We can’t wait around for 5+ years on every prospect. What’s happening with Vilardi is extraordinary, but people need to understand how rare it is for a D+5 to breakout this suddenly and explosively. Vilardi is the exception, not the rule.
Vilardi is at 100 NHL games, and 75 AHL games. That's a little over 2 seasons worth of GP in total. Byfield is at 54 NHL and 43 AHL games, slightly above 1 full season's worth.
A lot depends on what a D season is. Is it simply time on a calendar, or do GP factor in? Does a player not play due to injury, or does a coach scratch them in some weird head coach way of gamesmanship against a young player who isn't perfect in every way on the ice every time they touch the puck? If a guy spends 80 games on a 4th line, are those GP worth the same as 80 on a 2nd line? Does it matter if in either case, the player in question is doing what a coach wants him to do in the role given? Should that be the, or even a, standard? All questions we've spent, who knows, 1,000,000 posts and threads discussing.
We know Vilardi goes much higher in the draft without the injuries. We know Byfield was a longer term project from before he was drafted.
What's the expectation for Moore on a contract extension? Something similar to Kempe?
If he's up near 50pts again, he will absolutely get at least $5m, from the Kings or someone else. $5.5m likely wouldn't be out of the question, just due to the UFA game.
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