Rumor: KINGS 2018-19 Season - The Luc and Rob Show

[GoldenBearHockey]

Kempe should have been developed in the AHL not the NHL. For ever Domi there is a Pavel Zacha who the devils have ruined due to improper development.

Agree he spent essentially a season and a half in the AHL, could have used another season, but he seems to be the type he's gonna keep doing what he's doing, he's always buzzing around forechecking, he's making plays, anyone catch that nice backhand saucer pass to set up Muzzin for the one timer? Plays like that are why he's around, he's also gonna get owned in the defensive zone for now.....he's one of those guys that is a solid top 9, he'd make one helluva 3C, with some offensive upside...

 

[damacles1156]

Agree he spent essentially a season and a half in the AHL, could have used another season, but he seems to be the type he's gonna keep doing what he's doing, he's always buzzing around forechecking, he's making plays, anyone catch that nice backhand saucer pass to set up Muzzin for the one timer? Plays like that are why he's around, he's also gonna get owned in the defensive zone for now.....he's one of those guys that is a solid top 9, he'd make one helluva 3C, with some offensive upside...

Kempe is not a good center, and he is not going to become one trying to develop those skills needed at the NHL level. The NHL is not a development league. There could be some miracle that happens and Kempe bucks the trend. Sadly though there is overwhelming evidence out there that bringing up prospects too early ruins them.

The Kings right now are doing un-repairable damage to his game.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Max Domi had a 52 point season as a 20-year-old rookie, and even with his struggles in his third season, scored 45 points.

Kempe has never scored more than 28 points in the AHL, and his 37 points last season may be his career best.

It's like watching Vitali Yachmenev all over again, who scored 51 points as a 21-year-old rookie with the Kings, then came crashing back down to reality and hovered around 20-30+ points the rest of his career. What appeared to be a promising young forward who would replace Luc Robitaille's offense turned into a diminutive bottom six forward who'd chip in occasionally and would return to Russia at 29, where his numbers didn't improve all that much.

Those grounded in reality realize that players like Kempe or Pearson could have just peaked early. Look at other similarly aged forwards: Sam Bennett, Marko Dano, hell, Nail Yakupov is still only 25, and went through three teams. I guess those teams are completely clueless and have no patience.

Griffin Reinhart isn't a bust at all, he is still in his early 20s and will surely still become a top pairing defenseman. The Avs must have been impatient giving up on a 22-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko. I'm sure if they keep waiting that one of those guys could flourish to become the next Erik Rasmussen. Every player in their early 20s will pan out. Just ask the resident expert who knows jackshit.

 

[damacles1156]

Max Domi had a 52 point season as a 20-year-old rookie, and even with his struggles in his third season, scored 45 points.

Kempe has never scored more than 28 points in the AHL, and his 37 points last season may be his career best.

It's like watching Vitali Yachmenev all over again, who scored 51 points as a 21-year-old rookie with the Kings, then came crashing back down to reality and hovered around 20-30+ points the rest of his career. What appeared to be a promising young forward who would replace Luc Robitaille's offense turned into a diminutive bottom six forward who'd chip in occasionally and would return to Russia at 29, where his numbers didn't improve all that much.

Those grounded in reality realize that players like Kempe or Pearson could have just peaked early. Look at other similarly aged forwards: Sam Bennett, Marko Dano, hell, Nail Yakupov is still only 25, and went through three teams. I guess those teams are completely clueless and have no patience.

Griffin Reinhart isn't a bust at all, he is still in his early 20s and will surely still become a top pairing defenseman. The Avs must have been impatient giving up on a 22-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko. I'm sure if they keep waiting that one of those guys could flourish to become the next Erik Rasmussen. Every player in their early 20s will pan out. Just ask the resident expert who knows jack****.

A lot of those failing players you mentioned have one thing in common, improper development. Again the NHL is not a league to develop young players. Griffin Rienhart just looks like a bust, he can't hack it at the AHL level.

I agree with what you're a saying.

 

[KINGS17]

Kempe is starting to look like a bust.

 

[damacles1156]

I am still baffled the Kings insisted on bringing Kempe up. The number one hole in his game at the AHL level was consistency in his all around game and production.

 

[KingsFan7824]

LOL It's amusing how many of you guys are showing zero patience, zero understanding......

I'm surprised half of you aren't railing at the peanut vendor because he's not selling popcorn ffs.

It's not patience, it's math. They have a limited amount of games to get the likely point total it'll take to make the playoffs. They didn't give themselves the ability to let their game round into form as the season unfolds either. The best this general Kings roster has done in a season is 102 points. They have to do that well per game in the remaining 67 games just to have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs.

They have 11 games left in November. If they get 13 points in those games, that's the likely bare minimum to stay in the race, outside of a 10-15 game winning streak. If they put up 8 points in those 11 games, which would match the 11pts in 15 games they've done so far, that would put the playoffs all but out of reach with 56 games left. Again, save for some 10-15 game winning streak starting in Dec.

They could win the next 5 in a row, which would put them back in the race right away. That's math though. They don't have time to be patient. Any missed point from now makes their climb that much tougher.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kempe is starting to look like a bust.

They're ruining his development by placing responsibilities on his shoulder that he cannot burden, and that is playing center.

This is also the same organization that tried to convert Brian Boyle into a defenseman and that project failed miserably. Why they insist forcing a square peg into a round hole, I'll never understand.

And look at how much Brian Boyle flourished as a checking line center now. He only got 36 games in as a King before he was moved to New York for a 3rd. Now he's appeared in over 700 games with over 100 playoff games as well.

Boyle is an example of the Kings mishandling a prospect because they were trying to force him to play a different position. And Kempe is forced to play center because they apparently feel that they have nobody else to slot in that spot.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

It's not patience, it's math. They have a limited amount of games to get the likely point total it'll take to make the playoffs. They didn't give themselves the ability to let their game round into form as the season unfolds either. The best this general Kings roster has done in a season is 102 points. They have to do that well per game in the remaining 67 games just to have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs.

They have 11 games left in November. If they get 13 points in those games, that's the likely bare minimum to stay in the race, outside of a 10-15 game winning streak. If they put up 8 points in those 11 games, which would match the 11pts in 15 games they've done so far, that would put the playoffs all but out of reach with 56 games left. Again, save for some 10-15 game winning streak starting in Dec.

They could win the next 5 in a row, which would put them back in the race right away. That's math though. They don't have time to be patient. Any missed point from now makes their climb that much tougher.

I was talking about Kempe and his production more than playoffs.....playoffs are gonna be extremely difficult to make, regardless of Kempe's production etc.

 

[damacles1156]

It's not patience, it's math. They have a limited amount of games to get the likely point total it'll take to make the playoffs. They didn't give themselves the ability to let their game round into form as the season unfolds either. The best this general Kings roster has done in a season is 102 points. They have to do that well per game in the remaining 67 games just to have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs.

They have 11 games left in November. If they get 13 points in those games, that's the likely bare minimum to stay in the race, outside of a 10-15 game winning streak. If they put up 8 points in those 11 games, which would match the 11pts in 15 games they've done so far, that would put the playoffs all but out of reach with 56 games left. Again, save for some 10-15 game winning streak starting in Dec.

They could win the next 5 in a row, which would put them back in the race right away. That's math though. They don't have time to be patient. Any missed point from now makes their climb that much tougher.

That's just the Kings too, it doesn't account for say...maybe the wildcard teams goes on some ridiculous tear like 16-17 were it seemed like WPJ-NSH-CAL wouldn't lose a game down the stretch.

 

[damacles1156]

They're ruining his development by placing responsibilities on his shoulder that he cannot burden, and that is playing center.

This is also the same organization that tried to convert Brian Boyle into a defenseman and that project failed miserably. Why they insist forcing a square peg into a round hole, I'll never understand.

And look at how much Brian Boyle flourished as a checking line center now. He only got 36 games in as a King before he was moved to New York for a 3rd. Now he's appeared in over 700 games with over 100 playoff games as well.

Boyle is an example of the Kings mishandling a prospect because they were trying to force him to play a different position. And Kempe is forced to play center because they apparently feel that they have nobody else to slot in that spot.

I would also put Oscar Moller and Kyle Clifford into that discussion. Kyle Clifford would have been a much better bottom six forward with at least two AHL seasons under his belt. The Kings didn't ruin Clifford, but they sure stunted how great a bottom six player he could have been.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Kempe should have been developed in the AHL not the NHL. For ever Domi there is probably ten Pavel Zacha stories, devils have ruined Zacha due to improper development.

I am still baffled the Kings insisted on bringing Kempe up. The number one hole in his game at the AHL level was consistency in his all around game and production.

A lot of people seemed to want him up though. We all talk about that young blood. Plus guys on their ELC's.

Last year was unfortunate, because he was thrown into the fire by circumstance. They still had Dowd and Shore at the beginning of the year. They could've kept them, and thrown them out as place holders, even after losing Carter, but people were sick of watching them too.

Lombardi was praised for keeping guys in the AHL so they could marinate or whatever, and then he was also criticized for not moving vets out and bringing up the young guys. It's tough to know when to do what. If there was a concrete answer to that, someone could make a ton of money, because a lot of franchises will want to talk to that person.

 

[damacles1156]

A lot of people seemed to want him up though. We all talk about that young blood. Plus guys on their ELC's.

Last year was unfortunate, because he was thrown into the fire by circumstance. They still had Dowd and Shore at the beginning of the year. They could've kept them, and thrown them out as place holders, even after losing Carter, but people were sick of watching them too.

Lombardi was praised for keeping guys in the AHL so they could marinate or whatever, and then he was also criticized for not moving vets out and bringing up the young guys. It's tough to know when to do what. If there was a concrete answer to that, someone could make a ton of money, because a lot of franchises will want to talk to that person.

The evidence is out there though, and it's largely overwhelming that improper development ruins young players. Talk to scouts/development guys at the NHL level, they always told me that "No one ever gets ruined playing more AHL games". That's a pretty standard response from development guys at the NHL level.

 

[King'sPawn]

I am still baffled the Kings insisted on bringing Kempe up. The number one hole in his game at the AHL level was consistency in his all around game and production.

The bad news is Kempe is consistent with his (lack of) production.

 

[KINGS17]

They're ruining his development by placing responsibilities on his shoulder that he cannot burden, and that is playing center.

This is also the same organization that tried to convert Brian Boyle into a defenseman and that project failed miserably. Why they insist forcing a square peg into a round hole, I'll never understand.

And look at how much Brian Boyle flourished as a checking line center now. He only got 36 games in as a King before he was moved to New York for a 3rd. Now he's appeared in over 700 games with over 100 playoff games as well.

Boyle is an example of the Kings mishandling a prospect because they were trying to force him to play a different position. And Kempe is forced to play center because they apparently feel that they have nobody else to slot in that spot.

With Boyle I think it was the organization refusing to accept the reality they selected a 4C with a first round pick. A very good 4C on a contending team, but still a 4C.

 

[KingsFan7824]

That's just the Kings too, it doesn't account for say...maybe the wildcard teams goes on some ridiculous tear like 16-17 were it seemed like WPJ-NSH-CAL wouldn't lose a game down the stretch.

I'm just going by what it's taken to make the playoffs since realignment. 91, 97, 87, 94, and 95 have ultimately been the point totals for the last spot. That's an average of 93. Decent number to keep an eye on with this much time left in the season.

 

[KingsFan7824]

The evidence is out there though, and it's largely overwhelming that improper development ruins young players. Talk to scouts/development guys at the NHL level, they always told me that "No one ever gets ruined playing more AHL games". That's a pretty standard response from development guys at the NHL level.

It's certainly tough. Then you add all the big contracts, and the need for cheap young depth on the team. How do you balance all the factors? That's the heart of what it is to be a GM I guess.

 

[damacles1156]

The bad news is Kempe is consistent with his (lack of) production.

3 Goals in his last 52 NHL games, along with 12 assists I believe. That's just not going to cut it.

 

[damacles1156]

It's certainly tough. Then you add all the big contracts, and the need for cheap young depth on the team. How do you balance all the factors? That's the heart of what it is to be a GM I guess.

Agree that it's really hard choices, and screwing up those moves gets you fired.

 

[LAKings88]

I think Kempe at times looks pretty impressive. I do think he should be on the wing instead of center tho. Guy has more skill than most of the Kings prospects. Still very young. I still think he is closer to figuring it out than busting.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I think Kempe's probably en route to become another Trevor Lewis type forward who can fore check with speed and occasionally chip in. That's what he may top out as.

Going back to the point I made earlier about forwards peaking very early, take a look at Patrik Berglund's career. 47 points as a 20-year-old rookie, struggled in his sophomore year with 26 points, bounced back in his third year with 52 points as a 22-year-old. Then his numbers plummeted from then on and he's been producing in the 20-30+ point range from then on out.

There's a player who peaked early and has now become a reliant two-way forward who occasionally chips in offensively. Nothing spectacular, just a solid all-around player who never became a consistent point producer. That is what Kempe might become.

One certainty is that he's definitely not going to be a consistent scoring threat. Anyone who thinks so is fooling themselves.

 

[Little Psycho]

Sutter had a lot of good liners

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The paper sellout streak also came to an end last night. I guess there aren't over 18,000 fans foolish enough to pay for an overpriced product that fails to deliver.

 

[damacles1156]

I think Kempe's probably en route to become another Trevor Lewis type forward who can fore check with speed and occasionally chip in. That's what he may top out as.

Going back to the point I made earlier about forwards peaking very early, take a look at Patrik Berglund's career. 47 points as a 20-year-old rookie, struggled in his sophomore year with 26 points, bounced back in his third year with 52 points as a 22-year-old. Then his numbers plummeted from then on and he's been producing in the 20-30+ point range from then on out.

There's a player who peaked early and has now become a reliant two-way forward who occasionally chips in offensively. Nothing spectacular, just a solid all-around player who never became a consistent point producer. That is what Kempe might become.

One certainty is that he's definitely not going to be a consistent scoring threat. Anyone who thinks so is fooling themselves.

At this point we should be over joyed if Kempe even becomes a consistent 30 point player, the Kings are doing real damage to his overall game.

 

[King'sPawn]

3 Goals in his last 52 NHL games, along with 12 assists I believe. That's just not going to cut it.

I agree. That was my attempt at humor. It went over as well as Kempe when he doesn't play the Canadiens.