Kings News: Forbort signed (ELC)

[Holden Caulfield]

I think we have the same whatever prospects we always had. It's just DL's development program has made NHL players out of what would be junk in other systems. Imagine RNH in our program. He'd still be in the AHL right now...leading them in scoring for the second straight year.

In most other NHL systems, King and Nolan would not be intriguing players. We got a player in Ellerby who was a 1st rounder in tools, got developed into a 5th rounder, then we've made him in to at least a 3rd rounder now in a few months (if not more).

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would not have been eligible for the AHL last year or this year....he only managed to play there this year since he played in NHL last year, and the lockout rules allowed players who played in NHL last year to play in AHL this year...

 

[rajuabju]

We dont really "need" Forbort to develop into an offensive juggernaut, or even really a 2-way D. Thats what we have Doughty, Voynov & Muzzin for.

What we need, is Forbort to develop into a top flight defensive/shutdown guy. Because Mitchell is done. Scuderi is getting older. Greene is not a top pairing guy, and neither is Regehr. So I'm hoping Forbort can basically become Doughty's pairing in a few years.

 

[BallPointHammer]

I was looking at the prospect list the other day, due to the trade deadline activity, and saw an interesting pattern that I hadn't noticed before. All of our college guys are finishing their junior years - Dowd, Mersch, Forbort, Gravel and Shore - except Lowry who is a sophmore.

The Manchester roster has become depleted over the season due to the NHL CBA resolution (Voynov, Muzzin, King, Nolan), call ups (Toffoli), attrition (Hickey, Clune), "politics" (Prokhorkin) and trades (Loktionov).

With the signing of Forbort and apparently Mersch on the way, maybe Dowd, Gravel and Shore aren't far behind either. Throw in Prokhorkin and Kitsyn and, as others have pointed out, the Monarchs could see a rebirth the next couple of seasons.

If all this is on one of Dean's charts from a couple of years ago .... cue "Twilight Zone" theme music.

 

[etherialone]

I was looking at the prospect list the other day, due to the trade deadline activity, and saw an interesting pattern that I hadn't noticed before. All of our college guys are finishing their junior years - Dowd, Mersch, Forbort, Gravel and Shore - except Lowry who is a sophmore.

The Manchester roster has become depleted over the season due to the NHL CBA resolution (Voynov, Muzzin, King, Nolan), call ups (Toffoli), attrition (Hickey, Clune), "politics" (Prokhorkin) and trades (Loktionov).

With the signing of Forbort and apparently Mersch on the way, maybe Dowd, Gravel and Shore aren't far behind either. Throw in Prokhorkin and Kitsyn and, as others have pointed out, the Monarchs could see a rebirth the next couple of seasons.

If all this is on one of Dean's charts from a couple of years ago .... cue "Twilight Zone" theme music.

The scary thing is that I can promise you that this is exactly what DL had in mind.
MCH is going to be a really good team.

 

[KINGS17]

The scary thing is that I can promise you that this is exactly what DL had in mind.
MCH is going to be a really good team.

This is true. In talking to Dean the little that I have he knows the birth year of every young player in the Kings organization, and where he is going to fit 5 or 6 years down the line.

 

[northernKing]

Another key is not signing free agent college players who have little chance of making the NHL like the Kings have in years past. Hopefully next season the Monarchs lineup is comprised of 80+% of drafted players with NHL potential

 

[Primakov!]

The scary thing is that I can promise you that this is exactly what DL had in mind.
MCH is going to be a really good team.

They're going to be really talented, but having so many first year players is probably going to lead to some struggles as they acclimate to being a professional hockey player and get used to the speed at the AHL-level.

You know full well that there are going to be factors to look at that might not appear on the stat sheet to track the development of the young guys. So you're probably going to end up doing a lot of explaining to folks who are only going to bring up goals, assists, and plus/minus to say a player sucks or not.

 

[DaAnimal]

This is true. In talking to Dean the little that I have he knows the birth year of every young player in the Kings organization, and where he is going to fit 5 or 6 years down the line.

A sign of a good GM/leader.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I was looking at the prospect list the other day, due to the trade deadline activity, and saw an interesting pattern that I hadn't noticed before. All of our college guys are finishing their junior years - Dowd, Mersch, Forbort, Gravel and Shore - except Lowry who is a sophmore.

The Manchester roster has become depleted over the season due to the NHL CBA resolution (Voynov, Muzzin, King, Nolan), call ups (Toffoli), attrition (Hickey, Clune), "politics" (Prokhorkin) and trades (Loktionov).

With the signing of Forbort and apparently Mersch on the way, maybe Dowd, Gravel and Shore aren't far behind either. Throw in Prokhorkin and Kitsyn and, as others have pointed out, the Monarchs could see a rebirth the next couple of seasons.

If all this is on one of Dean's charts from a couple of years ago .... cue "Twilight Zone" theme music.

DL is a mad scientist. He covers every angle of the organization and turned it into a finely tuned machine.

 

[CNS]

As expected, his contract starts NEXT year and he's signed an ATO with Manchester. 4bort now becomes 3bort as he'll be wearing #3 in Manchester.

 

[Nashville Transplant]

As expected, his contract starts NEXT year and he's signed an ATO with Manchester. 4bort now becomes 3bort as he'll be wearing #3 in Manchester.

Which of course, earlier in the season was worn by Jake Muzzin

 

[AKAY47]

As expected, his contract starts NEXT year and he's signed an ATO with Manchester. 4bort now becomes 3bort as he'll be wearing #3 in Manchester.

I didn't even know they could do that but it'll be interesting to see how many minutes/how he plays in Manchester

 

[Whiskeypete]

I was looking at the prospect list the other day, due to the trade deadline activity, and saw an interesting pattern that I hadn't noticed before. All of our college guys are finishing their junior years - Dowd, Mersch, Forbort, Gravel and Shore - except Lowry who is a sophmore.

The Manchester roster has become depleted over the season due to the NHL CBA resolution (Voynov, Muzzin, King, Nolan), call ups (Toffoli), attrition (Hickey, Clune), "politics" (Prokhorkin) and trades (Loktionov).

With the signing of Forbort and apparently Mersch on the way, maybe Dowd, Gravel and Shore aren't far behind either. Throw in Prokhorkin and Kitsyn and, as others have pointed out, the Monarchs could see a rebirth the next couple of seasons.

If all this is on one of Dean's charts from a couple of years ago .... cue "Twilight Zone" theme music.

This is true. In talking to Dean the little that I have he knows the birth year of every young player in the Kings organization, and where he is going to fit 5 or 6 years down the line.

They're going to be really talented, but having so many first year players is probably going to lead to some struggles as they acclimate to being a professional hockey player and get used to the speed at the AHL-level.

You know full well that there are going to be factors to look at that might not appear on the stat sheet to track the development of the young guys. So you're probably going to end up doing a lot of explaining to folks who are only going to bring up goals, assists, and plus/minus to say a player sucks or not.

DL is a mad scientist. He covers every angle of the organization and turned it into a finely tuned machine.

I didn't even know they could do that but it'll be interesting to see how many minutes/how he plays in Manchester

finally....others are seeing the big picture. it's all part of Dean's big picture, culture and 'right fit'. all the buzz words we've heard now for years.

all those guys he is looking to sign and forego their senior seasons....there is another term for them. the 'next core', these guys are essentially the next core of guys to lead the franchise. as the current core begins to age out, traded away, retires, etc the crop of new guys will take on the roles that guys like Brown, Kopitar, Richards, DD, VV, play for the team today. in 2, 3 and 4 years the 'passing of the torch' will begin to be passed to these guys to carry on the Kings tradition. it's inevitable and just part of the cycle of franchise.

for the first time ever this franchise is totally set when it comes to the immediate and long-term outlook.

 

[KingLB]

I agree at what your saying...but taking over DD/VV roles....most these guys are basically the same age!?!?!?! DD shouldn't need to be "replaced" for atleast another decade....

 

[kings11]

btw for those thinking VV will get OEL money its looking like he might be in line for a Subban style contract especially if subban wins the norris or for that fact is top 3.

but back to the thread yes we are in what might be called a golden age of KINGS hockey as far as the team we have currently and what will be available in manchester.

 

[Fat Elvis]

I agree at what your saying...but taking over DD/VV roles....most these guys are basically the same age!?!?!?! DD shouldn't need to be "replaced" for atleast another decade....

True, but having players there just in case poop hits the fan is much better than not having a back up plan at all. Stuff happens and have capable replacements is we thought out here.

 

[CNS]

I didn't even know they could do that but it'll be interesting to see how many minutes/how he plays in Manchester

It's a very, very common practice for college players. CHL players can report to AHL/ECHL teams on just an ATO and no contract I believe, ala Teubert, and college guys sign contracts for the following year and an ATO for a minor league club. We did the same with O'Neill last year. He graduated from Yale, signed an ATO, and then his 1 year contract kicked in this year.