Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
- 5,343
- 3,959
GDT: Kings Training Camp 2022/2023!
- Thread starter Raccoon Jesus
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
BringTheReign
Registered User
Who has he outplayed ahead of him? I think 1st pairing minutes in Ontario is much better for his continued development than being scratched every other game. He needs to show more and take a spot.
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
- 5,343
- 3,959
Haven’t you seen the memo? Playing AHL minutes (especially for 1st rd picks) = BAD development plan.
KingsHockey24
Registered User
- Aug 1, 2013
- 14,630
- 13,496
I think a move is inevitable.
I'd be shocked if BJ doesn't get 60 games with the Kings this year.
Lt Dan
F*** your ice cream!
cyclones22
Registered User
bmr
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2013
- 1,888
- 1,717
I think a move is coming also. Blake seems pretty upfront with everyone about the plan. Based on the personnel available and being waiver-exempt, you gotta send Spence and Bjornfot down until a trade or injury happens. That's just good asset management. I'm very curious what will happen with Walker.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
The memo is playing depth AHL minutes and no PP time is f***ing stupid, ie Turcotte et. al.
In this case Bjornfot playing top pairing big AHL minutes with another prospect is a great development plan, much better than letting him putter around on the bottom pairing/healthy scratch in the NHL.
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
- 18,721
- 21,831
I don’t think anyone has had any issues with our defensive development in the AHL, they’ve actually done a pretty tremendous job down there. It’s the forwards that we’re worried about.
cyclones22
Registered User
Yep, nobody is complaining about defensemen development. In part because the Kings aren't bringing in AHL All-Stars/MVPs to play top pairing minutes and roles on D. Unlike with forwards where the reigning AHL MVP was signed and AAAA level Frk occupied 2 slots on the top line and top PP unit last season. At least Frk is gone and there's a spot for a prospect on the top line open.
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
- 5,343
- 3,959
LOL...which forwards? Last I checked Byfield, Kaliyev and Vilardi all penciled in to play big minutes with the Kings this season (and Kupari will be up when there is an injury) -- what a travesty how they've been held back.
Who has outplayed him on the left side? Anderson Walker Edler and Moverare have contract/waiver status over Toby. If he had to go through waivers he would have been kept up. This has nothing to do with being outplayed. Especially if you want to go by camp no one on the left has done a thing.
Toby can use some seasoning anyway and maybe tap some more potential so it isnt that big if a deal. But we shouldnt act like Walker completely outclassed him.
The other reality is that the Bjornfot-Spence pairing in Ontario, will be our eventual 3rd pairing on the Kings…
Bjornfot being sent down guarantees Clarke is staying up while also allowing him the opportunity to be mentored by Edler or Roy if he gets tried on his off side
All The Kings Men
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2016
- 2,366
- 5,629
Spence and Bjornfot are currently skating with the group that will play tonight.
So...
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
- 5,343
- 3,959
KingsFan7824
Registered User
- Dec 4, 2003
- 19,537
- 7,615
They knew Walker was coming back, and they re-signed Edler, and made no other moves on D. New 1 way deals for Durzi and Anderson. Doughty and Roy not going anywhere. That's already 6 guys. Bjornfot was playing for likely 1 available spot, and at least for now, Clarke seems to have beat him out.
Probably can't re-sign Edler if you want Bjornfot there. I didn't think they'd re-sign him, because he is old, and Bjornfot did play a team leading 70 games on D last year, but Blake seems to love roster options.
I wouldn't use the word inevitable. Player movement during the season is minimal. Especially if we're talking real contracts. Minor leaguers will get flipped around some, but under the cap, you pretty much go into the season with what you've got until the deadline. Most teams are capped out, and if not, they have internal budgets. They have their own cap issues. If a guy gets hurt for a month, they probably won't trade for someone. They'll just call up their own guy from the AHL, because in a month they'll have to account for the cap hits.
At this point, especially if Clarke does make the team, TB gets 60 games if there's another season of massive injury loss on D like.last year.
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
- Jan 1, 2009
- 18,721
- 21,831
Bjornfot scored a nice goal this preseason, and my hope is that the Kings use him on the power play and try to foster some of his offensive abilities. It would be a shame for him to top out as a milquetoast third-pairing guy when I think he has a lot more potential. I'd love to see him go down to Ontario and take some bigger risks on offense.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
My issue is once again, it's just such an uncommon way to develop a player if you truly believed in him. How many players have spent 2 seasons in the NHL as a regular at 19 and 20 and then sent down to the minors at 21 and come out of it for the better? This guy made the team out of camp 3 years ago, but can't now?
And all of this after basically falling out of the Kings top 10 d-man depth chart at the end of last season, not able to beat out two guys who spent most of the year in the AHL and another player who was brought in from one of the worst teams in the NHL (where he was barely playing).
These don't really seem like the actions of an organization that still has a strong belief in the player. And I don't necessarily blame them, I think it's certainly fair to start wondering if Bjornfot was one of those players who just finished his development as a player at 18 or 19 as opposed to 21 or 22 with most players.
All The Kings Men
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2016
- 2,366
- 5,629
Kempe-Tynan-Fiala
Moore-Danault-Vilari
Iafallo-Kupari-Kaliyev
JAD-Lizotte-Doty
Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Durzi
Moverare-Clarke
Spence
Petersen
Copley
Probably
- Feb 27, 2002
- 5,698
- 679
I feel like JAD is the least talked about bonafide prospect in the league.
A forgotten man but if given a chance could be a Ryan O’Reilly clone.
A forgotten man but if given a chance could be a Ryan O’Reilly clone.
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
- 5,343
- 3,959
AbsentMojo
F-ing get up and hunt! Cmon Todd!
- Apr 18, 2018
- 10,637
- 10,956
True/agree.. and on top of that, Edler has an NMC which means he cant even be waived without approval. So Edler is here for the season barring injury. I think they saw Edler's physical play last year, and felt like the team is weak in that area. I was actually surprised how physical he played.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Last season was the tale of two seasons for many guys, particularly Edler and Bjornfot.
Edler was exposed in the playoffs due to his lack of foot speed after the catastrophic injury--but before, he was playing lockdown defense while on pace for 40 points and his physical play. I feel like that's getting overlooked.
Bjornfot was less spectacular, but steady/stable--but after his injury his play was spotty, and I feel that's what's unfortunately being remembered.
I think Toby's best move right now IS AHL not because he's not good enough but he needs to develop an identity and needs big minutes/situations to do that, he wont' be getting that as the NHL club's 5-7. He will as the AHL's 1-2 with another guy in a similar boat, Spence.
He has a problem in that he is of similar size/speed as a lot of the other D so he needs to find a way to distinguish himself, otherwise it's tough to roll out pairings of Bjornfot/Durzi, Bjornfot/Walker, Bjornfot/Roy--they just get pushed around. There are redundancies that will need to be ironed out over time.
Edler was exposed in the playoffs due to his lack of foot speed after the catastrophic injury--but before, he was playing lockdown defense while on pace for 40 points and his physical play. I feel like that's getting overlooked.
Bjornfot was less spectacular, but steady/stable--but after his injury his play was spotty, and I feel that's what's unfortunately being remembered.
I think Toby's best move right now IS AHL not because he's not good enough but he needs to develop an identity and needs big minutes/situations to do that, he wont' be getting that as the NHL club's 5-7. He will as the AHL's 1-2 with another guy in a similar boat, Spence.
He has a problem in that he is of similar size/speed as a lot of the other D so he needs to find a way to distinguish himself, otherwise it's tough to roll out pairings of Bjornfot/Durzi, Bjornfot/Walker, Bjornfot/Roy--they just get pushed around. There are redundancies that will need to be ironed out over time.
