz. Lintuniemi is a wildcard. He can play the McNabb role, given his skils and style of play, but I've always come away feeling lukewarm when I watch Lintuniemi play. I don't know why.
Schmalz has not impressed me at all, and I definitely don't see him being able to eventually fill the role Lewis does. He turns 20 this year, he's the 7th leading scorer on a very bad team, and he has the second worst +/- in the entire league (-35). Now, I normally don't think +/- means a whole lot, but when you have his size, you're older than a lot of your competition, and you still can't reconcile any of your metrics to something respectable, only reinforces the eye test.
Auger and Marchment could both pan out as fourth line grinders. I think like other prospects, the Sabourin ship has sailed. Wagner would actually benefit more playing in a higher tempo role, like that of a third line winger or even a second line winger if he puts it together (his numbers have been up and down this year).
A couple more players not mentioned. Middleton could pan out as a bottom pairing, stay at home tough guy. Kurtis MacDermid as well (he's closer to Greene in terms of role and style of play than anyone else in the organization). Reddekopp could become a bottom four defender, but I have to see more of him to have a better handle.
Thanks KP! Always like hearing your take.
The only thing I have to say why I put Watson in the Gaborik spot. Is that he doesn't have the speed of Gaborik but he does have a good shot like him and that I hear he is willing to go to the front of the net for rebounds when he probably shouldn't be because of size. He might be like Weal but I think he has a better shot of landing in the top 6 because he is a winger and not a center like Weal. It's not as hard and grinding as a winger on thus team than the Center spot is, so he might be able to get away with his size.