Is Lombardi In Negotiations With Gravel?

[apadilla]

You don't see Mitchell or Greene coming back?

sure looks like greene will be the odd man out, but mitchell, he deserves another year,

 

[kingsfan]

If DL thinks one of the farm kids can make the jump, Green or Willie will be gone. Maybe even both depending on where this cap actually falls at and what DL wants to add to the team in FA. He very well could elect to replace Greene on the open market as well. He's done fairly well picking up stay at home types in free agency looking at Mitchell and Rob Scuderi.

 

[etherialone]

You don't see Mitchell or Greene coming back?

I don't know but my guess is that of the two Willie would get another shot if either is going to be retained. I ask myself the same question all the time and don't have a good answer just yet.

Wouldn't they just keep Forbort down for one more season and bring him up the following year after Regehr's current deal is over?

Sure, that is also a possibility. I spent a ton of time following Forbort at UND and there are times when I thought he was going to be a very good NHL Dman down the road and then there were times when I just wasn't certain. Morris likes him and sees him making the NHL soon so that speaks volumes about his potential.

I think he will be a player but just when and possibly where are what I wonder. That said you could be perfectly right and we could hang on to Forbort for another developmental season. I see Gravel as a Regehr replacement but that is a bit down the road. Another thing to consider is that KG could pull a Blake and go right from College to the NHL for a quick look if there is time. If that happens while I would consider it a bit of a long shot he could stick. More than likely won't but it isn't entirely out of the question.

We are very very talented and deep on D.

 

[kingsfan28]

I don't know but my guess is that of the two Willie would get another shot if either is going to be retained. I ask myself the same question all the time and don't have a good answer just yet.



Sure, that is also a possibility. I spent a ton of time following Forbort at UND and there are times when I thought he was going to be a very good NHL Dman down the road and then there were times when I just wasn't certain. Morris likes him and sees him making the NHL soon so that speaks volumes about his potential.

I think he will be a player but just when and possibly where are what I wonder. That said you could be perfectly right and we could hang on to Forbort for another developmental season. I see Gravel as a Regehr replacement but that is a bit down the road. Another thing to consider is that KG could pull a Blake and go right from College to the NHL for a quick look if there is time. If that happens while I would consider it a bit of a long shot he could stick. More than likely won't but it isn't entirely out of the question.

We are very very talented and deep on D.

I'd lean towards Mitchell as well. Greene is just breaking down right before our eyes. He's not even close to the player he was 2 seasons ago, and now being a healthy scratch in 9 of the last 10 games speaks volumes. I think we all know the writing is on the wall for Greene.

 

[Scottkmlps]

I don't know but my guess is that of the two Willie would get another shot if either is going to be retained. I ask myself the same question all the time and don't have a good answer just yet.



Sure, that is also a possibility. I spent a ton of time following Forbort at UND and there are times when I thought he was going to be a very good NHL Dman down the road and then there were times when I just wasn't certain. Morris likes him and sees him making the NHL soon so that speaks volumes about his potential.

I think he will be a player but just when and possibly where are what I wonder. That said you could be perfectly right and we could hang on to Forbort for another developmental season. I see Gravel as a Regehr replacement but that is a bit down the road. Another thing to consider is that KG could pull a Blake and go right from College to the NHL for a quick look if there is time. If that happens while I would consider it a bit of a long shot he could stick. More than likely won't but it isn't entirely out of the question.

We are very very talented and deep on D.

I agree, and Dean is going to have some tough decisions to make in the next year or two. Now work on that offensive depth Dean.

 

[Scottkmlps]

I'd lean towards Mitchell as well. Greene is just breaking down right before our eyes. He's not even close to the player he was 2 seasons ago, and now being a healthy scratch in 9 of the last 10 games speaks volumes. I think we all know the writing is on the wall for Greene.

Greene is breaking down very quickly.

 

[Whiskeypete]

You don't see Mitchell or Greene coming back?

i don't. honestly the only reason to keep either of them is as a #7. Dean knows he is getting with both of them, so there isn't much of a gamble involved. both of them have seriously slowed down in the past year.

Willie imo is the most noticeable. prior to his knee injury there were very few skaters that could beat him around the outside. there are considerably more guys beating him these days. this is the most noticeable and easiest measurement for anyone to watch.

Greene has become so slow now he just can't keep up. i love his game and what he has done for the team, but he has become a big liability back there. his body is likely breaking down and he can't keep up his physical workouts to maintain his play.

i would prefer to see DL add a vet UFA over the summer for two years as a bridge. that will be enough time for the new kids to all be ready.

Wouldn't they just keep Forbort down for one more season and bring him up the following year after Regehr's current deal is over?

Forbort is still under contract for two more seasons, so Dean can continue to take his time with him. from what we've seen the past few seasons concerning the high demand for SAH dmen and short supply, why move him?

sure there will be demand (possibly very good demand) for a NHL ready 1st rounder dman. at the same time unless it is a perfect scenario where Dean is offered a top prospect or pick for him there is little value in moving him. he is essentially NHL ready at this time. i doubt Dean will be offered a similar exchange of an NHL ready prospect coming back (say perhaps a top winger. this leaves a draft pick and that just resets the development clock back.

keep him, because i highly doubt dean gets full value for him. the same way that Bernier didn't truly return full value, no matter how package/re-package the players, picks

 

[LAKings88]

I can see Greene's cap space going toward a Gabby extension. Especially if McNabb can make the team.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

You don't see Mitchell or Greene coming back?

Mitchell might get a one year deal, but I think Greene's days are numbered. People should remember that McNabb has to clear waivers starting next year, he's going to be on the Kings.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

I love McNabb and think he is going to be a good defender for us but imo he makes Forbort expendable in a way. If we add McNabb and Gravel next season (McNabb to start the season and Gravel when he is ready) I think we will improve our D considerably.

Forbort will play in the NHL and could become a solid SAH Dman who can skate but McNabb is better than him in every category including skating. I think Forbort may be more valuable to us as trade bait but who knows. Morris loves the improvements that DF has made this year and thinks that he is close to ready to start making his jump to the NHL. I like his game too but still think that McNabb has the edge.

McNabb
Gravel (after a stint in the AHL)
Voynov
Doughty
Muzzin
Regehr
Matinez

and I like us allot next season. Add in a vet to start the year or until Gravel proves he is 100% ready and we have a much faster skating and more gritty D corp. We are overloaded with high end talent on D both on the team and ready to make the jump. And there is more in the pipeline.

Looks good so far.

That's odd, because Forbort is a good skater. That was one of the reasons he was drafted so high, the combination; skating ability while being 6'4''.

I have yet to see McNabb, but Sabres fans said his skating is one of his weaknesses.

You say he is a better skater ? Than one of you is terribly wrong...

so which guy will make it?

Logically McNabb. I cant imagine Dean traded Fasching and Deslauriers, just because of two 2nd rounders. They must see something in him. Also because he has to clear waivers next season.

What do you think ?

 

[Frolov 6'3]

As for Greene, did he regress quickly.

From fan favorite, leader and "A" on his jersey to expendable, all in 1,5 season.


I still remember when we were screaming for him to get healthy for the playoffs 2013...

Too bad he didnt get traded. Kings could have gotten something out of him.

 

[triplcrown]

Is it too much to hope for that Gravel would be a Willie Mitchell-quality
shutdown D-man, but could reach that level faster than Mitchell did?

 

[BigBrown]

Is it too much to hope for that Gravel would be a Willie Mitchell-quality
shutdown D-man, but could reach that level faster than Mitchell did?

I think any one prospect reaching Willie Mitchell quality as a shutdown d-man would be a surprise. The year we won the cup he was probably a top 3 defensive d-man in the league, he was unbelievable. There are probably only a very select few prospects in the whole league that will ever reach that level. I mean it could happen, I'm certainly hopeful he'll turn into a solid player one day, but sometimes you got to be realistic about these things.

 

[LAKings88]

Kings should keep Mitchell on as a coach/consultant when he retires.

 

[Herby]

I think any one prospect reaching Willie Mitchell quality as a shutdown d-man would be a surprise. The year we won the cup he was probably a top 3 defensive d-man in the league, he was unbelievable. There are probably only a very select few prospects in the whole league that will ever reach that level. I mean it could happen, I'm certainly hopeful he'll turn into a solid player one day, but sometimes you got to be realistic about these things.

People really underrate how hard it is to be a great defensive defenseman.

You look at Forbort, he is a defenseman who's offensive game never developed, but you often see people saying that since his offensive game hasn't developed he can just turn into the next Scuderi, as if that is super easy for any failed offensive defenseman t just become a great shutdown guy. Same thing with Mitchell, just because they both play a simple game on the ice doesn't mean it's simple for anyone to be like that.

 

[donkozak]

Mitchell Will Play,Expansion On Horizon

Kings should keep Mitchell on as a coach/consultant when he retires.

Mitchell has lost a step and hasn't been the player we saw in 2011-12 for sure.He still is pretty effective though even as a 5th-6th D-man and with expansion surely to be on the horizon I see him continuing to play maybe into his 40's

 

[donkozak]

Hope LaDue Plays Four Years Of College

Don't forget Paul LaDue. He had a very promising freshman season with North Dakota. Was the 2013 USHL Defenseman of the Year, and I think he has an advantage down the road of being a right hand shot, which seems to be a rarity these days with dmen.

Seems to me that some players really need the extra time to develop their game and not rush to the NHL. Kevin Gravel played all four and it helped him tremendously.Derek Forbort should have and hopefully Paul LaDue does play another three after this one.He does look to have great offensive capabilities but does that transfer to the NHL?In King country we hope so!

 

[Lead Role in a Cage]

For someone who hasn't seen Gravel play, how would his game compare to Ryan McDonagh?

McDonagh's and Gravel's college numbers are somewhat similar and, after reading this and other threads, it seems that Gravel is known more for his defensive prowess rather than being an offensive d-man, although his St Cloud numbers are good this year (10 goals and 23 points in 36 games).

Once McDonagh got to the NHL he turned into quite the dynamo. Just a wonderful player to watch.

Having said all this, I am in no position to compare, nor would I dream to hope that Gravel will come close to McDonagh, but I would like to know if there are any similarities to their game.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HYORI 1963]

I actually think Lombardi will try to re-sign Greene. Lombardi loves guys coming off an injury, and a down year. If he can sign Greene at a reasonable rate, I can see Greene getting a year or two year max. Also the fact that Greene shoots right can factor in as well.

Greene should try and lose 10-15 lbs much like Nolan. It certainly wouldn't hurt his foot speed.

 

[skolgoar]

Watching the Leafs Habs game. Gleason vs. Weaver. Boy, has has the Kings blue line come a long way ...

 

[etherialone]

That's odd, because Forbort is a good skater. That was one of the reasons he was drafted so high, the combination; skating ability while being 6'4''.

I have yet to see McNabb, but Sabres fans said his skating is one of his weaknesses.

You say he is a better skater ? Than one of you is terribly wrong...

Logically McNabb. I cant imagine Dean traded Fasching and Deslauriers, just because of two 2nd rounders. They must see something in him. Also because he has to clear waivers next season.

What do you think ?

I thought I was being complimentary to Forbort when I said "Forbort will play in the NHL and could become an SAH who can skate". To be more clear Forbort can skate very well and has progressed in every aspect of his game, it is just that McNabb does everything a little bit better than Forbort.

To me that means that they are both solid young Dmen who will play in the NHL and one (McNabb) is a little bit better than the other (Forbort) at every aspect of the game.

I trust my evaluation of both of these prospects well enough to where I will stand by what I have written. I will say that Sabre fans may be comparing him to other D on their team or in their system when they are judging his skating or they may be thinking about McNabb as he was when he started out. Either way of the two if I had to choose between them I would take McNabb as he plays with a great amount of grit and where Forbort doesn't or doesn't typically do so.

As to the comment that one of us is "terribly wrong" I found that to be pretty funny. Nobody is terribly anything. If Sabre fans or anyone sees things differently than I do about anything it is perfectly cool and not something that has to be so melodramatic as to require anyone being terribly wrong about anything.

Time will prove which is write. I will as always stand by my evaluations.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

I thought I was being complimentary to Forbort when I said "Forbort will play in the NHL and could become an SAH who can skate". To be more clear Forbort can skate very well and has progressed in every aspect of his game, it is just that McNabb does everything a little bit better than Forbort.

To me that means that they are both solid young Dmen who will play in the NHL and one (McNabb) is a little bit better than the other (Forbort) at every aspect of the game.

I trust my evaluation of both of these prospects well enough to where I will stand by what I have written. I will say that Sabre fans may be comparing him to other D on their team or in their system when they are judging his skating or they may be thinking about McNabb as he was when he started out. Either way of the two if I had to choose between them I would take McNabb as he plays with a great amount of grit and where Forbort doesn't or doesn't typically do so.

As to the comment that one of us is "terribly wrong" I found that to be pretty funny. Nobody is terribly anything. If Sabre fans or anyone sees things differently than I do about anything it is perfectly cool and not something that has to be so melodramatic as to require anyone being terribly wrong about anything.

Time will prove which is write. I will as always stand by my evaluations.

Wow...

I only said something about their skating.

People can see things differentely indeed, but skating ability is pretty obvious to notice. Especially when its a strength for one player and a weakness for the other. I saw MacNabb during the Sprenger Cup but didnt pay attention, of course.

If Sabres fans or whoever say that McNabb is an average skater with bad footspeed, than I am asking myself why you think he's a better at that than Forbort.

No that's not funny, that's a realistic fair question.

 

[King'sPawn]

It's been a while since I've seen Forbort up close, but I was never impressed with his skating.

I'll have to watch more closely next time I see a Monarchs game.

Back to topic, I haven't seen enough of McDonagh to compare Gravel to him. Gravel really compares very well with Scuderi.

 

[etherialone]

Wow...

I only said something about their skating.

People can see things differentely indeed, but skating ability is pretty obvious to notice. Especially when its a strength for one player and a weakness for the other. I saw MacNabb during the Sprenger Cup but didnt pay attention, of course.

If Sabres fans or whoever say that McNabb is an average skater with bad footspeed, than I am asking myself why you think he's a better at that than Forbort.

No that's not funny, that's a realistic fair question.

Then I guess what I would say is that maybe I am looking at each prospect and how they have played (skated etc) from the time I saw them in Bantam up until their overall game as it is today. I spend the majority of my time (the past 27 years for the most part) following players from Bantam through to their draft and then up until they make the NHL (for those who make the leap). So maybe I am seeing each players overall development and comparing them to each other based on where they are today vs where they were when they were drafted which is where the average fan begins noticing them.

Even then most NHL fans don't actively follow their prospects all too closely for various reasons. I would also say that for every Buffalo fan that would have something to say about one aspect or another of a prospects play I can probably show one from a professional that would challenge their opinions.

More often then not imo fans will form the majority of their opinions on prospects without having seen them play or only having seen them play in limited situations.

To me it is all equally valid as in the end it is all only opinion and everyone has the right to their own.

You said that either I or some buffalo fan(s) were "terribly wrong" and that is nonsense to me for the reasons stated above. There is nothing terrible to me about people having opinions different then my own and in fact I believe that is part of the reason why any of us come here (to share our thoughts and discuss our differing points of view).

So it's no biggie, like I said I will stand by what I have said regarding Forbort, McNabb and every other prospect I have and will evaluate and will happily discuss them with anyone interested.

Forbort is a good skater for a player his size and while he may have a better first step then McNabb McNabb has better overall balance in his stride which allows for him to cover more area with fewer steps so they both end up at the same place at the same time. Both of them have worked hard on their skating as well as the rest of their games and both have their strengths and weaknesses. I see McNabb's better overall game as being part of the reason that he is as I said a bit better than Forbort at every aspect of their games today.

To me it is as simple as that.