C Gabriel Vilardi (2017, 11th, LAK)

[PAZ]

GM's are so fickle. Virtanen and Ritchie both went in the top 10 in a deeper draft, and then there's Vilardi with better numbers and he drops to 11. I can see how teams put a premium on centers, but the lowest he should've got drafted is 8 IMO.

 

[Raisy]

Clearly did not deserve to drop in a weak draft such as this one as much as he did, but he was overrated based off of the playoff run he had. He was a complete non factor in most games until the mem cup.

I think his skating is definitely something he will fix, but he's clear as day a winger at the next level. The many comparisons to Draisaitl were laughable and watching the Canuck board melt down while he dropped was absolutely hilariouss

Not correct at all. He was Windsor's best forward throughout the year and playoffs.

 

[Breakers]

Any Kings fans have an update on this guy?

Is he in Windsor, or LA?
Is he even skating?

 

[maxb221]

Still skating/working out in L.A. but i'm pretty sure he's going to be sent back to Windsor once he's cleared.

 

[93LEAFS]

Any Kings fans have an update on this guy?

Is he in Windsor, or LA?
Is he even skating?

McKenzie made it sound like he won't be ready for a while and will miss the WJC, and Pronman said a couple more months in a recent mailbag for The Athletic, but not season-ending. It's a shame. I had Vilardi as the 3rd best player in the last draft, and I love his upside, but losing almost a full season of development is a big set back at this age. Should still be a good value pick for LA at 11 though.

 

[TeddyBare]

Any Kings fans have an update on this guy?

Is he in Windsor, or LA?
Is he even skating?

I know for sure he is not skating/practicing with Windsor.

 

[GetFocht]

He’s done. He is missing a year of a very crucial development year.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

He’s done. He is missing a year of a very crucial development year.

Are the LA Kings okay with you posting this information on the internet, doctor? That might be a HIPAA violation.

 

[Blade Paradigm]

It seems that Gabe is a step closer to returning; he is currently practicing with no contact. Windsor Spitfires GM Warren Rychel still thinks he'll be out for at least a month:



Vilardi's return to Spitfires' lineup unclear after Kings send him to junior

Vilardi's return to Spitfires' lineup unclear after Kings send him to junior
Don’t pencil Gabriel Vilardi back into the Windsor Spitfires’ lineup just yet.
Jim Parker, Windsor Star
Published on: November 21, 2017 | Last Updated: November 21, 2017 9:40 PM EST

...

The Los Angles Kings returned the 18-year-old to the Spitfires on Tuesday, but the back injury that has hampered him since the end of May’s Memorial Cup will continue to keep Vilardi on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

“I’m really excited to be back,” said Vilardi, who expects to be at Wednesday’s practice. “I’m back to full practice, but no contact.”

Vilardi suffered what was originally thought to be a hip injury during Windsor’s run to the Memorial Cup title, but it was later ruled to be more of a back issue.

It kept him out of Canada’s world junior hockey tournament camp in the summer along with the Kings’ rookie camp and main camp. He finally returned to the ice two weeks ago.

“I’ve been skating there (in Los Angeles) for a few weeks with the development (guys) and other injured guys and doing rehab there since July right when I got drafted,” said Vilardi, the 11th pick overall in June’s NHL Draft.

Vilardi will continue to rehab in Windsor and skate with the Spitfires. He’ll return to Los Angeles in about two weeks to be examined by the club’s medical staff and determine if he’s ready for contact on the ice.

“I’d say it’s going to probably be a month before he plays,” Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said. “It’s hard to say if he’ll even play a game before Christmas.”

Rychel is in no rush to push the No. 2 pick overall in the 2015 OHL Draft back into the lineup, but thinks there’s value with him being in Windsor.

“It’s a slow process,” Rychel said. “We have to be careful with this and there’s no sense pushing, but it’s nice to get him back here. It’s good for the morale and I think he’ll help the young guys.”

Vilardi admits the process has been frustrating, but knows there’s nothing that can be done to change the process.

“It’s a ‘if it has to be done, it has to be done’ kind of thing,” Vilardi said. “Hopefully, I come out better for it one day.”

Once he’s cleared to play, Vilardi doesn’t expect there will be any lingering problems from the injury.

“As long as I’m doing the right things, I shouldn’t have any problems,” Vilardi said.

...

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Canucks should have taken him

You still think that ?

Not counting the kid out, but him still being out is concerning

 

[Elias Pettersson]

You still think that ?

Not counting the kid out, but him still being out is concerning

I think he will be just fine.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

I think he will be just fine.

I think there’s a good chance he will too, but your namesake probably would go #2 overall for most teams as of now in a redraft

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Ah yes, the classic "6 month redraft" test.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Should be cleared for game action on the 28th.

Spitfires notebook: DiPietro and Brown eye world junior spots while Vilardi cleared

Looking forward to his return!!!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Didn't play after all...and here's maybe why:

 

[Dominance]

Just let him play already, wherever he must.

 

[93LEAFS]

Didn't play after all...and here's maybe why:

Surprised they are selling Vilardi and not Brown, unless they also have a deal lined up for Brown.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Surprised they are selling Vilardi and not Brown, unless they also have a deal lined up for Brown.

Was thinking that too, maybe the first domino in a selloff.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

At long last!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Decent start, how did his play look?

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

[Stolen from regulate on the Kings board]

GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	SOG	FOW
3	2	4	6	5	2	0	0	7	28

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Welcome back,kid!

 

[Zaddy]

Nice to see him come back from injury and produce right off the bat yet again. Really hope he doesn't miss any more time in the near future. Have high hopes for this kid, but he needs to play.

 

[Castle8130]

After one of the longest types of surgeries to get over with, he is back! Looking like a stud too.

 

[Mallard]

Glad to see he is playing well after injury!