News Article: Kings prospect Kevin Gravel talks potential contract, pro debut
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PJ Kings Hockey
Registered User
- Oct 15, 2013
- 4,861
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Really good interview, CNS. I think a lot of us have been looking forward to hearing Kevin Gravel give his thoughts on the whole transition. I like the Gravel-Dowd dynamic, it reminds me of the Richards-Carter team that came in and assumed a leadership role in an already established team. I am a little puzzled that the brass wanted to take one last look and just give Gravel an ATO right now. I thought Kevin was one of the prospects that people were most excited about.
Thinking back one year, Derek Forbort was the newbie and now he's the one showing new guys the ropes. Paying it forward...
Thinking back one year, Derek Forbort was the newbie and now he's the one showing new guys the ropes. Paying it forward...
McSorley 33
Registered User
etherialone
dialed in your mom
Gravel is the best of our NCAA prospects by a long country mile and considered to be the best Dman in the NCAA last season by most. If he isn't signed by us (which I am hearing will happen soon) then it would be an enormous and uncharacteristic mistake.
DL is simply working under the current CBA and trying to get the best situation set up before signing him.
I haven't any doubts that KG will be signed.
etherialone
dialed in your mom
The last time I talked to Kevin was right before the finals and he seemed to believe that the team was interested in signing him as soon as his time at ScS was over. Good enough for me. Time will tell.
CTKingsFan
6/11/12 & 6/13/14
Gravel has looked solid in the first few games. I thought he's looked the best of the 3 college kids. No doubt in my mind he gets a contract!
On a side note Dowd just rung one of the post! He's looking good through one here in Worcester
On a side note Dowd just rung one of the post! He's looking good through one here in Worcester
CTKingsFan
6/11/12 & 6/13/14
Herby
How could Blake have known?
I call BS on that.
Gravel has proven to be one of the best defenseman in the NCAA. If the Kings were to choose not to sign him there would be massive demand for him. I've seen bidding wars for much less talented NCAA players.
King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
- 23,225
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It just seems weird they would offer him a contract after his junior year, then he takes on a much bigger role as a senior and eclipses his former numbers, and then suddenly they're not certain they want to sign him.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
I assume if that is true it has to do with money and not willingness to sign him. Kings may want to sign him to 5th round money, but Gravel's people want to be paid more like a top prospect. They also have the UFA card to play.
There is just no way that the Kings wouldn't want to sign this guy, no way. If he hits UFA there will be a ton of demand for him, he was a great college defender with NHL size.
Makes no sense to sign a guy like Nic Dowd, who has very little NHL upside and not sign Gravel.
There is just no way that the Kings wouldn't want to sign this guy, no way. If he hits UFA there will be a ton of demand for him, he was a great college defender with NHL size.
Makes no sense to sign a guy like Nic Dowd, who has very little NHL upside and not sign Gravel.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
- Jul 6, 2011
- 34,135
- 3,783
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Everyone knows I am a big Mersch fan, and I would rank him second out of recent Kings college prospects, but he was significantly behind Gravel.
Again, no idea why the Kings would sign guys like Dowd, Forbort and Mersch and possibly choose not to sign Gravel unless it has to do with money, and maybe that is from Gravel's people, but it makes no sense because Gravel is a much better player than those three guys.
Again, no idea why the Kings would sign guys like Dowd, Forbort and Mersch and possibly choose not to sign Gravel unless it has to do with money, and maybe that is from Gravel's people, but it makes no sense because Gravel is a much better player than those three guys.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
All it says to me is the kings may not want to match his contract demands. His stock has only risen. Maybe they want him to prove he's worth that money in the pros instead of beating up on helpless college kids 
I would take a failure to sign him as an abysmal failure. Teams would be lining up for him.
I would take a failure to sign him as an abysmal failure. Teams would be lining up for him.
etherialone
dialed in your mom
Since I have been asked privately I will post my thoughts on Gravel here. There is allot more I can say about him but I will leave it with this.
I have never been more certain about a prospects ability as I am in Gravel's. He is very much the real deal and while he is a SAHD who can skate hit and pass and not the latest flavor of the month scoring D, players of his caliber are very hard to find and wether it is this year, next year or the one after Gravel will be an exceptional NHLer once he gets his chance to establish himself.
2nd pairing SAH shut down guys who you want above anyone else to be on the ice when your up by a goal and your opponent has pulled the goalie and is pressuring deep in your zone is how I would describe Gravel.
It is who KG was for Saint Cloud State and in time should be for the Kings.
If not us someone else is going to get him and it will be our loss if it happens. DL is much too smart to let that happen in my opinion.
I have never been more certain about a prospects ability as I am in Gravel's. He is very much the real deal and while he is a SAHD who can skate hit and pass and not the latest flavor of the month scoring D, players of his caliber are very hard to find and wether it is this year, next year or the one after Gravel will be an exceptional NHLer once he gets his chance to establish himself.
2nd pairing SAH shut down guys who you want above anyone else to be on the ice when your up by a goal and your opponent has pulled the goalie and is pressuring deep in your zone is how I would describe Gravel.
It is who KG was for Saint Cloud State and in time should be for the Kings.
If not us someone else is going to get him and it will be our loss if it happens. DL is much too smart to let that happen in my opinion.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
- Jul 6, 2011
- 34,135
- 3,783
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
- Jul 6, 2011
- 34,135
- 3,783
damacles1156
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2010
- 21,668
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Not signing Gravel, would be a huge failure on Lombardi if you ask me.
We are talking 980k max right ?
Gravel probably wants to burn a year off that ELC, lot's of NCAA players want that coming out of College.
We are talking 980k max right ?
Gravel probably wants to burn a year off that ELC, lot's of NCAA players want that coming out of College.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
Not really man, if the Kings pass on him he is signed pretty quickly on August 15th (which I believe is the date he hits UFA)
damacles1156
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- Feb 5, 2010
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