Prospect Info: 2020 Los Angeles Kings Prospect Rankings #12

[King'sPawn]

1. Quinton Byfield, F - 87.1%
2. Gabriel Vilardi, F - 85.9%
3. Alex Turcotte, F - 90.2%
4. Tobias Bjornfot, D - 44.6%
5. Arthur Kaliyev, F - 76.6%
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%
11. Akil Thomas, F - 45.6%

+ Aidan Dudas

Only players who are eligible for the 2021 Calder trophy. Calder eligibility is defined as:
- No older than 26 years old as of September 15th, 2020
- Has not played in more than 25 games in one season or more than 6 games in two consecutive seasons (making Cal Petersen, Carl Grundstrom, Sean Walker, and Matt Roy exempt)

We'll do this for as long as you all want, either you want to stop or we run out of options.

I sometimes get busy with work and other projects, so if someone else wants to take reigns/take over, feel free to! I'm setting the poll at 1 day. Please say if this is too short for a poll.

Don't forget to nominate who goes on next! Below are the list of eligible players.

Daniel Brickley
Martin Chromiak
Alexander Dergachyov
Braden Doyle
Sean Durzi
Mikey Eyssimont
David Hrenak
Bokondji Imama
Aatu Jamsen
Alex Laferriere
Andre Lee
Juho Markkanen
Ben Meehan
Lukas Parik
Markus Phillips
Drake Rymsha
Bulat Shafigullin
Johan Sodergran
Austin Strand
Matthew Villalta

Click to read more...

 

[BringTheReign]

I went Clague given that he's proven in the A, but I could easily be convinced into any of the defensemen in the poll at this spot.

 

[Statto]

JAD as he will be an NHL regular and I’m far from convinced Clague will be, although I’d be delighted to eat crow.

 

[bland]

Anderson-Dolan, please add Sodergran

 

[David Lunch]

Voted JAD

Add Durzi

 

[Jericho111091]

Went with Clague. Add Hrenak

 

[kilowatt]

I chose Faber. Fight me. I think he has more potential than Clague. I almost chose Anderson-Dolan, and he probably should've gotten my vote, but I just like Faber a lot. I'm nervous that Anderson-Dolan tops out as a fourth-line center and I really hope I'm wrong there.

Add Laferriere!

 

[Master Yoda]

Clague again. Add Durzi

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

JAD again, add Laferriere.

 

[The Lukeman]

IMO, Clague, potential top 4 D > JAD Potential 3rd Line Center with leadership. Add Parik

 

[Ghetty Green]

Nousiainen

Add Parik

 

[johnjm22]

JAD and Thomas kind of remind me of guys like Weal, Vey, Holloway. Players who were good in junior, good in the AHL, but weren't really good enough to be impactful NHL players.

On the other hand I see Kim Nousiainen, an undersized Dman who made a men's league at 18 and was one his team's best Dmen. And so far in his second pro season he looks fantastic. In order to accomplish that while being young and undersized, you've gotta really have something going for you. He's a more interesting prospect to me than JAD/Thomas. So I may be in the vast minority, but I'm voting for him here.

Honorable mention to Hults, who I think I'd also take over JAD/Thomas.

Of Course Clague has a nice resume as well. Tough choices.

 

[kilowatt]

JAD and Thomas kind of remind me of guys like Weal, Vey, Holloway. Players who were good in junior, good in the AHL, but weren't really good enough to be impactful NHL players.

On the other hand I see Kim Nousiainen, an undersized Dman who made a men's league at 18 and was one his team's best Dmen. And so far in his second pro season he looks fantastic. In order to accomplish that while being young and undersized, you've gotta really have something going for you. He's a more interesting prospect to me than JAD/Thomas. So I may be in the vast minority, but I'm voting for him here.

Honorable mention to Hults, who I think I'd also take over JAD/Thomas.

Of Course Clague has a nice resume as well. Tough choices.

I kind of see what you’re saying, but Thomas and Anderson-Dolan are much more like Pearson and Toffoli, or even Lewis and Clifford at their floor, than the Weal’s and Vey’s of the world. That’s more Luff/Eyssimont/Rymsha territory. The difference is that we actually have worthwhile prospects, so our random fifth and sixth rounders aren’t cracking the top ten.

 

[pepperjack]

+ Parik

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

JAD and Thomas kind of remind me of guys like Weal, Vey, Holloway. Players who were good in junior, good in the AHL, but weren't really good enough to be impactful NHL players.

On the other hand I see Kim Nousiainen, an undersized Dman who made a men's league at 18 and was one his team's best Dmen. And so far in his second pro season he looks fantastic. In order to accomplish that while being young and undersized, you've gotta really have something going for you. He's a more interesting prospect to me than JAD/Thomas. So I may be in the vast minority, but I'm voting for him here.

Honorable mention to Hults, who I think I'd also take over JAD/Thomas.

Of Course Clague has a nice resume as well. Tough choices.

I have Kim way up here too, he gives me that Bjornfot vibe where he gets overlooked for just not being real flashy/standout when really that should be a compliment to what he's been doing vs. men for a while now and excelling at every level.

 

[Docgonzo]

JAD and Thomas kind of remind me of guys like Weal, Vey, Holloway. Players who were good in junior, good in the AHL, but weren't really good enough to be impactful NHL players.

The things we hear about JAD and Thomas, guaranteed 3-4th liners, feels like the same things we said about Amadio and Shore. I want them to do well, I’m just skeptical they will. Believe there are other prospects that’ll have more impact at the nhl level then them.

 

[The Lukeman]

The things we hear about JAD and Thomas, guaranteed 3-4th liners, feels like the same things we said about Amadio and Shore. I want them to do well, I’m just skeptical they will. Believe there are other prospects that’ll have more impact at the nhl level then them.

In Amadio's draft year, he put up 38 points in 68 OHL games. In their draft year, Akil Thomas put up 81 points in 68 OHL games and JAD put up 76 points in 72 WHL games. They are not the same.

 

[Docgonzo]

In Amadio's draft year, he put up 38 points in 68 OHL games. In their draft year, Akil Thomas put up 81 points in 68 OHL games and JAD put up 76 points in 72 WHL games. They are not the same.

In their D+1 years Amadio scored 98 points while JAD scored 91. In their first AHL seasons Amadio scored 41 points while JAD scored 28. They’re closer to the same than most want to believe.

 

[Token]

When you look at these kids and compare, you gotta take into account the temporal context.

Back in the days when the Weal’s, Vey’s, Amadio’ were drafted, we were still chasing the cup and grinding down the Lombardi era.

JAD, Thomas, Clague ... different kind of circumstances. Different criteria for selecting these specific kids.

Clague was a swing for the home run. 50/50 chance he makes it or busts like LaDue.

JAD, Dudas, Turcotte and Thomas - 100% character, 110% motor.

Blake is not building a stat-sheet monster, he crafting a heart-n-guts bunch of guys that will do whatever it takes to win.

I could not be happier with his approach.

Edited for fat thumbs on a phone screen.

 

[Kingz4life]

Clague +Parik. But JAD is going to be solid.

 

[Kingz4life]

In Amadio's draft year, he put up 38 points in 68 OHL games. In their draft year, Akil Thomas put up 81 points in 68 OHL games and JAD put up 76 points in 72 WHL games. They are not the same.

Same ages?

 

[johnjm22]

I kind of see what you’re saying, but Thomas and Anderson-Dolan are much more like Pearson and Toffoli, or even Lewis and Clifford at their floor, than the Weal’s and Vey’s of the world. That’s more Luff/Eyssimont/Rymsha territory. The difference is that we actually have worthwhile prospects, so our random fifth and sixth rounders aren’t cracking the top ten.

First AHL Stints:

Pearson

64gp

19g

28a

47pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Toffoli

58gp

28g

23a

51pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

JAD

53gp

8g

20a

28pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

We'll see what Thomas does. He has more upside than JAD.

I'm not saying JAD won't be an impactful NHL player, but I am saying he probably won't be. He's clearly closer to Weal/Amadio than he is to Pearson/Toffoli.

But you never know.

I think Thomas and JAD are the type of B- prospects fanbases always overrate. We've seen a million of them.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

First AHL Stints:

Pearson

64gp

19g

28a

47pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Toffoli

58gp

28g

23a

51pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

JAD

53gp

8g

20a

28pts

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

We'll see what Thomas does. He has more upside than JAD.

I'm not saying JAD won't be an impactful NHL player, but I am saying he probably won't be. He's clearly closer to Weal/Amadio than he is to Pearson/Toffoli.

But you never know.

I think Thomas and JAD are the type of B- prospects fanbases always overrate. We've seen a million of them.

It's possible, but JAD just turned 21 last month and Thomas doesn't until January. This should be JAD's breakthrough year and next year should be Thomas'. If JAD doesn't make the roster and an impact this year, then the odds are truly against him. Same for Thomas next year. 21 is the year most prospects break in, particularly those that aren't sure fire bluechippers.

 

[RossLonsberryFan]

JAD as he will be an NHL regular and I’m far from convinced Clague will be, although I’d be delighted to eat crow.

The enticing thing about Clague for me is that he Vilardi and Frk were an incredible combination with great chemistry on the PP last season in Ontario.

 

[Statto]

The enticing thing about Clague for me is that he Vilardi and Frk were an incredible combination with great chemistry on the PP last season in Ontario.

Don’t get me wrong, if Clague can put it all together he fills a big gap on our blue line. I just think he’s at that now or never stage and he’s not shown the progression I’d hoped for... injuries playing a bit part in that.