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Here and Now: The Preseason

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Black and White: The Plan

Through top draft selections, strong prospect development and new leadership, the LA Kings plan to fight their way back into contention

Black and White: The Plan

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I would lean towards retaining Bjornfot because he's going to learn more playing in the NHL with Drew than he would in Europe, the expectations for the Team are VERY low so he won't hurt them any more, and he's arguably the 3rd or 4th best Dman we have already. Its not ideal, but if he can continue to play like this against adult men pros then he's there IMO.
 
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Forbort was a detriment to this team last season. It may have been his back injury, but the team can not continue to roll him out on the top pair.

The advanced stats show that Doughty had an extreme decline prettyy much across the board when paired with Forbort, compared to without him. The eye test confirmed that, he was picked on by forecheckers, who applied heavy pressure on him knowing he couldn't move the puck well. The same thing happened when he was in the offensive zone, there was heavy pressure applied at the point which forced him to either turn the puck over or uselessly dump the puck behind the net.

Forbort can have value on the bottom pair as a PK specialist, but the days of attaching a stay at home guy with your puck mover for extended minutes are gone.
 
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Keeping Bjornfot is a mistake. Even if he is "ready" for NHL mins. Clifford was "ready" and it stunted his development. Let Bjornfot go back to Sweden play/learn/develop in a pressure free environment where he can try things that he won't be able to in the NHL. Let him get top PP/PK mins.

Then at Christmas let him go be the top D pairing in the WJC.

He might look good now, but what if in 20 games in he is struggling and he gets moved to the 3rd pairing? Or spends time in the press box? What about injuries? Most 18 yo's don't have an NHL body, if he misses 20+ games due to injury is it worth it?

Finally, Kings aren't winning anything this year, so why not run out a few tweeners and see if one pops, then bring Anderson/Bjornfot in full time next year.
 
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KingLB said:
Keeping Bjornfot is a mistake. Even if he is "ready" for NHL mins. Clifford was "ready" and it stunted his development. Let Bjornfot go back to Sweden play/learn/develop in a pressure free environment where he can try things that he won't be able to in the NHL. Let him get top PP/PK mins.

Then at Christmas let him go be the top D pairing in the WJC.

He might look good now, but what if in 20 games in he is struggling and he gets moved to the 3rd pairing? Or spends time in the press box? What about injuries? Most 18 yo's don't have an NHL body, if he misses 20+ games due to injury is it worth it?

Finally, Kings aren't winning anything this year, so why not run out a few tweeners and see if one pops, then bring Anderson/Bjornfot in full time next year.
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If he struggles, yes sit him occasionally if the workload is too much or send him to to the AHL for a bit. There are plenty of ways to manage his exposure.

The only reason you’re basically giving him is ‘fear’ a bunch of what ifs. His play has certainly earned a spot so it becomes a question of his temperament and maturity. Whilst none of us know that for sure, on the face of it his mindset seems correct. It isn’t about most 18 yr olds, it’s about Björnfot, is he ready? You have to base the decision on the individual.

If he truly is ready sending him back to Sweden would be disastrous for his development. You’d basically be saying, “yes, you ticked all the boxes but we don’t trust you”, that’s how you completely undermine someone mentally and introduce doubt where none existed.
 
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Statto said:
If he struggles, yes sit him occasionally if the workload is too much or send him to to the AHL for a bit. There are plenty of ways to manage his exposure.

The only reason you’re basically giving him is ‘fear’ a bunch of what ifs. His play has certainly earned a spot so it becomes a question of his temperament and maturity. Whilst none of us know that for sure, on the face of it his mindset seems correct. It isn’t about most 18 yr olds, it’s about Björnfot, is he ready? You have to base the decision on the individual.

If he truly is ready sending him back to Sweden would be disastrous for his development. You’d basically be saying, “yes, you ticked all the boxes but we don’t trust you”, that’s how you completely undermine someone mentally and introduce doubt where none existed.
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I phrased them as "what ifs" for the purpose of discussion. Lets be honest they are not what ifs. He is going to get hurt, the only question is how bad. Look at the history of NHL players at 18, they all end up getting hurt. Let alone a defensemen that is probably going to be defending more than 50% of the time.

That leads to my next point, he is going to struggle. No question, there is a reason better prospects then him haven't made the NHL at 18, because its a suicide mission. Makar/Byram/Hughes/Hesikanian/Boquist all sent back, for 3 so far, seems to absolutely seemed to be the correct call. Hell Doughty was a far superior player at 18 and he had his struggles. Oh and this Kings team is going to be so bad defensively.

If you think sending him back to Sweden because they don't trust him, then you must think Anderson/Clague/Durzi are all going to be ruined as well. Because clearly they can't be trusted yet. And its even worse if you keep him, and he struggles and he starts to change his game to "just get by". Being afraid to makes mistakes leads to guys just clearing the puck up the boards instead of looking for a slighty risky outlet pass. Or never attacking and always "playing safe" all things you don't want to scare out of a 18 year old. You want him to take chances, go end to end or to make risky plays at the blue line to learn what he can and can't do. In the NHL the first mistake that leads to a breakaway goal and you are developing another Forbort that just shoots it into the corner when on the blueline because he doesn't want to make a mistake and nobody ever got benched for dumping the puck in.
 
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I dunno, I get the opposite vibe from Bjornfot. He's not afraid to make mistakes from what I've seen, and unlike a guy like Forbort he can recover when he does.

I'm not sure how Bjornfot could develop into a Forbort seeing how he's light years ahead of him now.
 
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Has playing in Sweden hurt Bjornfot up to this point? If he's so ready, it doesn't seem to be the case. He'll be 19 in April. Where's the rush? Other than wanting one of the prospects to make the team because we're so sick of the old heads, where's the rush? Unless everyone missed in the draft, and he should've been a top 2 or 3 pick who would step right in like Doughty back in the day. Karlsson didn't even make Ottawa in his first possible year.

If there was a spot open, ok, but there are 15/16/17 other defenseman under contract to either the Kings or Reign. All of them need somewhere to go, and if Bjornfot is taking up a spot, that's less time for someone else somewhere. I think we're just too eager for anything new. Why sign Hutton if Bjornfot is ready to take a spot? Forbort going down was perfect for him, but then they sign another veteran.

If he makes the team he makes the team, whatever, but he's 18. There aren't many 18 year old's that are ready for NHL hockey. If he makes the team next year, he will still be a teenager.
 
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The only negative to sending him back is our enjoyment of this season. Which, in the big picture, was likely shot anyway.

He’s not the difference maker who can take the Kings closer to any kind of success. At least not this year. So don’t risk what could be our top defensive prospect with such marginal payoff.

At most reward his camp with a few games alongside Doughty and then send him to Sweden with a list of improvements.
 
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KingsFan7824 said:
Has playing in Sweden hurt Bjornfot up to this point? If he's so ready, it doesn't seem to be the case. He'll be 19 in April. Where's the rush? Other than wanting one of the prospects to make the team because we're so sick of the old heads, where's the rush? Unless everyone missed in the draft, and he should've been a top 2 or 3 pick who would step right in like Doughty back in the day. Karlsson didn't even make Ottawa in his first possible year.

If there was a spot open, ok, but there are 15/16/17 other defenseman under contract to either the Kings or Reign. All of them need somewhere to go, and if Bjornfot is taking up a spot, that's less time for someone else somewhere. I think we're just too eager for anything new. Why sign Hutton if Bjornfot is ready to take a spot? Forbort going down was perfect for him, but then they sign another veteran.

If he makes the team he makes the team, whatever, but he's 18. There aren't many 18 year old's that are ready for NHL hockey. If he makes the team next year, he will still be a teenager.
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King'sPawn said:
Let's not forget. He's 18 years old. No matter how talented someone is, developing a stronger physique is a fair criticism.

I just don't see how anyone truly believes he is 100% ready. Or think sending him back to Sweden to get stronger will hurt him.
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I honestly agree, but just to play devil's advocate--if the Kings start 9-0 and in large part because of the Doughty-Bjornfot pairing, do you send him back anyway?

I know it's about the future more than the present but with Forbort far off as well the org doesn't even get that crutch. Seeing an excited, rejuvenated Doughty embracing a leadership role only to have his child stolen out from under him? I'm not sure Blake would do that.
 
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Raccoon Jesus said:
I honestly agree, but just to play devil's advocate--if the Kings start 9-0 and in large part because of the Doughty-Bjornfot pairing, do you send him back anyway?

I know it's about the future more than the present but with Forbort far off as well the org doesn't even get that crutch. Seeing an excited, rejuvenated Doughty embracing a leadership role only to have his child stolen out from under him? I'm not sure Blake would do that.
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If he plays even one game, it burns off a year of his contract. If they start off 9-0, they might as well keep him longer (the 9 game rule is for junior players).

I just don't think this is the "best start in franchise history" roster where they will have a performance that will seal his fate as an NHLer this season. But I have been wrong before! I just don't like talking about those few times in my life ;)
 
I dunno, would I thoroughly enjoy watching Bjornfot get his ass handed to him along with the rest of the aging, lazy roster from last season? No.

Let's let the 18-year old teenager play and develop in a lower league all while not burning a year of his contract. Sounds like a plan to me.
 
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King'sPawn said:
If he plays even one game, it burns off a year of his contract. If they start off 9-0, they might as well keep him longer (the 9 game rule is for junior players).

I just don't think this is the "best start in franchise history" roster where they will have a performance that will seal his fate as an NHLer this season. But I have been wrong before! I just don't like talking about those few times in my life ;)
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I 100% agree and think it's more likely we get absolutely murdered. We haven't seen Bjornfot vs. elite checkers yet game after game. I'm just presenting a scenario for folks who are basically saying "unconditionally send him back," because I think he's already proven it's not that cut-and-dry.
 
KINGS17 said:
I dunno, would I thoroughly enjoy watching Bjornfot get his ass handed to him along with the rest of the aging, lazy roster from last season? No.

Let's let the 18-year old teenager play and develop in a lower league all while not burning a year of his contract. Sounds like a plan to me.
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Ehh, I dunno. Seen a lot more enthusiasm and energy, particularly from Doughty. not sure I want Bjornfot being a punching bag either, but if there's one thing for sure, it's that this is a different season in view already.
 
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King'sPawn said:
If he plays even one game, it burns off a year of his contract. If they start off 9-0, they might as well keep him longer (the 9 game rule is for junior players).
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Where does it say in the CBA that the ELC slide for 18-19 year old players is only for CHL players? And why do the Kings broadcasters talk about him playing 9 games and going back to Sweden if that's the case? I'm not seeing that when I read the section, but I'm happy to be corrected if that's the way it is.
 
Unless Bjornfot completely blows it in the next couple days, I think he sees at least a couple games.

The team will do whatever they think is best for his development, if it is keeping him with the club for a handful of games (burning a year off his contract) and then sending him back, they will. I think giving him a couple games to see how he does and to show him how hard it is to play in the NHL will only help. Im not expecting it but who knows, he may kill it!
 
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