Gravel signs

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

So is there pretty much no chance he signs his ELC with us now?

 

[tigermask48]

So is there pretty much no chance he signs his ELC with us now?

I'd say the odds are 1 of 30 the Kings sign him at this point...

He really didn't even prove he was ready to be a defender on Manchester in the handful of games that he played in. I don't understand why so many people think this guy is a can't miss prospect. I'm all for giving the guy a chance, but at this point he is fairly low on the depth chart IMO.

I think part of it comes from the WJCs a couple years ago. The whole US team was just awful from top to bottom, but Gravel stood out a ton and was of the few bright spots on that team in the tourney. The D on that team was also stacked with Merril, Faulk, Jones, Forbort and Trouba on that team so him standing out was a pretty big deal.

 

[goosh]

Question: If a team were to sign Gravel to an ELC, would he be able to play on their farm team (AHL) considering Manchester owns his rights?

 

[tigermask48]

Question: If a team were to sign Gravel to an ELC, would he be able to play on their farm team (AHL) considering Manchester owns his rights?

Yes. My understanding is that every AHL contract has an NHL out clause that voids the AHL deal as soon as the NHL contract is signed.

 

[goosh]

Yes. My understanding is that every AHL contract has an NHL out clause that voids the AHL deal as soon as the NHL contract is signed.

So any team can sign Gravel to an ELC and send him to their respective farm team.

That sucks.

 

[Jason Lewis]

Good post but than I still wonder why some over here thought he was so great.

Nobody can deny his decision to stay in college turned out to be pretty good too.

After all he is probably a very limited player.

The thing with Gravel is that he has some really good abilities and a make up that is hard to teach, and he had it young. I think that's why a lot of people were high on him (Myself included). Very good defensive zone play. Very smart off the puck. Big. Very cool and composed demeanor. Most importantly he thinks the game really really well.

That being said his foot speed isn't that great and he really has limited offensive upside.

It's not that strange that people were high on him, but on the flipside of it if we got a player who was all offense and had very little defensive acumen he would probably be considered a one trick pony and/or a career AHLer. It's all in how you take it. Personally I saw a player who excelled at things that are difficult to teach and got really excited at the prospect of him growing from there. No shame here from me in admitting he was probably overrated. It happens.

I am surprised he didn't sign an ELC but then again I am not. He is a solid player but the additions of McKeown and McNabb sealed his fate. Not to mentioned this organization LOVES Zach Leslie.

 

[tigermask48]

I am surprised he didn't sign an ELC but then again I am not. He is a solid player but the additions of McKeown and McNabb sealed his fate. Not to mentioned this organization LOVES Zach Leslie.

Is he just basically a victim of numbers this year? It would seem he's bound for the CHL as an overager just due to the sheer number of D under contract right now. I was hoping he'd get a ELC and spent a bit of time in the ECHL with a few AHL games here and there but that seems like it just isn't going to happen.

 

[drugold]

Not enough Cns in this thread

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Can Gravel sing like this?

 

[bmr]

It's not that strange that people were high on him, but on the flipside of it if we got a player who was all offense and had very little defensive acumen he would probably be considered a one trick pony and/or a career AHLer. It's all in how you take it. Personally I saw a player who excelled at things that are difficult to teach and got really excited at the prospect of him growing from there. No shame here from me in admitting he was probably overrated. It happens.

I am surprised he didn't sign an ELC but then again I am not. He is a solid player but the additions of McKeown and McNabb sealed his fate. Not to mentioned this organization LOVES Zach Leslie.

All the hub-bub talk about Gravel reminds me of Matt Johnson and Jamie Storr syndrome. I remember when everyone was anointing these two as the saviors of the organization. Those were some really dark years. The minute you start getting attached to players....

If I had to guess, I'd say Ebert (7th round) and Leslie (6th round) are going to be the best quality/sleeper picks for the Kings in the next couple of years. I really look to those two to have some meaningful impact in the AHL. Those two were beasting with Guelph into the playoffs. Men amongst boys.

 

[kingsfan]

All the hub-bub talk about Gravel reminds me of Matt Johnson and Jamie Storr syndrome. I remember when everyone was anointing these two as the saviors of the organization. Those were some really dark years. The minute you start getting attached to players....

If I had to guess, I'd say Ebert (7th round) and Leslie (6th round) are going to be the best quality/sleeper picks for the Kings in the next couple of years. I really look to those two to have some meaningful impact in the AHL. Those two were beasting with Guelph into the playoffs. Men amongst boys.

Whoever labelled Matt Johnson as a saviour was smoking some really ****ed up stuff.

 

[johnjm22]

Hard to believe we actually took Matt Johnson in the 2nd round. He had no quality attributes other than his size.

The Kings drafting around that time period was mesmerizingly awful. From 1992 to 1996 LA drafted 46 players. The one real quality player they landed (Timonen), was traded away.

The long list of horrors:

1996 Entry
Josh Green C
Marian Cisar R
Greg Phillips R
Mikael Simons R
Eric Belanger C
Jesse Black D
Peter Hogan D
Steve Valiquette G
Kai Nurminen F
Sebastien Simard L

1995 Entry
Aki-Petteri Berg D
Donald MacLean C
Pavel Rosa R
Vladimir Tsyplakov L
Igor Melyakov F
Benoit Larose D
Juha Vuorivirta F
Brian Stewart D

1994 Entry
Jamie Storr G
Matt Johnson L
Vitali Yachmenev L
Chris Schmidt C
Luc Gagne F
Andrew Dale C
Jan Nemecek D
Sergei Shalamai L

1993 Entry
Shayne Toporowski R
Jeff Mitchell R
Bob Wren C
Frederik Beaubien G
Jason Saal G
Tomas Vlasak L
Jere Karalahti D
Justin Martin R
Travis Dillabough L
Martin Strbak D
Kimmo Timonen D
Patrick Howald

1992 Entry
Justin Hocking D
Sandy Allan G
Kevin Brown R
Jeff Shevalier L
Rem Murray L
Magnus Wernblom R
Ryan Pisiak R
Jukka Tiilikainen R

 

[Legionnaire]

My God. That list makes me want to cry.

I thought Timmonen was lost in the expansion draft to the Predators because we kept Storr and Fiset?

 

[KINGS17]

Hard to believe we actually took Matt Johnson in the 2nd round. He had no quality attributes other than his size.

The Kings treated Matt Johnson like crap. Did you realize that he once had to hold out for 5 days in order to get the contract he deserved from the Kings.

 

[KingsFan7824]

My God. That list makes me want to cry.

I thought Timmonen was lost in the expansion draft to the Predators because we kept Storr and Fiset?

He was traded with Jan Vopat for future considerations. According to wikipedia, it was so that Nashville wouldn't take Galley.

The Kings did lose Frederic Chabot in the expansion draft though. He had to play at least 10 games in 97-98, or else the Kings would've had to leave Fiset or Storr available, and would've lost one of them.

Galley would play a couple more years after that before leaving and then retiring. Fiset and Storr would stick around a few years, but Potvin eventually was brought in. Timonen ended up playing as at least a top 4 defenseman for most of the next 15 years.

 

[Reaper45]

Remember when people were super pissed the Kings didn't sign Aaron Rome? Good times.

 

[Sybil227]

Eric Belanger played over 800 games in the NHL. He's not too bad. Never quite the same after he injured his wrist, but a serviceable bottom 6.

 

[Moses Doughty]

If you polled a suddenly existing early 90s HF you could draft better than that honestly

 

[lumbergh]

No word on Gravel signing elsewhere? Looks like the fears of losing him to free agency were a little overblown.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Remember when people were super pissed the Kings didn't sign Aaron Rome? Good times.

In hindsight, those people were right. Rome was one of the most NHL ready prospects the Kings had at the time

 

[HeadInjury]

Eric Belanger played over 800 games in the NHL. He's not too bad. Never quite the same after he injured his wrist, but a serviceable bottom 6.

The Karalahti pick was good too. Substance abuse ruined his NHL career but he was a good player. Amazing to see that he is still playing in Europe today.

 

[kingsfan]

No word on Gravel signing elsewhere? Looks like the fears of losing him to free agency were a little overblown.

Until he signs anywhere hard to say that. Though I think use of the word 'fear' is overblowing things as well.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

No word on Gravel signing elsewhere? Looks like the fears of losing him to free agency were a little overblown.

Well he is a UFA so really the Kings have lost him to free agency. He just hasn't signed anywhere yet.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Until he signs anywhere hard to say that. Though I think use of the word 'fear' is overblowing things as well.

True

Kevin Hayes hasn't signed with anyone either.

 

[Jason Lewis]

True

Kevin Hayes hasn't signed with anyone either.

Right, and we are talking about a 65 points collegiate athlete who just won and NCAA championship and was a hobey baker finalist. These guys aren't in a rush to sign with teams right now.