2017 Offseason Thread 4.0 - Free Agent Frenzy Time

[tny760]

I think Amadio will eventually turn into a more productive player.

Not due to skill, but Amadio never really takes a shift off.

Kempe for some reason, still has that problem.

kempe got a few sporadic bottom 6 minutes with some bad linemates under an oppressive system under sutter, let's not lop his head off quite yet eh? i mean he's obviously not the 2nd coming but he deserves a proper look.

 

[Maynard]

kempe got a few sporadic bottom 6 minutes with some bad linemates under an oppressive system under sutter, let's not lop his head off quite yet eh? i mean he's obviously not the 2nd coming but he deserves a proper look.

I think people are hesitant to pencil Kempe in because he hasn't been able to be consistent, even in the AHL.

 

[kings11]

“I tore my MCL to start the season in August there, and then I got an appendectomy done in mid-November, so it was two different ones,” Vilardi told PHT, which had wandered over so he’d have somebody to speak with

Makes this past season even more extrodianry when considering the injuries were back to back ..this kid is a warrior and it also explains his drop in the draft and the reason for the bad skating .. Although I'm sure its no excuse in his eyes!!! Love this pick X10

 

[johnjm22]

Kempe's call up last year reeks of desperation by the organization. It's the poorly run teams that throw their prospects into the NHL too early because the big club needs help. Now the Kings are doing the same thing.

I always appreciated that Lombardi was patient with prospects, but even that went out the window last year.

 

[member 88115]

Kempe's call up last year reeks of desperation by the organization. It's the poorly run teams that throw their prospects into the NHL too early because the big club needs help. Now the Kings are doing the same thing.

I always appreciated that Lombardi was patient with prospects, but even that went out the window last year.

I agree with you, Kempe should be in the AHL all year +. He has potential & NHL speed, but needs improvement everywhere else.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I disagree, I've heard many people including senior scouts say he was ready to play in the NHL. Hopefully he steps up this season. Kings will need all hands on deck.

 

[Herby]

Kempe's call up last year reeks of desperation by the organization. It's the poorly run teams that throw their prospects into the NHL too early because the big club needs help. Now the Kings are doing the same thing.

I always appreciated that Lombardi was patient with prospects, but even that went out the window last year.

Bernier debuted at 19, Moller at 19, Clifford at 19 Simmonds at 20.

Doughty was 18 but clearly ready.

Kempe was up last year because Lewis was the only guy in the bottom six worth a damn, it was a coach and GM who probably knew their jobs were on the line if they missed the playoffs and were throwing poop on the wall seeing if anything stuck.

I still have hopes that he can be an energy guy who can chip in a bit offensively, he got overrated a bit here because he was the Kings only 1st round pick between 2012 and 2017.

 

[johnjm22]

Bernier debuted at 19, Moller at 19, Clifford at 19 Simmonds at 20.

Doughty was 18 but clearly ready.

Bernier got 4 games at the beginning of the season and went back to junior. He spent two seasons in junior and two more seasons in the AHL before becoming a regular.

Moller, Clifford, Simmonds and Johnson are exceptions. Generally Lombardi took his time with prospects. He brought some patience to the organization that it had previously been lack IMO.

Kempe was up last year because Lewis was the only guy in the bottom six worth a damn, it was a coach and GM who probably knew their jobs were on the line if they missed the playoffs and were throwing poop on the wall seeing if anything stuck.

I still have hopes that he can be an energy guy who can chip in a bit offensively, he got overrated a bit here because he was the Kings only 1st round pick between 2012 and 2017.

Like I said, desperation. It's not a healthy way to run things.

If we want Kempe to just be a grinder then fine. Bring him up. But if he want him to actually develop some offensive prowess he needs to spend an entire season in the AHL and show he can produce.

 

[deeshamrock]

I agree with you, Kempe should be in the AHL all year +. He has potential & NHL speed, but needs improvement everywhere else.

Disagree. He's had 2 full years in the AHL and 2 more in a Mens Swedish league and about to turn 21. Over marinating him isn't going to make him better. The AHL is not the NHL, and some of the reports indicating as much, it is time for him to adjust to the NHL , it will take a couple years but he'll be far better off playing in real time. No reason for him to remain in the AHL when the Kings need young forwards and although not a top NHL prospect , he is their top prospect and it's time to get his feet wet.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Kempe has played 164 total games in NA, with 25 of those coming in the NHL. That's 15.2% of the games he's played, and averaged less than 11 ES minutes per game. Called up in the last couple months of a season. Is that rushing him? There looks to be 1, maybe 2 spots open in training camp, and he could very well start the year in Ontario, partly due to him still not needing to clear waivers yet.

 

[member 88115]

Disagree. He's had 2 full years in the AHL and 2 more in a Mens Swedish league and about to turn 21. Over marinating him isn't going to make him better. The AHL is not the NHL, and some of the reports indicating as much, it is time for him to adjust to the NHL , it will take a couple years but he'll be far better off playing in real time. No reason for him to remain in the AHL when the Kings need young forwards and although not a top NHL prospect , he is their top prospect and it's time to get his feet wet.

If he was light up the AHL, sure but he was a 20 year old last year that got critized by Stothers for not winning board battles and still learning the center position. Which is a position he had not played since he was 16 or so. He needs more time + get stronger.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think the argument with Kempe being up was he's the kind of talented player who would play better in a more talented league with more flow. He still had his inconsistencies--his main criticism--but we saw the flashes of that truth.

 

[Basilisk]

I think the argument with Kempe being up was he's the kind of talented player who would play better in a more talented league with more flow. He still had his inconsistencies--his main criticism--but we saw the flashes of that truth.

This. It was the old "this is the type of player who'd play better in the NHL than the AHL" mantra. This was explained more than once during the game broadcasts. But reading much of these board posts, one would think that nobody here listens to Jim Fox, John Rosen, or Patrick O'Neal.

 

[LAKings88]

I think the argument with Kempe being up was he's the kind of talented player who would play better in a more talented league with more flow. He still had his inconsistencies--his main criticism--but we saw the flashes of that truth.

This.

I'd actually like to see him get some time with Kopitar on the wing. I think he has some skill, I can't really see him as a center tho.

 

[regulate]

Head to head in the AHL, Brodzinski is a better hockey player than Kempe. So was Dowd. Whether or not that translates into the NHL is for us to wait and see. Kempe has a skill set to like, but he has never produced offense consistently as a pro. Never.

 

[Fishhead]

I don't see Kempe as a center at the NHL level. He seems to lack that assertiveness where he's making his presence felt. Even with guys not blessed with his level of skill like Stoll and Lewis, you always knew they were in control of what was going on and were present on the ice.

Even though he's had his own growing pains, you can see that assertiveness in Amadio. It's that responsible, leading, constant motor type of play which will get him in the NHL. I don't expect 2nd line out of him, but it's certainly not out of reach. At worst we should have a solid 3rd line guy who can play up and down in the lineup, similar to Stoll when he first got here. He just really needs to work on his dot work and keep improving his strength.

 

[kings11]

Shore resigned to a 1 year, 950k contract

 

[kings11]

925k....

 

[lexlavender]

Good, hope Shore puts up or shuts up. I think he has a lot of potential to be a 3rd line anchor.

 

[BigKing]

Kempe had the great playoffs in the Calder Cup run that got all of us hard. That was also only one season removed from the Kings winning the Cup with 2015 being thought of as a blip on the radar.

He hasn't done anything as impressive as that initial run ever since.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I like that Shore deal. Hope he takes an offensive step forward this year, but the guy is a surefire NHLer and one I hope we can afford to keep for some time. PERFECT 4th liner at this point.

 

[Herby]

This. It was the old "this is the type of player who'd play better in the NHL than the AHL" mantra. This was explained more than once during the game broadcasts. But reading much of these board posts, one would think that nobody here listens to Jim Fox, John Rosen, or Patrick O'Neal.

Rosen is good.

Fox probably thinks Kempe is the next Peter Forsberg

 

[Sol]

Kempe was put in a position to fail last year, but hopefully this off-season he's training more on his positioning and strength. The kid can play, he just needs to put it together in his position. I think he might be good to go.

 

[Kingsfan1]

I was hoping Blake would bring in Pirri or Chiasson. Heck even Vanek is still available . Chiasson would be a great add and strengthen our bottom 6. Move Clifford sign Chiasson. Hurry someone get Blake on the phone

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Kyle Clifford is underrated