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

[Fat Elvis]

Pens fan here. And I actually came here before I saw that article that @Chazz Reinhold posted about LA having the best prospects pool.

Someone on our board suggested that it's time to find and start grooming a top 6 center to replace Sid and Geno. And I'm sure plenty others were thinking it. While I'm sure Byfield is untouchable, what would the Kings be looking for in a trade to acquire him?

Slightly more realistically, what about for Alex Turcotte?

I'm sure the Pens don't have what you'd be interested in, but I'm curious. With a new Pens GM looming, there's probably not many untouchables on Pittsburgh's roster.

Also, looking like the Pens need a veteran goalie...

I think, and it's just my dumb opinion. I think LA needs to hold onto Turcotte. He brings an element that's sorely lacking in his tenacity. There are too many complacent forwards in LA just "going thru the motions". Not sure that's a part of Turcotte's DNA and LA needs him to have as much influence on Byfield as possible. They should be roommates. Wear each other's shirts n stuff. Be best friends for life.

But I digress. How about a real nice guy in Amadio? He's cheap and we're told has boat loads of untapped talent.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Pens fan here. And I actually came here before I saw that article that @Chazz Reinhold posted about LA having the best prospects pool.

Someone on our board suggested that it's time to find and start grooming a top 6 center to replace Sid and Geno. And I'm sure plenty others were thinking it. While I'm sure Byfield is untouchable, what would the Kings be looking for in a trade to acquire him?

Slightly more realistically, what about for Alex Turcotte?

I'm sure the Pens don't have what you'd be interested in, but I'm curious. With a new Pens GM looming, there's probably not many untouchables on Pittsburgh's roster.

Also, looking like the Pens need a veteran goalie...

If there is a need, it may be blue-chip eventual Doughty replacement/LHD and/or goalie, but just like with the forwards, I'm not sure there's a deal to be had quite yet. Kings have great prospects but need to see what they are before shuffling pieces around; nothing would be worse than trading turcotte, then having Byfield and Vilardi et. al. relatively bust, you know? Instead of plugging a hole via trade, they may be opening one up at this stage.

 

[Reaper45]

I wouldn’t move any of our center prospects to be honest.

 

[YP44]

Pens fan here. And I actually came here before I saw that article that @Chazz Reinhold posted about LA having the best prospects pool.

Someone on our board suggested that it's time to find and start grooming a top 6 center to replace Sid and Geno. And I'm sure plenty others were thinking it. While I'm sure Byfield is untouchable, what would the Kings be looking for in a trade to acquire him?

Slightly more realistically, what about for Alex Turcotte?

I'm sure the Pens don't have what you'd be interested in, but I'm curious. With a new Pens GM looming, there's probably not many untouchables on Pittsburgh's roster.

Also, looking like the Pens need a veteran goalie...

fair to ask about Turcotte but I do not see anything the Pens have that would get LA to move him. Blake has said the organization has turned the corner from pick acquisition to growing the team, so picks don't do much. Only way I see to get him is to get a third team involved where LA would get a top tier D or Goalie prospect. Even then don't see it.

As for a veteran goalie....yup Quick can be had IMO. Make an offer.

Sounds like Hextall is the front runner for the Pens job.

 

[Lt Dan]

Pens fan here. And I actually came here before I saw that article that @Chazz Reinhold posted about LA having the best prospects pool.

Someone on our board suggested that it's time to find and start grooming a top 6 center to replace Sid and Geno. And I'm sure plenty others were thinking it. While I'm sure Byfield is untouchable, what would the Kings be looking for in a trade to acquire him?

Slightly more realistically, what about for Alex Turcotte?

I'm sure the Pens don't have what you'd be interested in, but I'm curious. With a new Pens GM looming, there's probably not many untouchables on Pittsburgh's roster.

Also, looking like the Pens need a veteran goalie...

I am pretty sure Byfield and Turcotte are untouchable as this point.



If you need a vet goalie, quick has won 2 cups

 

[Matt13]

Wheeler’s 2021 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 1 Los Angeles Kings

Grans at #6 and highest rated Dman over Toby is surprising and makes him a total steal. Looking forward to seeing him in the future.

 

[KingTech]

Grans at #6 and highest rated Dman over Toby is surprising makes him a total steal. Looking forward to seeing him in the future.

Can u share his top whatever he put I don't have a athletic subscription

 

[Token]

That’s his tiers. For reference Akil Thomas he has as A- to B+

 

[Token]

View attachment 394430

That’s his tiers. For reference Akil Thomas he has as A- to B+

And this is our list:

Top tier
1. Quinton Byfield
2. Gabriel Vilardi
3. Alex Turcotte

Tier 2
4. Tobias Bjornfot, D - 44.6%
5. Arthur Kaliyev, F - 76.6%

Tier 3
6. Samuel Fagemo, F - 54.8%
7. Mikey Anderson, D - 51.0%
8. Tyler Madden, F - 51.1%
9. Rasmus Kupari, F - 55.2%
10. Helge Grans, D - 43.9%

Tier 4
11. Akil Thomas, F - 45.6%
12. Kale Clague, D - 40.8%
13. Jaret Anderson-Dolan, F - 54.2%
14. Brock Faber, D - 46.8%
15. Kim Nousiainen, D - 30.4%
16. Cole Hults, D - 41.1%
17. Jordan Spence, D - 44.9%

The Rest
18. Kasper Simontaival, F - 32.1%
19. Aidan Dudas, F - 35.3%
20. Lukas Parik, G - 37.9%
21. Martin Chromiak, F - 33.3%
22. Jacob Moverare, D - 34%
23. Sean Durzi, D - 34%
24. Jacob Ingham, G - 45.1%
25. Alex Laferriere, F - 54.9%
26. Aatu Jamsen, F - 22.9%
27. Matthew Villalta, G - 47.6%
28. Ben Meehan, D - 45.7%
29. Andre Lee, F - 30.4%
30. Austin Strand, D - 31.4%
31. Juho Markkanen, G - 32.4%
32. Mikey Eyssimont, F - 30.2%
33. Bulat Shafigullin, F - 33.3%
34. Johan Sodergran, F - 43.9%
35. Braden Doyle, D - 53.7%
36. David Hrenak, G - 55.6%
37. Daniel Brickley, D - 35.1%
38. Markus Phillips, D - 48.6%
39. Alexander Dergachyev, F - 74.4%
40. Bokondji Imama, F - 85.3%
41. Drake Rymsha, F - 100%

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Thanks all! You always treat me well when I come around.

Yes to interest in Amadio. I didn't expect much from Jankowski and even then he's been a disappointment. Can't imagine Amadio would be much worse. Having a righty center would be nice, too.

I indirectly asked about Quick because there's -- once again -- been rumblings about the Penguins re-acquiring Fleury. Quick has been worse this season, but is cheaper and is signed for longer.

Plus there may be a future Hextall connection between the teams, as mentioned above.

The Pens will seemingly have a logjam at LD should/if everyone become healthy. They have: Dumoulin, Pettersson, Matheson, Riikola, PO Joseph, and Cam Lee in the minors.

1. Dumoulin was struggling before he was injured but had good fancy stats
2. Pettersson was probably the best defender before he was injured
3. Matheson is seemingly untradeable
4. Riikola was looking like a #5 before his injury
5. POJ is still quite young (and probably untouchable right now) but has been on fire since he's gotten NHL time and may have the ability to be a top pairing d-man
6. Cam Lee is looking damn good in limited AHL action

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Grans at #6 and highest rated Dman over Toby is surprising makes him a total steal. Looking forward to seeing him in the future.

Wheeler tends to favor ultimate upside in his rankings, even though he acknowledges that many prospects won’t quite reach it. He admittedly favors teams swinging for the fences on upside.

Can u share his top whatever he put I don't have a athletic subscription

The idea of Grans is still way more interesting than the reality of him, but he’s a 6-foot-3, 18-year-old right-shot defenseman with such legitimate skill that the potential is just so darn exciting. The raw tools really are impressive. He’s a mobile skater. He already looks comfortable with the puck on Malmö’s power play in the SHL. He has great hands for his size. He’s a superb passer on outlets and through offensive zone lanes. And he’s got impressive confidence with the puck on his stick, playing an aggressive style and taking risks to make things happen. There’s still a rawness to his even-strength play, and he can look a little stilted on his pivots, but with some refining and time, Grans has the potential to be a top-four defenseman with significant two-way value. There’s a balance to be struck with his mistakes and some of that just comes with trial by fire.

He has a couple video clips of Grans after that.

 

[Reaper45]

I think this board is not high enough on Simontaival and he’s not high enough on Nousiainen.

 

[KingLB]

Grans and Faber are both guys I hope the leave for 2 to 3 years and let them grow before forcing them to the AHL/NHL.

Kings have plenty of dmen that look to fill second/third pairing slots. Really need one to breakout and hit it big.

 

[Token]

Grans and Faber are both guys I hope the leave for 2 to 3 years and let them grow before forcing them to the AHL/NHL.

Kings have plenty of dmen that look to fill second/third pairing slots. Really need one to breakout and hit it big.

It’s actually quite telling if you look at the reserve list on CapFriendly.

Allot of these kids don’t have to be signed until 2024 - all Euro and College guys are in 4-year signing rights schedules.

Pretty shrewd by Blake to stack the pipeline temporally.

Chromiak has to be signed by 2022
Lee, Nousiainen, Parik in 2023
Rest are all 2024 or later.

 

[kilowatt]

What the f*** am I going to do with my hands once the Kings have a top six comprised of Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Kopitar, Kaliyev, and Madden? That's not even including Thomas, Fagemo, Kupari, and Kempe.

 

[lumbergh]

What the f*** am I going to do with my hands once the Kings have a top six comprised of Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Kopitar, Kaliyev, and Madden? That's not even including Thomas, Fagemo, Kupari, and Kempe.

That two and a half hour erection you'll have watching all your boy-crushes each game will need attention.

 

[Reaper45]

That two and a half hour erection you'll have watching all your boy-crushes each game will need attention.

Well that escalated quickly.

 

[YP44]

That two and a half hour erection you'll have watching all your boy-crushes each game will need attention.

accurate

 

[Docgonzo]

I think this board is not high enough on Simontaival and he’s not high enough on Nousiainen.

Admittedly he’s smaller but I don’t get why Nousiainen doesn’t get more love. 19 points in 51 games as a 19 year old in the Finnish men’s league and 11 points in 31 games as a 20 year old. Seems like great stuff for an offensive Dman to me.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Grans and Faber are both guys I hope the leave for 2 to 3 years and let them grow before forcing them to the AHL/NHL.

Kings have plenty of dmen that look to fill second/third pairing slots. Really need one to breakout and hit it big.

They do, and it's nice to have some variety there too. Even just between Grans and Faber, Helge has that kind of Brent Burns vibe, Faber much more rounded.

With Doughty aging, would be nice to have one of them really blow up. Wheeler mentions in his write up a lot of what we all say--no real "doughty" in the group but should be able to easily fill slots #2-#6. If Doughty really fades, Roy could be a decent #1 option for a few years too. we've got some breathing room.

Admittedly he’s smaller but I don’t get why Nousiainen doesn’t get more love. 19 points in 51 games as a 19 year old in the Finnish men’s league and 11 points in 31 games as a 20 year old. Seems like great stuff for an offensive Dman to me.

Yeah, he's overlooked quite a bit imo. And those are great numbers for a guy who most wouldn't really call an offensive guy, he's strong two-way. Some real potential there.

 

[BringTheReign]

Between Pronman's 2021 draft class rankings and Wheeler's No.1 prospect pool listing this morning I honestly didn't know what to do with myself (though it seems other in this thread have suggestions ).

 

[Steve Zissou]

Wheeler on Madden:
There aren’t many (any?) players from the 2018 draft who’ve progressed as steeply as Madden has. He was scrawny with decent skill but quickly developed his offensive zone acumen, taking his game from intriguing on the offensive half of the ice to fascinating. He’s different.

He’s also now 180 pounds, which is 30 pounds heavier than he was when he was picked, helping him to engage more off the puck and then stay on top of it in possession.

Watching him in the AHL pre-season games I can attest to how how much this kid is pushing for the next stage of his development.

 

[YP44]

Wheeler on Madden:
There aren’t many (any?) players from the 2018 draft who’ve progressed as steeply as Madden has. He was scrawny with decent skill but quickly developed his offensive zone acumen, taking his game from intriguing on the offensive half of the ice to fascinating. He’s different.

He’s also now 180 pounds, which is 30 pounds heavier than he was when he was picked, helping him to engage more off the puck and then stay on top of it in possession.

Watching him in the AHL pre-season games I can attest to how how much this kid is pushing for the next stage of his development.

sounds like he is almost ready for a sniff this year.

I hope him, Byfield, Turcotte, Thomas and Kupari all get brought up for 3-5 games. Just so they can see the speed and get to know the system hands on a little bit.

 

[lumbergh]

Well that escalated quickly.

 

[DoktorJeep]

It’s nice seeing the Kings prospects ranked at the top by the press. It’s looking like the team will be playing for a lottery pick this year and next. So if you consider 2017 the start of the rebuild, it’ll be six years of focusing on drafting and development.

That aligns similar to back from 2003 to 2008, starting with drafting Brown and ending with Doughty, followed by making the playoffs in 2010 after a dry stretch.