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Prospect Info: Kings Prospects in the CHL/College

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Kingston has loaded up for a run to the Memorial Cup with a couple massive trades. Expect Vilardi to help spearhead a lengthy playoff fun for the Frontenacs.

Definitely a contender to represent the OHL at the Memorial Cup. They'll be fighting it out with the likes of Hamilton, Niagara and Barrie in their conference.
 
HookKing said:
Dynamic isn't good enough. You need dominant.
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you could also say dominate.. not sure if the kid can't handle the pressure of big games or maybe the injury and really high usage killed him....
Either way nothing has changed, he is still a top 4 defensive prospect... maybe, just not the top 2 Dman some were hoping for..
 
HookKing said:
Is it just me? I see nothing from Clague that indicates he is anywhere near ready for the NHL much less a potential star. I'm struggling just to see an NHL player there at any level.
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WJC doesn't mean very much in the grand scheme of things. It's a short tournament that doesn't show very much overall. Look at past top point getters for example, a mix of stars, busts, mediocre players.

Clague has shown in Brandon that he is an elite player, probably the best defenseman in the WHL, if not the CHL. I wouldn't be surprised if he is with the Kings next year, if not the year after. I'd look at Josh Morrissey as the type of player he could be (and Morrissey still has more upside in him yet). He certainly has top pairing potential.
 
I also think Clague was kind of misused frankly but it's because he was the cagey vet of that group. He's more of a Krug than an all-around Doughty-style minutes muncher. So playing him like a true #1 wasn't flattering to his strengths. I'm not trying to read too much into it but it was clear his weaknesses are still his weaknesses at that level at least.

I hadn't even thought about the Morrissey comparison--similar strengths, similar critiques at this stage, and he's coming around nicely.
 
Frolov 6'3 said:
Vilardi’s (#73) assists on Windsor’s website. Between 00:45 and 1:15

MORGAN SCORES WINNER IN RETURN TO KINGSTON – Windsor Spitfires


I would watch the whole sequence as Vilardi’s was pretty much involved in everything.
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This is when I question how people make assessments of players just because of raw skillset.

There are some players, like Vilardi, who is not a fast skater by any means. But he is decisive and he makes fast plays. Those two primary assists were due to NO hesitation at all to make a play. Granted, being a fast skater and highly skilled player is always a bonus, but the "Player X won't make the NHL because he's so bad at Y and Z, and player A will make the NHL because he's so great at B and C" mentality really needs to be revisited.

This isn't to say that Vilardi will be an NHL player, but there are certain qualities of a player that get overlooked and can overcome certain deficiencies, just as there are certain deficiencies that can overcome certain qualities.
 
Holden Caulfield said:
WJC doesn't mean very much in the grand scheme of things. It's a short tournament that doesn't show very much overall. Look at past top point getters for example, a mix of stars, busts, mediocre players.

Clague has shown in Brandon that he is an elite player, probably the best defenseman in the WHL, if not the CHL. I wouldn't be surprised if he is with the Kings next year, if not the year after. I'd look at Josh Morrissey as the type of player he could be (and Morrissey still has more upside in him yet). He certainly has top pairing potential.
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I agree, the tournament itself doesn't mean a lot. What I saw was a competent and solid dman (don't get the hate in the game boards). What I didn't see was the necessary physical plant to play in the NHL. He was over-matched down low and this was against junior players. I will be shocked if he makes the Kings next year.
 
Drake Rymsha - Sarnia, OHL: 41 GP, 19 G, 29 A, 48 Pts, 42 PIM, +9
Kale Clague - Brandon, WHL: 28 GP, 10 G, 37 A, 47 Pts, 35 PIM, +31
Jaret Anderson-Dolan - Spokane, WHL: 38 GP, 22 G, 24 A, 46 Pts, 19 PIM, -1
Austin Strand - Seattle, WHL: 36 GP, 13 G, 25 A, 38 Pts, 41 PIM, +7
Chaz Reddekopp - Victoria, WHL: 38 GP, 6 G, 19 A, 25 Pts, 34 PIM, +1
Jacob Moverare - Mississauga, OHL: 31 GP, 3 G, 18 A, 21 Pts, 8 PIM, -8
Markus Phillips - Owen Sound, OHL: 38 GP, 4 G, 15 A, 19 Pts, 24 PIM, -6
Jacob Friend - Owen Sound, OHL: 37 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts, 59 PIM, +3
Gabriel Vilardi - Kingston, OHL: 3 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 Pts, 2 PIM, +5

Matthew Villalta - Sault St. Marie, OHL: 29 GP, 25-2-1-1, 2.38 GAA, 91.4 SV%, 1 SO
Cole Kehler - Portland, WHL: 32 GP, 19-9-1-2, 2.74 GAA, 91.3 SV%, 2 SO

Mikey Eyssimont - St. Cloud State, NCHC: 18 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 Pts, 20 PIM
Cole Hults - Penn State, Big Ten: 22 GP, 2 G, 13 A, 15 Pts, 35 PIM
Steven Johnson - Minnesota, Big Ten: 24 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts, 6 PIM
Michael Anderson - Minnesota-Duluth, NCHC: 16 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 Pts, 12 PIM
 
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I currently have some health problems and watched a ton of Vilardi the past 4 weeks and Jaret Anderson Dolan too.

I never knew Anderson-Dolan was so fast with the puck, hopefully he can grew a inch. Both him and Vilardi were one of the youngest of that draft class.

As for Vilardi. Great around the net, great along the boards, Datsyuk' kinda takeaways, excellent vision, hardworking and big.

If you watch the highlights of these past games, how fast he makes a pass to another player. His decision making is incredible. The guy has a ton of upside and I actually thought he would have a rusty start.



Wouldnt it be great if we get another franchise player at 11th and see Canucks fans complain about it again for years (Kopitar). Vilardi was the player that fanbase wanted all along. It looks like they have picked a very good player as well but you never know.
 
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Chazz Reinhold said:
Frankly, his playing style reminds me of Allison (before he had his injury issues). Although, he’s more willing to shoot based on this last game, and he clearly has a good shot to boot.
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It's funny you mention that, because when I watched his highlights last year, that's exactly who I thought of. In fact, so much so, when I had the chance to speak to Mike Futa in October and talked about Vilardi, I mentioned that to Futa. Futa said that Vilardi is a much better player than Allison, and a better skater too. Higher skill set.
 
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regulate said:
It's funny you mention that, because when I watched his highlights last year, that's exactly who I thought of. In fact, so much so, when I had the chance to speak to Mike Futa in October and talked about Vilardi, I mentioned that to Futa. Futa said that Vilardi is a much better player than Allison, and a better skater too. Higher skill set.
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That’s awesome to hear Futa say that. Hopefully Vilardi lives up to it. He’s certainly a powerful player who’s good on his feet. His assist yesterday where he did a quick turn along the boards and fired a pass to an open Robertson in the a slot was impressive.

I’m selfishly disappointed he wasn’t healthier soon enough to play in the World Junior tournament. You’d have to think he would have made that Canadian team.
 
Frolov 6'3 said:
I currently have some health problems and watched a ton of Vilardi the past 4 weeks and Jaret Anderson Dolan too.

I never knew Anderson-Dolan was so fast with the puck, hopefully he can grew a inch. Both him and Vilardi were one of the youngest of that draft class.

As for Vilardi. Great around the net, great along the boards, Datsyuk' kinda takeaways, excellent vision, hardworking and big.

If you watch the highlights of these past games, how fast he makes a pass to another player. His decision making is incredible. The guy has a ton of upside and I actually thought he would have a rusty start.



Wouldnt it be great if we get another franchise player at 11th and see Canucks fans complain about it again for years (Kopitar). Vilardi was the player that fanbase wanted all along. It looks like they have picked a very good player as well but you never know.
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Most importantly, get well soon!

I've hardly seen any JAD this year so that's good to hear. It may be happenstance rather than a choice, but it's kind of nice that we keep drafting the youngest guys as well--more room to potentially grow. Unfortunate that Vilardi had injuries steal some development time but having the extra months on other draftees softens that a bit.

All those strengths you mention make me wonder if the rumors about him being NHL-bound next year are true because they envision him as a winger rather than a center. I agree that the decision making is a big sell; lots of big guys in junior just dominate because they can literally just hold dudes off until they have enough room to make a play--Vilardi doesn't need that, even though it's a tool in his toolbox. Supreme vision.

regulate said:
It's funny you mention that, because when I watched his highlights last year, that's exactly who I thought of. In fact, so much so, when I had the chance to speak to Mike Futa in October and talked about Vilardi, I mentioned that to Futa. Futa said that Vilardi is a much better player than Allison, and a better skater too. Higher skill set.
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That's insanely high praise depending on which version of Jason Allison he was remembering at that moment :laugh: That guy was top 5 in scoring behind Sakic and Jagr and ahead of guys like Bure and Palffy!
 
Frolov 6'3 said:
I currently have some health problems and watched a ton of Vilardi the past 4 weeks and Jaret Anderson Dolan too.

I never knew Anderson-Dolan was so fast with the puck, hopefully he can grew a inch. Both him and Vilardi were one of the youngest of that draft class.

As for Vilardi. Great around the net, great along the boards, Datsyuk' kinda takeaways, excellent vision, hardworking and big.

If you watch the highlights of these past games, how fast he makes a pass to another player. His decision making is incredible. The guy has a ton of upside and I actually thought he would have a rusty start.



Wouldnt it be great if we get another franchise player at 11th and see Canucks fans complain about it again for years (Kopitar). Vilardi was the player that fanbase wanted all along. It looks like they have picked a very good player as well but you never know.
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Thanks for the update and get well soon...
 
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Raccoon Jesus said:
Most importantly, get well soon!
Unfortunate that Vilardi had injuries steal some development time but having the extra months on other draftees softens that a bit.

All those strengths you mention make me wonder if the rumors about him being NHL-bound next year are true because they envision him as a winger rather than a center. I agree that the decision making is a big sell; lots of big guys in junior just dominate because they can literally just hold dudes off until they have enough room to make a play--Vilardi doesn't need that, even though it's a tool in his toolbox. Supreme vision.

That's insanely high praise depending on which version of Jason Allison he was remembering at that moment :laugh: That guy was top 5 in scoring behind Sakic and Jagr and ahead of guys like Bure and Palffy!
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While I can see the winger idea based upon his skating (allegedly not a great skater depending on who you talk to), he is so strong around and behind the net, coupled with his outstanding playmaking ability and vision, makes me think Center is where he will play. I know they like Kempe at C because it plays to his strengths of opening up space, but Kempe does not necessarily make lines click, he is often a one man show. Either that of they consider moving Carter to RW. And I like we now have Amadio in the mix too. Fun times ahead.
 
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The Fronts made yet another trade, this time getting Max Jones (Ducks 2016 1st rounder and 2018 USA WJC participant, for those who watched), the more games Gabe can get this postseason, the better.
 
I likened his game to Allison once I watched his highlights after the draft. Great vision.

Still shocking to me that he would fall in a "weak" draft solely due to worries about skating when he is obviously an immensely talented player. Hope that is the case but I still believe injury concerns scared teams away as well.

Hopefully the injury bug is behind him.
 
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