FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2008
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Kings Article: LA Kings Brayden McNabb Looks Like An Improved Player
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Ollie Weeks
the sea does not dream of you
- Feb 28, 2008
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His good has looked better than last year. His bad has looked about the same. I'm pulling for him but he needs to show some more consistency.
Reaper45
Registered User
As much as I don't like the guy, Rob Blake needs to start skating with McNabb and grooming him. The talent is there and when he's on he's good. When he's off, he stinks.
Hopefully he continues to get better. We've seen this improvement before, which was followed by stagnation and even regression. Like with many players, I think his main problem is with confidence. Once he starts reading and committing to plays quickly he will be more effective.
If McNabb keeps improving, with guys like Forbort and Gravel knocking at the door, and what looks like great potential in LaDue and Clague, the Kings just may be back to having a lights out D core in a few years, and even have some extra assets to fill some other holes.
If McNabb keeps improving, with guys like Forbort and Gravel knocking at the door, and what looks like great potential in LaDue and Clague, the Kings just may be back to having a lights out D core in a few years, and even have some extra assets to fill some other holes.
Reaper45
Registered User
triplcrown
Registered User
Don't fall too in love with McNabb.
He's polishing his game for Las Vegas.
He looks like the Man Gone next summer, IMO.
Unless something changes, it can't be helped.
But have no fear;We already have an ideal
left-D-man partner for DD,
on his way.
He's polishing his game for Las Vegas.
He looks like the Man Gone next summer, IMO.
Unless something changes, it can't be helped.
But have no fear;We already have an ideal
left-D-man partner for DD,
on his way.
Forbort or Lewis depending on how well Forbort plays. *
*unless Forbot manages to outplay McNabb.
Edit: Dowd & McNabb both have 1 year left and then are UFA. 1 year of control isn't what Vegas will be looking for. Add to that the Kings don't have more then 4 forwards they need to protect. It makes sense they would protect 4D.
Last edited:
Basilisk
Registered User
- Aug 5, 2012
- 1,925
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I hope you're not serious. There was a very good reason Mark Hardy was mocked incessantly by his own fan base. Mocked to the point of needing both therapy and to be traded.....
What is the talent people see in him? He can't skate and his hockey IQ is mediocre.
Kopitar, Carter, Toffoli, Pearson = 4
I guess Sutter might try and protect King.
Dowd, Gaborik.
Dowd is a UFA after 1 year and while he's playing great right now I don't see why he would be protected over a D playing 20+ mins.
Gaborik: If the Kings can get out of Brown's or Gaborik's contracts they need to do it. Unless we want to ride that Gaborik contract out till he's 39.
In case you haven't noticed the Kings are really short on centers. No way Dowd is left unprotected his upside looks to be very high. He is worth way more to the Kings than McNabb, guys like him are a dime a dozen.
The Kings are still in win now mode, they need Gaborik and his offense, no way they leave him unprotected. If they decide to dump him (for the contract) you trade him at the deadline and get something back.
Gaborik doesn't have much worth with his contract. He may retire soon anyways.
Dowd has limited upside. It's nice to see someone with an offensive spark at center, but the kid is turning 27 this year. I don't know how much better he's going to get from here. He sure beats the hell out of Lewis at center though.
Edit: https://www.capfriendly.com/players/nic-dowd
Your comments make no sense. If Gaborik will retire soon his contract value goes way up. And Dowd won't get better because he's 26 and played all of 10 games? Washed up next year because he turns 27.
Got it.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
As a guy who spent much of last season pumping him up, I'll say he has a lot of other physical tools, and based on juniors, some offensive upside. However, his skating really hampers his ability to actually carry the puck, so I actually wish he'd play more like Forbort--simple with good breakout passes. I see that as a major talent for him, but his biggest struggle seems to be doing that under pressure. I was hoping it would develop, but his inconsistencies seem as strong as ever. THough he has proven he can at least play decent minutes. The guy is an NHLer, the question is just now if he can solidify his consistency enough to be a partner for Doughty (i'm not so sure anymore) or if he's a middle or bottom pairing guy for good.
Not sure its going to matter. If I understand who is eligible, I think DL goes for 7f and 3d. That would mean only 1 of Martinez, McNabb, Forbert and Gravel would be protected. The upside is any one of those 4 have replacements incubating and ready to hatch in the system.
What age do forwards tend to peak? I have questions as to how much a 26-27 year old, this season, is going to improve from here. Dowd is looking better then other options at this point, but still may not hit the level needed for this team to get back to contender.
Gaborik: I feel there's a good chance he retires before his contract is up. That decision is up to Gaborik. Teams aren't going to give up a lot 4 more years of Gaborik (after this one) at close to $5M. With the VL trade he had talked about retiring after the year, but Lombardi didn't give up a whole lot for him and even got a discount on Schenn for taking the contract, with retained salary.
Also I'm looking about a year or 2 out. Hopefully by the next time there's a bunch of young guys ready to make a push and fill some spots this team can try for a couple more cups. Gaborik and to a lesser extent Dowd may not factor into that. Greene is also another guy that will be gone before this team is ready to make another push. It makes no sense to protect any of those players.
Team is based on defense. It's much easier to replace any one of the run of the mill 3rd/4th line forwards the Kings will lose.
Edit: From Vegas' view, after this season they're going to select a 27 year old with 60-80 NHL games that's a UFA after 1 season playing for them, or will they go with something else?
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They will take someone from the Kings. I don't want it to be Dowd, Kings have no other real options for 3rd line center and not much for the 4th line. If Kings keep 4F and 4D then Kempe gets exposed as well as 2 of Forbert, Amart, McNabb and Gravel.
Ollie Weeks
the sea does not dream of you
- Feb 28, 2008
- 13,324
- 2,647
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