News Article: Meet Larry the Left Wing, LA's Newest Hotshot Prospect
- Thread starter CNS
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
McSorley 33
Registered User
Inner Turbulence
Registered User
yeah you're right, the 84th pick usually is in the 3rd round
. Has been since the Thrashers/Blue Jackets expansion.
bmr
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2013
- 1,888
- 1,717
The Kings really do have some options on LW in the future: Pearson, Prokhorkin, Deslauriers.
Actually, Deslauriers is a really big boy who can throw around his body and skate effectively. That is really what DL and DS look for in a player. Seems like he has the offensive upside too.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
bmr
Registered User
- Jan 23, 2013
- 1,888
- 1,717
I'd actually bet against that. Tanner has already played a game in the playoffs and logged some minutes this year. Unless Deslauriers gets even better as the season progresses, I'd bet on seeing Tanner first. I still question his defensive ability on the backcheck. He hasn't been one of the stronger players in the +/- area.
I suppose it depends on what you define as "make it with the Kings". Do you mean "get called up first in the regular-season" or "called up and not subsequently sent down" or "rarely if ever a healthy scratch"?
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
I'm talking in terms of making it on permanent basis. Yeah, I'm sure Tanner will get another call later this year, but I just think kings like their wingers big, which ND is, but he can also skate and play the physical game. Seems to have a good all around game.
It's too bad we can't have 6 lines, because I'd love to see all of our prospects make it.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
Let's just say that "make it with the kings" means playing a full season without being sent down.
losingsand
Registered User
Deslaurier possesses WOW factor type of hockey skills... with the way he handles the pucks, shoots, skates, hits and even fights. Not to mention he's built like a tank. He's a hardworking player so the nuances will get there eventually. My long time favorite prospect since i saw him in his first ROOKIE CAMPS in 2009. I was hesitant about the move to LW but it looks like it's working out perfectly. Also gives us more flexibility eventually on the PP with his D experience we potentially could line him up back there on the PP. Also as a fill in when a defenseman goes down mid-game.
Hope to see him in a KINGS uni someday.
Hope to see him in a KINGS uni someday.
CTKingsFan
6/11/12 & 6/13/14
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I hate how I haven't seen a few of these guys play at all, but I'm most excited to see ND based on everyone's thoughts/descriptions over time!
Whiskeypete
Registered User
i hate that the AHL doesn't play East and West during the regular season. i am 5-minutes from where the CHI Wolves play. i would love to go see MAN play
etherialone
dialed in your mom
I didn't see us switching Nic to LW but I have been touting his exceptional skills from his draft and calling him a future fan favorite since then too. I don't care where he is playing when he makes the club, I just want to see him on the team. He has elite balance and skating skills for a guy his size and plays a guts and glory style of game.
If he can put it together as a LW we could have a dandy of a 3rd line LW locked up for awhile. If he has more than that in him it is going to take time to find out. He sure has shown some flashes of it since he was swapped in MCH.
Go get em Nic!
If he can put it together as a LW we could have a dandy of a 3rd line LW locked up for awhile. If he has more than that in him it is going to take time to find out. He sure has shown some flashes of it since he was swapped in MCH.
Go get em Nic!
Ollie Weeks
the sea does not dream of you
- Feb 28, 2008
- 13,325
- 2,647
I know! I've been living on again off again within 3 blocks of the Hamilton Bulldogs'
arena for like 6 years. I saw them here once, back in the days of Bernier, Moulson, and Purcell.
Whiskeypete
Registered User
TG if you feel he is a very good candidate for the #3LW role. how/where do you feel Clifford fits in moving forward?
do they keep Clifford and move him into the #4LW role? a line of 13-57-71 this year down the stretch would be a nice upgrade with some pop and punch. i've been hoping to see 57-71 on the 4th, but they need a viable LW. Clifford would give them that with his physical play and hands.
etherialone
dialed in your mom
Such a tough question.
I think that Clifford has more than earned his shot as our 3rd line LW but then I see KC as more of a utility bottom 6er then I do a lock at being our 3rd line LW. That said first a player has to step and prove they belong on the team as a bottom 6 LW for us and then establish themselves on the 4rth line before they will get more than a few long looks on the 3rd line LW spot.
I guess a best case scenario would be for one of our kids to step in next year to our 4rth line allowing us to possibly make a move or have a player that we can keep at the ready in the press box. Clifford still gets his time as our top bottom 6 LW and if he can hold the job he keeps it but if the kid takes it away he takes it away. If not we have a kid to fill our LW on our 4rth line.
I see us making a few roster moves before the start of next season or very shortly after it. Of course we have our players who's contracts are up to make decisions about and then we have Vey proving himself ready to play in the NHL and a couple of other kids proving they are ready for their shot at it (starting the process of call ups till they stick).
I would like to be better at long term roster decisions but I only have my best guess reall to go on.
If it helps I think that the following players are ready for the NHL either this or next season.
Vey
AndyA
Pearson
Kozun
There are a few others that I think could be there but as of today those are the kids that I like.
Where they fit or how they will fit in it's still to early for me to do more than guess.
How about you? I value your opinion and am curious to know your thoughts on what direction we should go. I too like Clifford Vey and Nolan on a line. Grit skill and a couple of heavy hitters. Looks good to me.
McSorley 33
Registered User
I don't understand why Fraser is on this team? Why can't Andy or Vey take his place. What's the deal with this guy.
Whiskeypete
Registered User
the key word to me is 'options'. Dean has a lot of options moving forward and they are positive options. for the first time in franchise history i believe the GM of this team has so many positive options essentially across the entire roster. all i see lacking is a true 1A - 1B LW and prospects in the short-term.
as a bunch of speculative armchair GM's these options provide all of us plenty of discussion material. it's obvious each and every one of us have different horses in this race. Dean, Futa, Emerson, Ranford and Sutter have done a great job of compiling and building talent up and down the pipeline. this gives us so much to speculate on.
Will it be Vey or Andy in the C role? A year ago I thought it was going to be Andy based on everyone's input here and the small sample bits I've seen online. Not being able to seem him live makes it tough to gauge which will emerge, so I can only speak about Vey in more detail.
I really like Vey's game so far. He has very good vision out there on both ends of the ice. His IQ in the defensive zone needs to improve, he's sometimes slow on reads and as a center he needs to be equally strong as Kopi, MR and Stoll in the D zone. He doesn't have top end speed, but is smooth with good to better stop/start and agility capability. In time with some work will increase physical strength which will further improve his game.
I can easily see Vey being able to move up to the #3C role, based on his present skill set. To do so I think he needs to work on his IQ/reads defensively and his faceoffs. Once he improves these areas he can easily step into that role that Stoll has done well at for years.
Pearson I like so far, but he also needs to further develop. Not the greatest skater, but also isn't that bad it inhibits him. He seems awkward at times, but i haven't figured out exactly what it is. If i was there live i could, but it's tough on TV sometimes to see.
What i do like is his 'nose' for the puck and willingness to get in the corner, wall or front of the net. The kid had zero fear of those areas and this is what the team needs. I think with some improvement in skating and some physical strength conditioning he will round out great. He has some good hands and touch. As well as King is rounding out, I think Tanner has more top end talent and better hands but a bit smaller in size.
Like Andy I haven't seen Kozun so i can speculate. Someday hopefully the AHL last East - West in the regular season, which would make this possible.
Clifford - does he stay, or does he go? I think he is one of LA's more tradeable assets that would give back some good value. The problem with that is I think it just creates a short term hole in the #3-4LW spot. In a few years there will be options with the kids in the pipeline, which will make Kyle expendable should they outplay him. In the next year or two though Clifford is LA's best asset in the #3-4 LW role.
I am concerned about Kyle's head. We haven't seen him do what he has in the past, which makes me wonder if the doctors told him he has to limit the contact to his head.
I think he has improved his play overall, while reducing some of the physical portion. For a big kid that was known for throwing down, he has some nice hands around the net. His skating this season has really improved, to the point he looks like he is accelerating now when he gets going. This will only improve his play when it comes to the physical play on the boards as you know.
In 1, 2 or 3 years will Kyle fit in the picture? Tough to say. I am real intrigued by Nick D. I also am interested to see how Mersch pan out. Both of them will likely slot into those #3 - 4 LW spots in the next few years, which likely means DL moves Kyle and his salary. Takes the younger kids and the smaller AAV, so he can target or re-sign guys on the top end.
anyways that's my take on some of this.
rajuabju
The One & Only
I will be VERY pleased if he turns into a top 9 LW for us.
On the other hand, the Kings D prospect pool is now very thin. I'm personally not sold on Forbot whatsoever (i see him turning into Teubert 2.0, but I hope I eat crow!). Everyone else is probably 3rd line potential with perhaps some PK or PP time depending on skillset.
Yes, I know we have Doughty, Voynov and soon Muzzin, long-term which is certainly fantastic. But I'm sure DL is going to focus again (rightly so) on D in this draft.
On the other hand, the Kings D prospect pool is now very thin. I'm personally not sold on Forbot whatsoever (i see him turning into Teubert 2.0, but I hope I eat crow!). Everyone else is probably 3rd line potential with perhaps some PK or PP time depending on skillset.
Yes, I know we have Doughty, Voynov and soon Muzzin, long-term which is certainly fantastic. But I'm sure DL is going to focus again (rightly so) on D in this draft.
etherialone
dialed in your mom
Of our kid D prospects we have several who are going to be 4-6Dmen in the NHL (I have four who I believe will make it to the NHL and it is too early to say on a couple others. Of the kids we have in the system that can or should end up being #2-4 dmen once they make it and establish themselves who are close to ready we have 1 and his name is Kevin Gravel.
Gravel is a shut down dman with an exceptional hockey I.Q. His I.Q. allows him to be as positionally sound of a young SAH dman is I have seen in a long time. When Blake was at Bowling Greene was the last time I have seen a Kings prospect be so on top of their positional game (besides the obvious).
Gravel so far sure looks like he will be capable of taking his game to the pro level and then being that guy we have been waiting for who can come in and play a real SAH dominating game.
We have other kids on D who look good (anywhere from A Mart to Muzzin give or take types) but imo KG is our best bet.
After him Forbort who I believe will make it and be a solid 4-6 SAH type who can make a solid pass or two but I don't see the flash of elite promise that he showed prior to his being drafted. That said IF any drafted prospect makes it to the NHL and then can stick after a period of break in then they are a true success in my opinion.
Forbort has better movement and hands at this point then A Mart did and he is a comparable skater to Muzzin. DF is struggling a bit from time to time in MCH or that is what I am seeing when watching him but he has all of the skills to make it and be an anchor #4-6 guy with size which is a nice thing.
I think Bodnarchuk will play in the NHL before too long but I see him on another team. Things are what they are and while he has the skills to play in the NHL I don't see him in our plans.
We are looking fine in our D prospect dept but since we are in win cup now mode there is only one at this point that I would hold on to above all else and that is Gravel. There are others in the system who are being closely watched this season and there will be a better read on them after the season is over.
