Sol
Smile
- Jun 30, 2017
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I think I am being pretty realistic. Clarke to this day doesn't get consistent play. I dont see how Faber would have been pushed up. I think a lot of players potential is given breathing room when they're given some time to play through the ups and downs. Minnesota gave him that immediately. Kings aren't good about that. Especially with young players.On the right side (if going strictly by handedness), Kings had these players play during the regular season before the trade:
Doughty
Roy
Durzi
Spence
Walker
Stecher
Strand
If they wanted to play someone on the left, this was their defensive depth:
Anderson
Edler
Maatta
Bjornfot
Clague
Wolanin
Moverare
He likely wasn't going to get more minutes than Doughty, and maybe Roy considering the Kings' over-reliance on vets. But you're kidding yourself if you think he wouldn't have been able to play himself up the roster pretty quickly.
There was an article recently about Faber where it went in-depth on his struggles in the second half of the season for 2 seasons straight. It's like conditioning sure, and maybe genetics, but I don't see how he would have taken the mantle for the Kings with Spence and Doughty being ahead of him.He's already done that for a full season at 25 minutes a game? This is his second season doing so.
I do believe that a player hits their potential when given rope. Byfield is getting a lot of rope now which is why he's doing so good but it took a miracle for the Kings to give it to him. That wasn't the case in Minnesota.