Confirmed with Link: Gabriel Vilardi signs 3-year ELC

johnjm22

Pseudo Intellectual
Aug 2, 2005
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Assuming he's eventually able to play, I hope this injury isn't a condition that handicaps him as a player.

Without anything hindering him, his upside is 1st line center IMO. I like him better than Turcotte.
 
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Rorschach

Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
Oct 9, 2006
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There’s only one way LA gets to draft both Byfield and Drysdale...that’s if we win the #1OA and we trade down for two firsts.
 

RossLonsberryFan

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Aug 28, 2019
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And stranger yet, Bob McKenzie said last year that Vilardi DID have back surgery....and never heard or saw that anywhere else. Maybe Gabe did and it was a minor procedure of some kind? I don't think McKenzie says that, without some knowledge. He's never made any wild speculations...and is in the know with contacts all around the league.

I just hope he's healthy and is at the cusp of embarking on an amazing and healthy career.
Can you imagine if he's back to where he was before the injury and is playing in top
form within 3 or 4 months?

Vilardi, Turcotte, Kupari, Kaliyev, Anderson-Dolan, Thomas, Fagemo. Geez oh man.

If Vilardi was being treated for spondylolysis (which is what I believe), then it’s possible that he may have undergone a minimally invasive procedure called a pars repair for a stress fracture of his L5 facet joint. This would involve the insertion of a titanium screw to guarantee union of the bones.

The interesting thing about that surgery though is that most of the articles I read about it basically say that it is recommended to take a full year off if you opt for the surgery. Vilardi attempted a comeback in 3 to 4 months and immediately began to experience symptoms related to weak core muscle imbalances.

The surgery is not required though to return to sports. It’s more of a guarantee that the bones involved with the stress fracture are near 100% likely to fuse back together.

The surgery is usually only recommended after a failed attempt to return to playing, which is what the case was for Gabe.
 
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Basilisk

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Aug 5, 2012
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There’s only one way LA gets to draft both Byfield and Drysdale...that’s if we win the #1OA and we trade down for two firsts.

With Ottawa? I was looking at the tankathon thingy. Ottawa actually has a statistical chance of picking #1 AND #2. It's 'cuz they're bastards! :sarcasm:
 

Lt Dan

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If Vilardi was being treated for spondylolysis (which is what I believe), then it’s possible that he may have undergone a minimally invasive procedure called a pars repair for a stress fracture of his L5 facet joint. This would involve the insertion of a titanium screw to guarantee union of the bones.

The interesting thing about that surgery though is that most of the articles I read about it basically say that it is recommended to take a full year off if you opt for the surgery. Vilardi attempted a comeback in 3 to 4 months and immediately began to experience symptoms related to weak core muscle imbalances.

The surgery is not required though to return to sports. It’s more of a guarantee that the bones involved with the stress fracture are near 100% likely to fuse back together.

The surgery is usually only recommended after a failed second attempt to return to playing, which is what the case was for Gabe.
ok, I think I get it, I know someone else who has that. It is the same as Pars defect , right?
 
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kilowatt

the vibes are not immaculate
Jan 1, 2009
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Maybe yes, maybe no...But a bubble team trying to make the playoffs or stay in the race might be willing to trade a 1st for Toffoli or Kovy (with retention) [depending how the play up until the deadline] for an added boost. That team could fail to make the playoffs in the month after the TDL, which could give the Kings an additional chance for a Chicago-style jump up.

Take a team like Montreal or the Islanders that could be in a wildcard spot or just outside and want some Top6 winger help for the playoffs and trade their 1st for Toffoli because he's scored 25 goals so far @ the TDL. Then Toffoli has one of those famous scoring slumps he's know to have and the team fails to make the playoffs. Boom. Top 15 pick for LA. It could happen, you just don't know and can't depend on it to happen.

This season will be a wait and see season.

Wait and see if...the vets can turn their game around.
Wait and see if...the prospects can step in and play at the NHL level.
Wait and see if...Vilardi can stay healthy.
Wait and see if...Turcotte leaves Wisconsin.
Wait and see if...we can dump some vets at the TDL.
Wait and see if...the PP will ever get going.

Just wait and see ;)

Toffoli and Martinez are the only two players I could see us moving that might garner a first.
 

kilowatt

the vibes are not immaculate
Jan 1, 2009
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You create packages to get that/those 1st rd's..
Toffoli + Hutton
Martinez+ Campbell

Losing Hutton and Martinez would give the Kings one of the all time worst defenses.

Forbort - Doughty
Ryan - Walker
MacDermid - Roy
 

RossLonsberryFan

Registered User
Aug 28, 2019
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I've learned a lot about the human back during his recovery time. The more you know.

I transcribed this from the State of the Franchise podcast from All The Kings Men:

Q: There was youtube video put out by someone who claimed to be somewhat of a back specialist and he was talking about a specific condition that young players have and it described to a tee what seemed to be going on with Vilardi in terms of just staying off the ice and not doing much at all. But the good news from that was that from what he was saying is the condition that he had is something that if you do give it time it’s pretty much guaranteed that they’re going to work through it. Does that sound like what Gabe has?

Rob Blake:
Yeah... uh... similar... um... listen we are hopeful that he will get back on track and be able to participate and get to a level to help us in this organization. Like I said it’s a slow process. He’s battled hard this summer. He’s progressed to a level, again, not able to get on the ice just yet. We’ll monitor that. We’ve had him in touch with specialists across the country. He’s worked with one in Ottawa near his hometown in correlation with our doctors and our back specialist here Dr. Watkins. I think they have a good handle on it. It’s a tough injury. And we’re hopeful that he can continue to progress to a level to help us one day.

The video being referred to:

 

RossLonsberryFan

Registered User
Aug 28, 2019
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I've learned a lot about the human back during his recovery time. The more you know.


Quote from Vilardi’s agent in Lisa Dillman’s article in The Athletic:

Restrained optimism might be the best way to describe it.

“Things are progressing,” said Octagon Hockey’s Andy Scott, who is Vilardi’s agent. “With any injury, especially involving your back, it takes time to recover. He’s working through that. He’s doing a lot of mobility stuff.

“We think he’s going to make a full recovery.”
—————-

Mobility stuff

Mobility exercises are usually related to muscle imbalance. And muscle imbalance is common in very tall young athletes going through a growth spurt. I believe this why the Kings shut him down after playing in only 4 AHL games. I believe it was a necessary step for him to participate in hockey activities in order for to help identify which muscles needed strengthening in order for Gabe to fully recover.
 

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Stimpythecat

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Jul 1, 2015
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I am going to go counter to the grain for a few players.

I don't see Clifford being traded. Blake's(?) comments about Clifford during the State of the Franchise were so full of praise that I would be surprised if it happens.

While Martinez is one of the few vets that have value, I don't think he's traded. During the cup wins, the kings had players well into their 30s playing defense. Someone has to teach the younger d-men how to hockey. One guy on each pair.

In 2012, Scuderi was 33, Mitchell was 35, even Greene was 29. In 2014, Regehr was 34, Mitchell was 37, and Greene was 31. Trade Marty and the only vet we have is Drew with no one in the system close to filling the other roles.
 

Rorschach

Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
Oct 9, 2006
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With Ottawa? I was looking at the tankathon thingy. Ottawa actually has a statistical chance of picking #1 AND #2. It's 'cuz they're bastards! :sarcasm:

I'm not sure who we would trade with...the odds of this are so low that we really can't plan for it. First of all, getting the 1OA to have to trade with is like less than 20% chance. Then we would need other team with something like a top 3 pick and a top 15 pick. Then we would have to do at least one more deal to get that second 1st rounder into the range where we can get Drysdale.

In other words, we're talking a fraction of a percent chance we can get both. I think Ottawa can be "manipulated" financially with LA's $$ if they are the team but that's assuming we get 1OA and they get two top 10 picks and one of them is top 3.
 

RossLonsberryFan

Registered User
Aug 28, 2019
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I am going to go counter to the grain for a few players.

I don't see Clifford being traded. Blake's(?) comments about Clifford during the State of the Franchise were so full of praise that I would be surprised if it happens.

While Martinez is one of the few vets that have value, I don't think he's traded. During the cup wins, the kings had players well into their 30s playing defense. Someone has to teach the younger d-men how to hockey. One guy on each pair.

In 2012, Scuderi was 33, Mitchell was 35, even Greene was 29. In 2014, Regehr was 34, Mitchell was 37, and Greene was 31. Trade Marty and the only vet we have is Drew with no one in the system close to filling the other roles.

Every player has a price tag in my opinion. I would imagine that the Kings would want at least a 2nd rounder and a prospect for Martinez. If the Kings are asked to retain salary, then the price would go up too. If no one is willing to meet the high price, then the Kings would be better to retain Martinez.
 

Lt Dan

F*** your ice cream!
Sep 13, 2018
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Quote from Vilardi’s agent in Lisa Dillman’s article in The Athletic:

Restrained optimism might be the best way to describe it.

“Things are progressing,” said Octagon Hockey’s Andy Scott, who is Vilardi’s agent. “With any injury, especially involving your back, it takes time to recover. He’s working through that. He’s doing a lot of mobility stuff.

“We think he’s going to make a full recovery.”
—————-

Mobility stuff

Mobility exercises are usually related to muscle imbalance. And muscle imbalance is common in very tall young athletes going through a growth spurt. I believe this why the Kings shut him down after playing in only 4 AHL games. I believe it was a necessary step for him to participate in hockey activities in order for to help identify which muscles needed strengthening in order for Gabe to fully recover.
As Darth Vader would say

tenor.gif



Are you a Doc or a future Doctor bro?
 

Dominance

99-66-4-9-87/97
Sep 30, 2017
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Of course. Toffoli should be in the 12-20 range and Martinez in the 22-31 range. All of course from how they do this season.
I wouldn’t be so sure. I think GMs are all highly aware of the incredible quality (of the top-end and depth) of the 2020 draft class. I suspect that there will be far fewer top-62 - and particularly top-31 - draft picks moved at this deadline.
 
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tbrown33

Registered User
Jun 22, 2019
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Of course. Toffoli should be in the 12-20 range and Martinez in the 22-31 range. All of course from how they do this season.

But...you're not going to know the order of the pick until the playoffs end. And since picks 12 - 15 are lottery picks, I'm not sure this assessment makes much sense. You would have to hope that Toffoli goes to a bubble team that misses the playoffs.
 

Rorschach

Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
Oct 9, 2006
11,585
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Los Angeles
Of course. Toffoli should be in the 12-20 range and Martinez in the 22-31 range. All of course from how they do this season.

I'm hopeful we can acquire some nice futures for guys like these but I think the values you state are way too high for the 2019 draft. If this was a poor draft, maybe. The number 12 pick in this year's draft may be as good as a top 3-5 pick most years, in terms of top-end depth.

I also don't think either of these players are worth that much as what you're saying above. I don't feel either of these players are worth more than a 2nd rounder and I actually think Martinez is worth more than Toffoli as of this moment, due to their positions...but there's lots of hockey to be played up to the deadline. I don't think there are multiple teams that own a pick in the 12 range that would be in the playoff hunt and want a Toffoli or Martinez bad enough as that's a bit of an oxymoron...it would be a team in the late teens to the 20s, pick range, a borderline contender or a true contender that would want a deal like trading futures for these players.

It may be possible to trade each of these guys for a late first/early second pick each, and then combine those picks for a mid-first.

That's the "bad" news. The good news is even if we do all that and get two lower firsts/early 2nds or we trade up, we will get top notch prospects into our system. The draft is very deep, like 2003 deep, so who knows...maybe that 2nd rounder turns into a top4/top6 player/s.
 

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