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Kings Article: Jordan Weal Is “Doing Everything He Possibly Can To Become An NHL Player

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxGANN
Yeah, I'm the taxGANN

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxGANN
Yeah, I'm the taxGANN

(If you drive a car car) I'll tax the street
(If you try to sit sit) I'll tax your seat
(If you get too cold cold) I'll tax the heat
(If you take a walk walk) I'll tax your feet

TaxGANN!
 
Love this kid and hope he can make it here. Great article Gann. Really captures his work ethic and routine to get bigger. Sounds like he's at least Mike Richards' size now but with more beef.
 
IMO, one of the best things Weal can do to help further his NHL career, is adapt his skills to RIGHT WING, as well as Center.

I believe Weal could do better at RW than C in our system, due to the greater physical load the C has down low in the D-zone.
He'd have more flexibility on wing, and less pressure to control opponents physically than the Kings' C has.

Besides, the image of Weal playing RW with Kopitar and Gaborik gives me chills. Love to see that. Speed & skill galore.
 
I normally want all the prospects to succeed equally. However with this kid I really want him to succeed. He obviously has the tools but his attitude is first rate and if he makes it, will be a great example to the others. I agree if he could switch to RW it would really help him and us as it will help mitigate the size issue but also likely give him more opportunity in terms of depth in that position.
 
triplcrown said:
IMO, one of the best things Weal can do to help further his NHL career, is adapt his skills to RIGHT WING, as well as Center.

I believe Weal could do better at RW than C in our system, due to the greater physical load the C has down low in the D-zone.
He'd have more flexibility on wing, and less pressure to control opponents physically than the Kings' C has.

Besides, the image of Weal playing RW with Kopitar and Gaborik gives me chills. Love to see that. Speed & skill galore.
Click to expand...

The emergence of Weal has made it a little easier to deal with the trade of Vey. Honestly, I think Weal could have more upside. He is definitely a better faceoff guy and the amount of skill he has with the puck is unbelievable. I expect him to be a PPG guy in Manchester this year.
 
This kid has a Kings future not just an nhl future!!! he can contribute to this team with his all around play in a year or two, also in any sport to be able to gain weight during a grinding season shows tremendous dedication and work ethic. if he's able to get up to 190ish with even more speed then look out for an even bigger season from him this year!!

could be our zuccarello ???
 
triplcrown said:
IMO, one of the best things Weal can do to help further his NHL career, is adapt his skills to RIGHT WING, as well as Center.

I believe Weal could do better at RW than C in our system, due to the greater physical load the C has down low in the D-zone.
He'd have more flexibility on wing, and less pressure to control opponents physically than the Kings' C has.

Besides, the image of Weal playing RW with Kopitar and Gaborik gives me chills. Love to see that. Speed & skill galore.
Click to expand...

I couldn't disagree more. I like Weal, don't misunderstand, but when was the last time the Kings had a player Weal's size play wing? Cammalleri?

The wingers grind and cycle, which is where Weal is lacking.

The progress of Weal is great, but he needs to be able to grind at the AHL level before he can be counted on in the NHL. This year will be huge if he can use the additional weight effectively.
 
kings11 said:
This kid has a Kings future not just an nhl future!!! he can contribute to this team with his all around play in a year or two, also in any sport to be able to gain weight during a grinding season shows tremendous dedication and work ethic. if he's able to get up to 190ish with even more speed then look out for an even bigger season from him this year!!

could be our zuccarello ???
Click to expand...

Oh Yeahhhh!!!
Oops!
After reading those last 4 words,
I have to change my underwear now.
:sarcasm:
 
Jordan Nolan will be replaced by Jordan Weal.

JordanWeal.jpg
 
King'sPawn said:
I couldn't disagree more. I like Weal, don't misunderstand, but when was the last time the Kings had a player Weal's size play wing? Cammalleri?

The wingers grind and cycle, which is where Weal is lacking.

The progress of Weal is great, but he needs to be able to grind at the AHL level before he can be counted on in the NHL. This year will be huge if he can use the additional weight effectively.
Click to expand...

I just remember Vey trying to play down low, right in the middle (he was in good position) between the 2 defesemen, and he got out-muscled, bad.
Without any boards nearby, it's sheer muscle-on-muscle.

IMO, if Weal were on wing, he could use the boards more and not have to rely on muscle-to-muscle contact/control in open-ice as much as our C's do, which was Vey's Achilles heal.

Weal's only drawback is lack of strength in 1-on-1 confrontations. he can get somewhat stronger, but anything that can minimize the need for raw physical strength could help.

You really think the C is more physical than the Wing in the Kings' system?
To my blinkered eyes, wing looks at least a tad LESS physical.

OK, maybe I'm blind.
:dunno:
:banghead:
 
I've been looking forward to Gann's profile on Jordan Weal. Terrific profile again, Gann. Appreciated being able to hear Jordan's and Blake's audio. I always respect hard work, a good attitude, and persistence.
 
King'sPawn said:
I couldn't disagree more. I like Weal, don't misunderstand, but when was the last time the Kings had a player Weal's size play wing? Cammalleri?

The wingers grind and cycle, which is where Weal is lacking.

The progress of Weal is great, but he needs to be able to grind at the AHL level before he can be counted on in the NHL. This year will be huge if he can use the additional weight effectively.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. Kings, in general, are a big time that cycles and grinds. The wingers in particular need to be able to heavy battles in the corners. Smaller wingers wont be as successfull in Sutter's system.

On the other hand, where would Weal fit in? Lets assume we re-sign Kopitar long term. Does Carter move to wing? Or do you see Weal as a #3C? Not sure he'd succeed in that role as he's more of a top6 type player.

Lots of decisions (as always!) in the next year or so.
 
Barring some awful injury (and nobody wants that), I don't see Weal getting much of a shot at C. And if he isn't tried at wing, he simply won't make The Kings, IMO.

But if Weal has a great season stats-wise and is seen as still developing, he might get us a nice 2nd-round pick in the 2015 Draft, as Vey did.

Thet may be Weal's real worth to us.


I still have the "Weal as RW" fantasy running in my head, though.
In it, Weal becomes The Kings' version of Hakan Loob (a great small player, by any measure).
 
I think the Weal/Vey comparison/expectation is valid and real until
either one breaks thru cleanly into the NHL.

If Vey has a good year next year and scores 45 points or something for Vancouver, then Weal's stock (assuming Weal's doing well himself, wherever he is playing)
will surely rise.

But Weal and Vey's negatives (besides both being small guys) are still similar----The lack of openings for top-6 players (which both apparently are),
and lack of openings for CENTERS in particular (unless one is moved someday).

Also, the physical nature of the Kings' highly-successful system cannot be avoided----Some say (me) the wing might be a bit less-physical than the C.
Others seem to feel ALL positions have a strong physical role, meaning Weal and Vey both may not be quite adaptable to The Kings' system at all,
even though they may possibly be able to earn a spot and put up points with other teams.

I predict Weal will have some worth for the Kings, regardless----Even if it is as trade bait for a nice draft pick.

But gosh, I'd still really really love to see Weal at least tried on the top line at RW in exhibition season. That is,
assuming Weal would be fully invested in attempting the position-change (why wouldn't he, to play with Kopitar and Gaborik?).

JMLO.
 
triplcrown said:
I think the Weal/Vey comparison/expectation is valid and real until
either one breaks thru cleanly into the NHL.

If Vey has a good year next year and scores 45 points or something for Vancouver, then Weal's stock (assuming Weal's doing well himself, wherever he is playing)
will surely rise.

But Weal and Vey's negatives (besides both being small guys) are still similar----The lack of openings for top-6 players (which both apparently are),
and lack of openings for CENTERS in particular (unless one is moved someday).

Also, the physical nature of the Kings' highly-successful system cannot be avoided----Some say (me) the wing might be a bit less-physical than the C.
Others seem to feel ALL positions have a strong physical role, meaning Weal and Vey both may not be quite adaptable to The Kings' system at all,
even though they may possibly be able to earn a spot and put up points with other teams.

I predict Weal will have some worth for the Kings, regardless----Even if it is as trade bait for a nice draft pick.

But gosh, I'd still really really love to see Weal at least tried on the top line at RW in exhibition season. That is,
assuming Weal would be fully invested in attempting the position-change (why wouldn't he, to play with Kopitar and Gaborik?).

JMLO.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much what it boils down to for me. I don't think Weal will have an NHL career on the Kings. It doesn't make him a bad player or a prospect; a good player like Moulson didn't fit in too well either.
 
King'sPawn said:
This is pretty much what it boils down to for me. I don't think Weal will have an NHL career on the Kings. It doesn't make him a bad player or a prospect; a good player like Moulson didn't fit in too well either.
Click to expand...

Well, if we can at least get a nice return for him (50th pick or better) like we did with Vey, then it won't all be for naught.


That sure beats the Gravel situation.

(Not like I'm bitter about Gravel or anything).:sarcasm:
 
FanSince2014 said:
Is it out of the realm of possibility that he, unlike Vey, could wrestle Stoll's spot from him?
Click to expand...


Stoll is just so damn good as 3rd-line "shutdown" Center, it is hard to imagine him getting his job taken away by a diminutive mega-scorer with questions about physical strength.

IMO, if Weal's destiny is indeed in the NHL, it will probably be as a top-6er.
That's why I am hopeful Weal gets tried at RW---So he can play on the top6.
 
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