I don't think there's anyone complaining, at least not much anyways. There was no room for him and we got a great pick for him, so, it was a win/win situation.
Of course, there will always be a few MMQ who will remind us that Vey was never given a chance, but most of us know better.
This isn't so much the point. For me I don't trust Sutters ability to evaluate skill players over grinders. Last year Sutter had just about the worst offense in the league. This was caused by too many grinders in the line up and the Sutter slow-ass break out. I get the slow break out is designed to take breakaways out of the game and thus lead to fewer chances and tighter games. A common strategy when playing more highly skilled teams. Problem here is that it had to be completely abandoned during the playoffs. Back to the point. All season more skilled guys like Pearson/Toffoli were passed over for grinders, despite one of the leagues worst offenses.
After the Olympics the offense took off because of the addition of Gaborik and Pearson being played moved grinders down the line up. The Kings were now icing 3 lines capable of scoring which puts added pressure on other teams defensive matchups. Kings were scoring at around a 3G/Game pace after the Olympics.
Playoffs start what does Sutter do? Nolan with Carter/Toffoli. Something that hadn't worked all year. Also Sutter went to his slow break out system which the Sharks easily overloaded because there was no threat of counter attack from a stretch pass. The playoffs forced Sutter to adjust his game plan and open it up, which lead to a player like Pearson being more useful then a grinder. Now I'm not saying Pearson is the greatest hockey player ever. He is a rookie and his game can still improve, but what the Kings needed was a fast player that could out run SJ's D and get a clean pass to Carter/Toffoli.
With the new game plan the Kings were using, skill players have much more use then grinders. Now in the future will Sutter stick to a game plan like what he adjusted to in the playoffs? I doubt it. Personally I'm hoping the Kings finish around 15th in scoring this next season. This would be a huge improvement over last years 25th (about) finish. This is where the "where does Vey fit into the line up" comes from. I'd be fine with a 4th line up Clifford/Vey/Toffoli... It is a line that could generate scoring chances, but it is not the typical 4th line. Also I doubt that Sutter would run something like this. With the evolution of NHL hockey moving from physical to more skilled, running 4 lines that can generate chances is something to look at.
About the evolution. Kings won their first cup by playing smash mouth hockey... worked great. Next year SJ/Blues realized you could compete for a cup by physically beating your opponent into the ground.... so the Kings finish off the Blues and SJ and have nothing left in the tank after that. So the answer is to not get caught in a heavy weight slug out, instead using skill so the team isn't crushed by the time the Kings get to the finals.
Now was Vey given a shot? Sure he played a few games. Got a couple nice assists. Clifford and Nolan got goals off those right? Anyways after seeing Toffoli jerked around all season and knowing that Sutter values grinders over skill players (except when he wants to win in the playoffs) I just don't trust Sutters ability to correctly appraise young talented players and get the most out of them. Didn't Toffoli play some games on the 4th line with Colin Fraser, who later admitted that he got benched if he played to creatively?
Am I angry about the Vey trade? Naw I don't really care. I'm more curious about who will be in the 4c spot next year.
To the point about Vey beating Clifford/Nolan/Lewis out of a roster spot. Vey and Lewis are the only ones that can play center. (yes we saw Nolan try this last year) I'd go out on a limb and say Vey is a much better playmaker then Lewis. Doesn't much matter now.
Edit: I'd like to add that when the Kings hit 29th in Goals/Game last year the entire line of Pearson/Vey/Toffoli should have been up and maybe some of the other Monarchs as well.
Just leave out 2 time cup champ Trevor "2 rings" Lewis.... maybe those rings are weighing his hands down.
