Prospect Info: Kings Prospects in the CHL/College

[KopitarFAN]

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.

Not saying they will all be stars, but at their respective levels, almost all of the guys who were taken ahead of him are doing really good things. In particular, Pettersson (over a PPG playing against men in Sweden), Glass (58 points in 37 games for Portland as an 18 year old) and Mittelstadt (I don't even need to mention what he just did at the World Juniors).

 

[kovacro]

REID‏ @rockinreid
Our newest @KingstonFronts, #ygk boy @Gabe_Vilardi13 joined us on @989THEDRIVE to chat returning home, favourite NHL team, tattoos, and how many goals he could score on me.

 

[KopitarFAN]

In non-Vilardi prospect news, Kale Clague has been traded to Moose Jaw.

The Warriors are the best team in the Dub, featuring 3 of the top 8 scorers.

 

[regulate]

In non-Vilardi prospect news, Kale Clague has been traded to Moose Jaw.

The Warriors are the best team in the Dub, featuring 3 of the top 8 scorers.

Our blue-chippers are in demand. 2 1st rounders, 1 2nd rounder a center and a d man all for Clague. Moose Jaw is a ridiculous 33-6. Vilardi vs Clague for the Memorial Cup? We'll see.

 

[kovacro]

Kingston is definitely a contender but I would be more inclined to think Matt Villalta and the 34-3 Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds will be representing the OHL at the Memorial Cup.

They're pretty stacked.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Notables on the schedule tonight (no confirmation that either goaltender will start).

EDM @ MJ (Clague)
POR (Kehler) @ TC
PG @ SPO (Anderson-Dolan)
GUE @ KGN (Vilardi)
WSR @ SAR (Rymsha)
OS @ SSM (Villalta)

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Clague an assist and +2 after 1 period.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Moose Jaw won 8-2, Clague had an assist and a +4.
Kingston lost 4-2, Vilardi was held scoreless and -1, 7/18 at the dot.
Sarnia won 6-1, Rymsha was held scoreless and +1, 10/15 at the dot.
SSM won 5-2, Villalta stopped 20/22 shots getting the W.
Spokane won 6-2, Anderson-Dolan had a SHG and 2 assists.
Portland won 5-1, Kehler stopped 28 of 29 shots in getting the win.

Tomorrows games:

MJ (Clague) @ Prince Albert
Seattle @ Portland (Kehler)
Everett @ Spokane (JAD)
Oshawa @ Kingston (Vilardi)
Mississauga (Moverare) @ SSM (Villalta)

It is unlikely that either goaltender will play.

 

[HookKing]

Watch Vilardi right now on NHL Network.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Watch Vilardi right now on NHL Network.

Good eye thanks!

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Vilardi with 2 primary assists in the first period, just a man amongst boys out there

 

[SlimCharles]

Yeah, good to see Vilardi playing well.

 

[regulate]

Vilardi with 2 primary assists in the first period, just a man amongst boys out there

My exact thoughts. He controls the play down low and mows these kids down with abandon. Looks like and excellent distributor.

 

[kingsboy11]

Completely took over the shift with his effort on the 3rd goal

 

[HookKing]

Not hard to see the concerns about his skating, if he can maintain enough space to hold onto the puck though (think Getzlaf) he should be ok. Anaheim looks to have yet another winner with Jones.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Vilardi and Jones together is just unfair

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Vilardi has been dominant at the faceoff circle as well

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think what impresses me most is this is a guy coming off major injuries with months and months out of the game yet here he is 5 games in at nearly 2 PPG and +7.

Edit: on a brand new team no less.

He's a TOR prospect but it's also fun as hell watching Rasanen just demolish people left and right

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Definitely seeing the Mark Stone/Corey Perry/Jason Allison stuff with this guy. Big frame, a monster down low, amazing vision, relentless when in close. I'm sure he'll improve, but I still see his skating being an impediment at C at the NHL level. If the Kings and everyone else feel he's NHL ready as of next year, I imagine it's because they're bringing him in to learn as a winger and play to his strengths while he picks up the rest on the job. But I can also see why they'd want him up soonish, learning how to deal with bigger bodies and man strength, because he's already won in juniors and bullying kids isn't going to do much for his power game development.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Yup, his skating isnt nice. Very awkward too. Thats absolutely the reason some teams didnt pick Vilardi. Perhaps a few teams just had another preference as well. Detroit must have seen a ton of Vilardi. Windsor is across the pond and they still took Rasmussen.

He’s often behind the play with break aways and on the back check. Funny thing he quite often scores on rebounds because he arrives late. Yanetti said his skating is above average, but I dont see it. I seriously tried to find one sequence where at least he showed some speed and couldnt find one. You can see Vilardi knows his skating is bad and responds on it, just to be one step ahead of the play.

Still everything else is top notch. I just cant see he will fail at NHL level with so much hockey IQ. Passing, strength, vision, down low, shooting, etc etc.

Perhaps he stands out vs junior players instead of NHL players, we will see.


Highlights last game, last 2 assists typically Vilardi. Crashing the net and takeaway.

kingstonfrontenacs.com/video/jan-1318-osh-1-kgn-4

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Definitely seeing the Mark Stone/Corey Perry/Jason Allison stuff with this guy. Big frame, a monster down low, amazing vision, relentless when in close. I'm sure he'll improve, but I still see his skating being an impediment at C at the NHL level. If the Kings and everyone else feel he's NHL ready as of next year, I imagine it's because they're bringing him in to learn as a winger and play to his strengths while he picks up the rest on the job. But I can also see why they'd want him up soonish, learning how to deal with bigger bodies and man strength, because he's already won in juniors and bullying kids isn't going to do much for his power game development.

Itll be interesting to see how he deals with bigger/strong players when he starts playing NHL/AHL... I saw him as a top 5 pick in the 17 draft(and the player I wanted most) , and got pretty jealous that you guys were able to grab him at the 11th. Jason Allison is a pretty good comparable to him id say. I wanted ducks to grab him as Getzlafs potential replacement(Vilardi/Steel down middle woulda been nice). I think he could become a solid playmaker at the nhl level ala getzlaf, but he seems like he isnt as afraid to shoot the puck. Best of luck w/ him, hope to see him up with the kings next year.

Edit: oops thought this was prospect boards, ducks fan coming in peace , this is more active on him than the prospect boards tho.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Yesterday's (1/13) wrap up:

Moose Jaw lost 4-3, Clague had an assist and was even.
Portland won 5-4, Kehler DNP
Spokane lost 5-2, JAD was scoreless and -1.
Kingston won 4-1, Vilardi had 3 assists.
SSM won 7-4, Villalta stopped 21/25 in getting the win. Moverare DNP for Mississauga.

Today's (1/14) games:

Medicine Hat @ Moose Jaw (Clague)
Everett @ Portland (Kehler)
Kingston (Vilardi) @ Oshawa

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Clague had an assist as well.

I guess you checked hockeydb. For some reason its not listed.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Clague had an assist as well.

I guess you checked hockeydb. For some reason its not listed.

Nah, I checked the box score last night and it didn't have it (or maybe I just missed it).

 

[kings11]

Yup, his skating isnt nice. Very awkward too. Thats absolutely the reason some teams didnt pick Vilardi. Perhaps a few teams just had another preference as well. Detroit must have seen a ton of Vilardi. Windsor is across the pond and they still took Rasmussen.

He’s often behind the play with break aways and on the back check. Funny thing he quite often scores on rebounds because he arrives late. Yanetti said his skating is above average, but I dont see it. I seriously tried to find one sequence where at least he showed some speed and couldnt find one. You can see Vilardi knows his skating is bad and responds on it, just to be one step ahead of the play.

Still everything else is top notch. I just cant see he will fail at NHL level with so much hockey IQ. Passing, strength, vision, down low, shooting, etc etc.

Perhaps he stands out vs junior players instead of NHL players, we will see.


Highlights last game, last 2 assists typically Vilardi. Crashing the net and takeaway.

kingstonfrontenacs.com/video/jan-1318-osh-1-kgn-4

I think theres some confusion about Vilardi being an above average skater.

1. He is a very awkward skater but once he gets going he's more than solid.
2. He lags behind plays not because he can't keep up but rather because he's a high IQ kid that scans the ice and knows where to be. He has an uncanny ability to always be at the right place at the right time!
3. Skating North-South obviously isn't his strong suit but his agility and suddenness/quickness is above average especially for a kid his size. Also, note how he changes direction with fluidity to hold onto the puck or when battling to take the puck.
4. His strength will also be noticeable in the NHL as not many players have that combination of size and ability.
5. In a nutshell, Vilardi's overall lack of straight line speed is aided by his suddenness and quickness in short areas. Similar to say, Steph Curry who isn't super athletic or fast but can dominate with suddenness and quickness and his ability to control the game. While Gabe isnt a burner, he has all the necessary tools to dominate the pace of a game to better suit his style...