kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
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The good news: Turcotte went 11/17 on face offs and finished a 9-1 drubbing with only a -1.
Hope he signs.
Hope he signs.
Prospect Info: 5th Overall Pick, Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDP UPDATED: Signs 3 Year ELC 3/11/20
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DAkings20
Kings can't score
FrozenKing18
Registered User
TruKingFan
Two-Time Cup Winner
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
Herby
How could Blake have known?
The Wisconsin State Journal quoted Marc Bergevin as saying he is hoping that Caufield returns to college, not sure if that factors into what Turcotte decides, or if Caufield even cares.
One thing I tink alot of people on this board fail to realize with regards to guys leaving early, some guys just have no desire to play in the AHL at 19 and choose to return to college rather than play a season in the AHL as a teenager, I know for a fact that it has happened with high end prospects before and it's one of the first questions guys ask because the lifestyle between the AHL and NHL is night and day. I have no idea how any of these players feel about that, but it is something to consider.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
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KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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Stay in school kids. No reason to get your brains beat in next season by men with twice your strength in the AHL. Only a very few 19-year olds are supermen, and I don't think either one of these guys are NHL material next season.
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Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I think it's a tougher call than that though with what a shitty environment Wisconsin looks to be this year.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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Early part of Badgers men's hockey offseason likely to be dominated by pro signing questions
"I think I was just too hard on myself, honestly," Turcotte said last week. "I played college games last year (with the National Team Development Program) and it was fine. Now we're playing them every weekend, and in the Big Ten it's pretty grinding, it's hard. Mentally, it's pretty challenging. Some people might overlook that, but it's a real hurdle."
If Turcotte has yet to master this hurdle, I think he better stay put until he does master it. It's not like he would be joining a great situation with the Kings at this time.
I’d like to see him in the AHL. Kings don’t need him up this minute. I also look at Jack Hughes and how he is transitioning. Turcotte can slow cook. Really disappointing year for Wisconsin tho.
redcard
System Poster
- Mar 12, 2007
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He doesn't have to play every AHL/NHL game next year, if it's too much of a grind you give him games off. You have complete control of his workload and development.
You don't have the luxury of those options at Wisconsin.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
This, plus I don't like the dickish line blender of moving him down to 3C to play the shutdown role so Caufield can continue to hot dog. Bring him to the AHL and let him play top 6 minutes, figure out the pro grind instead of the uncontrolled college environment. Looks like Granato bit off more than he could chew with a bunch of freshman superstars.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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Turcotte just turned 19 years old. I say give the kid a chance to develop against his peers. He doesn't need to get his ass handed to him playing games against pros in the AHL where the average age is 22. Three years makes a big difference when someone is so young.
Yeah his line situations this year between WJC and Wisconsin have triggered me a bit. I'm not sure why he wasn't given top 6 minutes as he's a 5th OA pick and has the skillset for it. I think it's better that we take over his development.
RocketKing
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2017
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I think he'd be much better off working thru the LA system playing in Ontario than playing in WI. Better for his development, better to learn, and the Kings have complete control of everything he's experiencing.
cyclones22
Registered User
100%. Turcotte would get coaching and training every single day. You cannot get that in college, it's against NCAA rules. A student athlete is limited by total number of hours allowed to be coached and participate in practices. It would be one thing if he was at a program renowned for developing NHL players, but he's not. Do you trust Granato and his staff to actually develop Alex Turcotte next year? I don't.
regulate
Registered User
I agree with most, nothing to gain unless he really likes school stay in Wisconsin. Doesn't seem like he's all that serious about school based upon that Athletic article the other day, and he's telling people he wants to turn pro. Development camp, rookie camp and training camp and let's see what happens in September.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
You know I agree, but I feel like we are in the major minority here. I am just very concerned with not looking at the bigger picture enough vs. immediate gratification. Turcotte certainly was not bad this year, but he certainly wasn't great either. I just worry about moving a guy up from the USHL to one year of so/so play in college into pro hockey at 19. I think the risk for serious developmental damage is possible as we have seen from similar players in the past. I firmly believe a year of dominant hockey goes a long way in any players long-term chances of being a 1st line player in the NHL. And that should 100% still be the Kings goal with Alex Turcotte, if he struggles in the AHL that is two so-so years and suddenly the long-term outlook of being a 1st liner is in serious question. You often times hear fans lament the rushing of a player to a level he wasn't ready for, but you very rarely hear anyone say "Man we should have had him up sooner"
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KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
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I look at how long guys like Voynov, Toffoli, and Pearson marinated in the AHL and I have to agree.
Some seem to be upset about where Turcotte has fit in on the U.S. junior team and at Wisconsin in terms of not getting top six duty. I don't know if there really is an issue there or not, but two different coaches have played him the same way on back-to-back teams.
Too many AHL goons in their late twenties looking to wreck a young 1st round draft pick for my liking which could wreck the development of a kid who will play most of the season at 19 years of age.
I think that's very fair. But the other side of the coin on that argument is that at the end of the day you either have the chops or you don't. It's not like you're throwing him right into the nhl at 19. But either way, hughes (who is smaller), kakko, and dach will have already played two years in the nhl probably. He figures it out or he doesn't. I wouldn't blame the kings for it so much.
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
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It’s as big a risk to leave him in Wisconsin as it is bring him to Ontario. The Badgers had a really rough season and there are rumors of coaching staff turnover. Ontario is a young team too, but if the Kings trust their development team, he should sign a pro contract and head west.
Average age of NCAA player is also 22
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
If you believe he belongs on the bottom six of those teams, then he's f***ed anyway, and we can't cause any more damage.
If you believe he doesn't belong on the bottom six of those teams, than that's pretty close to a vote for him not being there.
I think most will generally agree with you and @Herby that college couldn't hurt but this is a specific situation, the situation being Wisconsin is apparently a shitshow and the Kings need control of his development. You may recall even earlier this season I was on board with him finishing another year there but as rumors arose and the team fell apart I started to fall off the train. Scoring 8 points in 4 games then getting demoted to line 3? Give me a break.
Now if he's somehow a head case and earning that by being a total turd I would rather him turn pro and get fed his lunch by Stothers anyway. There are very, very few pros to him staying in Wisconsin another year at this point, and a lot of red flags suggesting he shouldn't.
regulate
Registered User
The 22nd pick in last year's draft says hi. 18 year old Bjornfot played very well in the AHL in his rookie year this season in a position that is more difficult to master. Yes, that doesn't happen often, but I'm willing to bet the 5th overall in the draft will be fine at 19 years old in the AHL. He skates very well, his compete level and talent are high.
