2016 LA Kings Offseason GDT V: Free Agent Frenzy

[Ollie Weeks]

Clifford had zero business being in the NHL at 19, but the Kings probably felt he was to physically mature for the OHL. Ofcourse the CHL cartel who claims to be for "The players best interests" won't allow NHL teams to even have a single 19 year old play in the AHL.

Clifford just never learned how to be an effective offensive player, never got the proper development at the AHL level, never got to dominate junior like he probably could have as a 19 year old.

No game sense offensively, no creativity. He is nothing more than a chip and chase fourth line player, and it's sad, because he probably could have been more had his development not been botched.

But he was arbitrarily thrown into a sentence vaguely discussing leadership qualities a year or two ago by a coach known both for his rambling incoherence and inability to give a ****.

 

[USE Fi]

No idea what's with that.

The Kings development staff constantly bring up Clifford/Moller as an example of bad development with young players.

I think Clifford would have been a more rounded player with 100-150 AHL games under his belt.

Mersch has 170 games in AHL, do most of you think that he is ready?

 

[Reaper45]

Another Kings camp invite. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=176685

 

[The Tikkanen]

Another Kings camp invite. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=176685

It must be fun to watch a Q game in person.

 

[damacles1156]

Mersch has 170 games in AHL, do most of you think that he is ready?

Mersch's problem is skating, He has a lot of trouble keeping up NHL pace.

He may never develop that NHL pace, may be an AHL player forever.

Mersch supposedly worked on his skating all summer.

 

[Reaper45]

It must be fun to watch a Q game in person.

Two guys with 89 points and the rest stink.

How does that work?

 

[scramble91]

Mersch's problem is skating, He has a lot of trouble keeping up NHL pace.

He may never develop that NHL pace, may be an AHL player forever.

Mersch supposedly worked on his skating all summer.

Agree. People pencil in Mersch and crap all over shore (while their first ahl seasons posted similar ppg while Shores skating and 2 way play was more advanced). There are very few prospects that could jump in and produce offensively at the NHL level.

I do like his skill set, attitude, and honesty (when he sucked he was honest about it). I hope his skating gets ALOT better this summer.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Agree. People pencil in Mersch and crap all over shore (while their first ahl seasons posted similar ppg while Shores skating and 2 way play was more advanced). There are very few prospects that could jump in and produce offensively at the NHL level.

I do like his skill set, attitude, and honesty (when he sucked he was honest about it). I hope his skating gets ALOT better this summer.

there is one simple reason a few of us king fans pencil him in He scores goals I think if he gets a chance he will score. He has on every level. Sounds a lot like toffoli to me People said he couldn't skate either Oh yeah hes cheaper then King for all the cap chicken littles. He is worth a shot imo

 

[kingsfan28]

agreed think King can maybe return a later 2nd round pick, Clifford a late 3rd early 4th.

I'm surprised he wasn't moved at the draft seeing how we only had a few picks.

 

[scramble91]

there is one simple reason a few of us king fans pencil him in He scores goals I think if he gets a chance he will score. He has on every level. Sounds a lot like toffoli to me People said he couldn't skate either Oh yeah hes cheaper then King for all the cap chicken littles. He is worth a shot imo

His pedigree is nowhere near TT. I get what you are saying, but it's a very poor comparable. Tyler had 1st round talent and his skating pushed him down. Look at the gpg for each of their first ahl seasons. If his gpg was in the ballpark I would agree with you, but he is closer to shore than toffoli. Pearson had a similar gpg to mersch but his game is based on speed.

Tyler's first ahl season - gpg was .48

Mersch - gpg .28

Share - gpg .20

As a fan nothing would please me more to see him breakout, but if he can't keep up he will be more of a liability than help. I just temper my optimism because he won't be in the top 6.. Which means he needs to be great on the d side...and if he can't keep up with the pace, he wont displace King.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

His pedigree is nowhere near TT. I get what you are saying, but it's a very poor comparable. Tyler had 1st round talent and his skating pushed him down. Look at the gpg for each of their first ahl seasons. If his gpg was in the ballpark I would agree with you, but he is closer to shore than toffoli. Pearson had a similar gpg to mersch but his game is based on speed.

Tyler's first ahl season - gpg was .48

Mersch - gpg .28

Share - gpg .20

As a fan nothing would please me more to see him breakout, but if he can't keep up he will be more of a liability than help. I just temper my optimism because he won't be in the top 6.. Which means he needs to be great on the d side...and if he can't keep up with the pace, he wont displace King.

Your way over analyzing this King need goals best person in the ahl for a goal scoring spot is Mersch move him up King is worse skating imo when i saw Mersch last only mention toffoli because we heard the same about his skating and we seen him over come it with time and effort

 

[scramble91]

Your way over analyzing this King need goals best person in the ahl for a goal scoring spot is Mersch move him up King is worse skating imo when i saw Mersch last only mention toffoli because we heard the same about his skating and we seen him over come it with time and effort

Disagree. Mersch skating wasn't close to King. He was caught numerous times behind the play. It's not over analyzing it... Kings need more depth scoring... I agree but until he can keep up with the game, he won't play.

I'm not saying he is a career ahl player (I think he have a good career), but his development curve needs to continue upward and most of that depends on his skating. I love his intensity, drive, IQ, and base skill set...and his net front presence is sorely needed on this team; however, I don't think he is ready yet and still has a lot of work left.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Agree. People pencil in Mersch and crap all over shore (while their first ahl seasons posted similar ppg while Shores skating and 2 way play was more advanced). There are very few prospects that could jump in and produce offensively at the NHL level.

I do like his skill set, attitude, and honesty (when he sucked he was honest about it). I hope his skating gets ALOT better this summer.

Shore is ment to play a top 6 Center role. Not a shut down 3rd line role. He is miscast on the team. His offensive production isn't there because he has to worry about other parts of his game. He needs to play more of a Carter style game than that of a Stoll style to be productive. Mersch isn't like that, so he can be put into many different roles. He can play the King style or the Lucic style. That's why he gets penciled into the lineup more often than Shore. It's more of a fit thing, than points thing.

The team might be better suited to run...

Gaborik--Kopitar--Toffoli
Pearson--Shore--Carter
Brown--Dowd--Purcell
Clifford--Lewis--King

Than having Shore play the 3rd line shutdown role. It would put people in the correct spots to use their abilities the best way possible.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Disagree. Mersch skating wasn't close to King. He was caught numerous times behind the play. It's not over analyzing it... Kings need more depth scoring... I agree but until he can keep up with the game, he won't play.

I'm not saying he is a career ahl player (I think he have a good career), but his development curve needs to continue upward and most of that depends on his skating. I love his intensity, drive, IQ, and base skill set...and his net front presence is sorely needed on this team; however, I don't think he is ready yet and still has a lot of work left.

I don't think that was the foot speed. Yes, he foot speed is slow. I just really think it was just him hesitating as he was still trying to learn the NHL game. I think he is faster than he showed. It is a big jump from AHL to NHL.

 

[scramble91]

Shore is ment to play a top 6 Center role. Not a shut down 3rd line role. He is miscast on the team. His offensive production isn't there because he has to worry about other parts of his game. He needs to play more of a Carter style game than that of a Stoll style to be productive. Mersch isn't like that, so he can be put into my different roles. He can play the King style or the Lucic style. That's why he gets penciled into the lineup more often.

The team might be better suited to run...

Gaborik--Kopitar--Toffoli
Pearson--Shore--Carter
Brown--Dowd--Purcell
Clifford--Lewis--King

Than having Shore play the 3rd line shutdown role. It would put people in the correct spots to use their abilities the best way possible.

I would think most scouting reports just listed him as a good 2 way center. I never seen anything suggesting he would be a NHL top 6 center because of his size and lack of speed. His upside could be Stoll minus the physical play. He already takes dumb penalties

I'm not down on Mersch, I actually think a lot of people are too hard on Shore. He is still young, defensively responsible, good at face offs, and a possesion freak. Similar to Mersch, his development trajectory needs to grow as well (speed, offense). They are 23 so they only have another few years to carve out their niche in the NHL.

 

[scramble91]

I don't think that was the foot speed. Yes, he foot speed is slow. I just really think it was just him hesitating as he was still trying to learn the NHL game. I think he is faster than he showed. It is a big jump from AHL to NHL.

Some of the time he had the Pearson look (lost) which happens to rookies...but his skating limited him to get to spots, and put him behind on the back check. Also his transitions from board play was slower than any forward. It's obviously my opinion and I hope I'm wrong...but I still think he is another season away (I have no doubts he will work his butt off to improve his skating).

 

[Omni Owl]

I'm honestly not sold on Shore or Dowd being able to come in and fill the 3C spot. Lewis might just be the guy we'll have to have there in the mean time, until someone like Amadio or Dergachyov is ready. The team did play fairly well with Lewis and Shore trading off 3C duties before the Lecavalier trade. AA could also be a dark horse if he continues to improve, he had a great end to the season last year.

 

[USE Fi]

Mersch's problem is skating, He has a lot of trouble keeping up NHL pace.

He may never develop that NHL pace, may be an AHL player forever.

Mersch supposedly worked on his skating all summer.

I remember Mersch says he has been working with his skating since his fresman year in collage and he said the person is Jim Sawyer. Is he familiar to someone here?

 

[YP44]

I'm surprised he wasn't moved at the draft seeing how we only had a few picks.

me too. I would have bet money on LA trading one of King/Nolan/Clifford for a draft pick

 

[damacles1156]

Another third/fourth round pick doesn't help the current Kings roster, no one should be shocked, Roster players weren't moved for such.

Shore has always been a two-way forward, going back to his college days, it's one of the reasons the Kings drafted him.

Mersch's problem with (pace) is, he can't get to his spots, and keep up play/momentum to be effective(at NHL pace).

Toffoli had no such problem. Toffoli simply had an ugly stride and push off, which put scouts off.

 

[YP44]

Another third/fourth round pick doesn't help the current Kings roster, no one should be shocked, Roster players weren't moved for such.

Shore has always been a two-way forward, going back to his college days, it's one of the reasons the Kings drafted him.

Mersch's problem with (pace) is, he can't get to his spots, and keep up play/momentum to be effective(at NHL pace).

Toffoli had no such problem. Toffoli simply had an ugly stride and push off, which put scouts off.

Going into the offseason we were preached about a new 5 year plan. A 3/4 round pick is a lottery ticket but could help 4-5 years from now. The price of that lottery ticket is a roster player who can be replaced via who the club already has AHL (Mersch/Dowd) and would help open up some ice time to some younger players. LA would still have camp battles for roster spots and ice time due to the # of forwards they have.

One forward eerily could have bee spared to try and help the future.

 

[USE Fi]

Another third/fourth round pick doesn't help the current Kings roster, no one should be shocked, Roster players weren't moved for such.

Shore has always been a two-way forward, going back to his college days, it's one of the reasons the Kings drafted him.

Mersch's problem with (pace) is, he can't get to his spots, and keep up play/momentum to be effective(at NHL pace).

Toffoli had no such problem. Toffoli simply had an ugly stride and push off, which put scouts off.

But now when he or someone else is moved for pick or two its for next years draft i think it would been better to have that player already picked.

I remember someone from Kings (around draft time) say that they solved Toffolis skating and still it open for Mersch...

Yannetti talking about Jacob Moverare:
" So, can we fix his skating? And that’s the age-old question in hockey. Tyler Toffoli. Why’s he at 47? Well, can we fix his skating? We could. Michael Mersch. Can we fix his skating? Well, that’s a work in progress, and we certainly haven’t fixed it yet."

 

[damacles1156]

Going into the offseason we were preached about a new 5 year plan. A 3/4 round pick is a lottery ticket but could help 4-5 years from now. The price of that lottery ticket is a roster player who can be replaced via who the club already has AHL (Mersch/Dowd) and would help open up some ice time to some younger players. LA would still have camp battles for roster spots and ice time due to the # of forwards they have.

One forward eerily could have bee spared to try and help the future.

You Folks were not promised or preached about any new 5 year plan..
Someone is making that up, out of a bunch of lawyer speak from Lombardi's mouth.

Lombardi never ever said "We are going into another 5 year rebuild/retool/whatever".

You guys are reading into his words, what you wanted to see.

Be honest with yourself, what exactly changed from last season roster wise ? (Lucic which was expected,Brown being demoted).

With the cap the way it is, and Kopitar/Doughty/Quick still producing, Lombardi is not going to make any (drastic) roster moves, or give away roster players for (low end) picks.

You guys have watched and witnessed Lombardi operate for almost a Decade now. You are all smarter than this.

 

[damacles1156]

The only way King/Clifford were going to be off the roster this coming season is: If someone from the AHL outplays them.

Which has not happened (not even close) yet.

Remember that King missed basically half the season last year. King/Clifford are effective roster players, you don't give them up for token picks. Especially when your AHL players behind them on the depth chart, have been nothing special.

I understand people want to see something new, but that something new has to be effective at NHL level.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I think I thought that if they were able to keep Lucic, maybe King or Clifford could be traded, but I don't think I thought Lombardi would trade either guy just because. That's not how Lombardi does it.

I don't always get the King/Clifford dislike. They're not great, but the Kings have won with both. Maybe not directly because of either guy, but neither hurts the team either. Just because they get thrown onto high lines on occasion doesn't mean anyone in charge thinks they're better than they are. If you don't expect King to be Keith Tkachuk, you'll be more content watching a big guy not be punishingly physical. Clifford is a safe energy player. If he's on a line with Kopitar every now and then, it's because better players aren't getting the job done at the moment.