Speculation: 2020-21 News/Rumors/Roster Thread Part III

[cyclones22]

Fagemo is in camp and currently on a line with Andersson and Grundstrom.

From Lisa Dillman's article on The Athletic:

One of the more intriguing line combinations Thursday involved newcomer Lias Andersson centering his Swedish countrymen Carl Grundstrom and Samuel Fagemo. Andersson scored once off the rush in the scrimmage, and Grundstrom added two goals, including a backhanded wraparound effort.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Wagner probably wouldn't, but the rest would. Here's how I would start the season:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Frk
Athanasiou - Andersson - Carter
Wagner - Lizotte - Grundstrom

Also, not to burst anyone's bubble, but Kaliyev appears to be a couple years away from the NHL at least. He does not look good physically at the WJC.

With that said, Turcotte and Bjornfot look great. I bet they push for a spot sooner than later. Byfield still has a lot of work to do.

That's probably the roster that I would dress as well, with Moore or Luff rotating in on the 4th.

Blake signed AA specifically because he didn't want to have to call up the youngins like Kaliyev, Turcotte Byfield etc. in case there are injuries / COVID related cases. Blake wants them to simmer down in the AHL for at least 1-2 seasons (Byfield + Kaliyev depending on if they are allowed to play in the AHL under the new rules). It's imperative they continue to develop under Wroblewski but also learn to win and lose together.

A cup of coffee for those youngings in the first part of the season probably isn't a bad thing but in my eyes the only call ups during the season is Bjornfot or Fagemo.

 

[Token]

I saw Fagemo on the camp roster, but I haven't seen him in any lineups. Is he still in Sweden?

On a line in B group.

Grundy Andersson Fagemo

Keeping the Swedes together.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Wagner probably wouldn't, but the rest would. Here's how I would start the season:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Frk
Athanasiou - Andersson - Carter
Wagner - Lizotte - Grundstrom

Also, not to burst anyone's bubble, but Kaliyev appears to be a couple years away from the NHL at least. He does not look good physically at the WJC.

With that said, Turcotte and Bjornfot look great. I bet they push for a spot sooner than later. Byfield still has a lot of work to do.

I think you have to look at forward pairs to put a structure in place for the team. Based on what we’ve seen in the recent past, I think the following guys are considered linemates, with the rest of the spots filled out based on who is playing well and available.

Kopitar Iafallo
Vilardi Frk
Lizotte Carter

That’s your likely top six of 8 forwards in ice time for any given game. In a full season, you want a minimum of 100 goals from your top six if you want to sniff the playoffs. So in this shortened season, that’s around 70 goals.

We’ll be lucky to get 15 goals each out of Kopitar and Iafallo. Maybe Frk puts up 10. I doubt Lizotte or Carter score more than 5 goals each. So that’s like an expected minimum of 50 goals. Vilardi is a wild card, but if he puts up 10 goals, that’s scoring about once every 5 games. Still that’s 60 goals from six guys. Kempe and Brown are guys that may be better options for the ice time compared to Frk and Carter.

The only way the Kings are competitive is if Coach Todd finds a way to manufacture offense from scrubs and the defense pulls a miracle and becomes a top 5 group in the league. Which is actually more realistic compared to expectations that 18-20 year olds will provide the missing offense.

 

[The Lukeman]

The only way the Kings are competitive is if Coach Todd finds a way to manufacture offense from scrubs and the defense pulls a miracle and becomes a top 5 group in the league. Which is actually more realistic compared to expectations that 18-20 year olds will provide the missing offense.

I mean we would be competing against the wild and coyotes, two teams that are not playoff teams in a 16 team conference. IMO, there is going to be a biiiiig gap between 1-3 and 4th in the west. There is a realistic scenario where we are playing meaningful games in the last couple weeks of the season.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I mean we would be competing against the wild and coyotes, two teams that are not playoff teams in a 16 team conference. IMO, there is going to be a biiiiig gap between 1-3 and 4th in the west. There is a realistic scenario where we are playing meaningful games in the last couple weeks of the season.

Yup, I’m reading plenty of discussion around the team expecting to improve this season and be in the mix for the final playoff spot late in the year as the goal. So I think it helps to look at the schedule to see what it would take to be realistic.

In January they play 8 games, split between road and home. 4 against MIN and two each versus COL and STL. I think they get 1 pt out of the games versus the blues and avalanche. They could get 5 out of 8 pts versus the wild. So 6 pts in Jan.

Feb has 13 games, 5 home and 8 road. I think they get 10 of 26 points. March has 6 home, 8 road and guess is 8 points. So that’s 24 points by the time we’re deep in the season. Not a great projection and a very low likelihood of meaningful games in the last couple weeks of the reason.

Others may have a more optimistic view of the schedule, but I wouldn’t wager money on it coming true.

 

[Mats26]

All eyes on Vilardi for me this year. Want to see how he used the time off to increase his strength and skating.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Same question I ask about Andersson. Not sure why some people love this guy so much. Personally would rather have Moore then Andersson. But that's just me.

Andersson has more skill and finish than: Lizotte, Moore, Luff, Amadio, Wagner. Futa said "he's nasty to play against" I will respect what Futa says and he said that, after
he was out of the organization. None of the others are nasty. No, not even Luff.
Andersson goes to the net hard and the Kings need net presence and ones that can go there and finish.
He's also captained his team. That is earned. (despite what may have happened, he still earned that
based on his leadership)

""Lias Andersson has scored in both scrimmages thus far in training camp.
Lias Andersson converted a loose puck in the crease, Quick stopped initial shot by Grundstrom. Lias Andersson converted a loose puck in the crease, Quick stopped initial shot by Grundstrom. Fagemo snipe clanks off the right corner post, pass came from Lias Andersson"""

I think he knows he has something to prove and wants this bad.

 

[tbrown33]

Andersson has more skill and finish than: Lizotte, Moore, Luff, Amadio, Wagner. Futa said "he's nasty to play against" I will respect what Futa says and he said that, after
he was out of the organization. None of the others are nasty. No, not even Luff.
Andersson goes to the net hard and the Kings need net presence and ones that can go there and finish.
He's also captained his team. That is earned. (despite what may have happened, he still earned that
based on his leadership)

""Lias Andersson has scored in both scrimmages thus far in training camp.
Lias Andersson converted a loose puck in the crease, Quick stopped initial shot by Grundstrom. Lias Andersson converted a loose puck in the crease, Quick stopped initial shot by Grundstrom. Fagemo snipe clanks off the right corner post, pass came from Lias Andersson"""

I think he knows he has something to prove and wants this bad.

this no-look 5 hole snipe is pretty nasty

 

[kilowatt]

That’s your likely top six of 8 forwards in ice time for any given game. In a full season, you want a minimum of 100 goals from your top six if you want to sniff the playoffs. So in this shortened season, that’s around 70 goals.

We’ll be lucky to get 15 goals each out of Kopitar and Iafallo. Maybe Frk puts up 10. I doubt Lizotte or Carter score more than 5 goals each. So that’s like an expected minimum of 50 goals. Vilardi is a wild card, but if he puts up 10 goals, that’s scoring about once every 5 games. Still that’s 60 goals from six guys. Kempe and Brown are guys that may be better options for the ice time compared to Frk and Carter.

What makes you say that? I'll pro-rate (or... retro-rate?) their goals from last season:

Kopitar: 21 goals in 70 games last season would be 16.8 in 56 games this season
Iafallo: 13.6
Brown: 14.4
Carter: 15.8
Kempe: 8.9

Frk and Vilardi are hard to guage, but strictly using their small sample size, we get:
Frk: 19.8
Vilardi: 16.8

I'm not saying it's a for sure thing, but if anything, this team has improved significantly this year versus the opening roster last year. If we just add the projected goal totals from Kopitar, Iafallo, Brown, Carter, and Kempe, we get 66 goals. I don't think it's a stretch to think that our top six forwards could reach 70. In fact, I think the odds are that they do. There's a non-zero chance this time off benefits our aging roster more than most other teams.

 

[kilowatt]

this no-look 5 hole snipe is pretty nasty

Also, holy shit you guys, hockey is back.

 

[Schrute farms]

almost a whole freaking year of no Kings hockey. I hope they get thru Jan/Feb CV issue wise -- things should be looking much better post February imo. January gonna be tough though.

 

[Docgonzo]

On a line in B group.

Grundy Andersson Fagemo

Keeping the Swedes together.

Anybody think they put to Swedes together because Andersson has issues with like homesickness in NYC and they want to make him feel comfortable in camp? Just a thought that popped in my head.

 

[kilowatt]

Anybody think they put to Swedes together because Andersson has issues with like homesickness in NYC and they want to make him feel comfortable in camp? Just a thought that popped in my head.

I would guess that he will have a much better time here in LA, especially given that his dad is a scout and likely has other friends in the organization looking out for him. But it also likely helps in terms of communication and instruction, having people on your line able to speak the same language.

 

[King'sPawn]

Anybody think they put to Swedes together because Andersson has issues with like homesickness in NYC and they want to make him feel comfortable in camp? Just a thought that popped in my head.

Sometimes it might be easier to describe something in anative language. I'm sure they all speak English well, but just to help eliminate a gap.

Also, as they all have played in Sweden, they might be more familiar of each other's tendencies (especially since Grundstrom and Fagemo played each other in Allsvenskan on Nov 1)

 

[kingsholygrail]

Why rearrange all the divisions on here when we're just going back to the way they were next season?

 

[kilowatt]

Why rearrange all the divisions on here when we're just going back to the way they were next season?

 

[Steve Zissou]

The Swedish Fish line! ---> scroll to 2nd video.

 

[JohnLennon]

Here I was thinking Fagemo had a real shot at making the team this year, but no one's thinking he makes it Day 1. You guys thinking he's an AHLer to start the year?

 

[Statto]

Here I was thinking Fagemo had a real shot at making the team this year, but no one's thinking he makes it Day 1. You guys thinking he's an AHLer to start the year?

He will likely be in a battle with Wagner, AA, Grundstrom and Anderson-Dolan for one of 3 spots. I think if he doesn’t make the main roster proper he will go to the AHL and play big minutes until he’s ready for a regular spot. Better AA, Amadio and Wagner rotate and Fagemo plays a major role in the AHL, rather than 9 minutes a night every other game in the NHL.

That said it really would not shock me if he beats out Wagner or even someone Frk for a starting role. The contracts/cap combined with the Taxi squad means players will have to earn their spots on the NHL roster. If Fagemo does the business he will get a shot and I think he has a real chance. I love the kid and at worst I think he ends up a solid middle six guy.

 

[JohnLennon]

He will likely be in a battle with Wagner, AA, Grundstrom and Anderson-Dolan for one of 3 spots. I think if he doesn’t make the main roster proper he will go to the AHL and play big minutes until he’s ready for a regular spot. Better AA, Amadio and Wagner rotate and Fagemo plays a major role in the AHL, rather than 9 minutes a night every other game in the NHL.

That said it really would not shock me if he beats out Wagner or even someone Frk for a starting role. The contracts/cap combined with the Taxi squad means players will have to earn their spots on the NHL roster. If Fagemo does the business he will get a shot and I think he has a real chance. I love the kid and at worst I think he ends up a solid middle six guy.

Yeah, I think he's got a good shot at playing in the middle six down the line, with top 6 upside. Really grew a liking to the player during the WJC and have been keeping an eye on him since. Hoping he makes some noise with LAK this year but as you say, big minutes in the AHL wouldn't hurt as long as he has some decent linemates.

I have a good feeling he will end up being a solid second line winger at his best.

 

[Sparky206]

Fagemo might suffer from being waivers exempt

 

[Statto]

Fagemo might suffer from being waivers exempt

Maybe but I’m not sure he should and certainly not if it’s vs someone like Luff or Amadio. I keep hearing people talking about asset management in relation to these guys but if they can’t crack the team that just finished 27th, firstly no one is claiming them and second they have zero asset value anyway. Anyone we waive can be replaced by signing one of the many unsigned free agents anyway. I just don’t see waivers being a real issue this year, certainly not for our roster.

 

[Yog S'loth]

Fagemo is a longshot. He doesn't have the offense on his resumé to step into the NHL as a top-six winger, and he doesn't have the size or experience to step in as a bottom-six winger. Other than one really fantastic tournament that got us all excited, he's just another second round pick with a ton to prove as he tries to transition to North America.

You never know who's gonna surprise you, but I wouldn't expect to see him in LA this season. Of course, who knows how anything's gonna work at this point.

 

[Lt Dan]

Here I was thinking Fagemo had a real shot at making the team this year, but no one's thinking he makes it Day 1. You guys thinking he's an AHLer to start the year?

Imagine theres no waivers
No one to poach Sam