Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season Part 2

[BigKing]

It can simply be a case of him not being "one of their guys" and they want his roster spot occupied by a Kings draftee/UDFA signing that they've spent time developing.

 

[kings11]

It can simply be a case of him not being "one of their guys" and they want his roster spot occupied by a Kings draftee/UDFA signing that they've spent time developing.

Great energy guy who whifffs on his defensive assignments far too often... would have loved the guy on the Reign

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Assuming nobody is added, the forwards for next season appear to be:

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Toffoli
Grundstrom-Prokhorkin-Carter
Clifford-Amadio/Lewis-Wagner

Unless roster changes are made over the summer, there's your 13 forwards that will likely start the season.

 

[King'sPawn]

Bummed that Leipsic wasn't qualified, but it could possibly be better for him.

 

[kings11]

Assuming nobody is added, the forwards for next season appear to be:

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Toffoli
Grundstrom-Prokhorkin-Carter
Clifford-Amadio/Lewis-Wagner

Unless roster changes are made over the summer, there's your 13 forwards that will likely start the season.

If thats realy our 2C-4C we're in deep shit... Kempe wont win the 2C, that'll go to a healthier Jeff Carter. Michael Amadio in a fair race likely claims the 3C .. Iafallo wont be on the top line again

 

[saintsnsoldiers]

Assuming nobody is added, the forwards for next season appear to be:

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Kovalchuk-Kempe-Toffoli
Grundstrom-Prokhorkin-Carter
Clifford-Amadio/Lewis-Wagner

Unless roster changes are made over the summer, there's your 13 forwards that will likely start the season.

Kempe Kopi Wagner
Kovy Porky Toffoli
Grundy Carter Brown
Cliffy Amadio Lewis

Swap Carter and Porky if needed

 

[DaAnimal]

i dont understand the coaching staff and their love towards Iafallo, can someone please explain to me why he's considered a top 6 forward?

I mean just looking at this stats for the past 2 years, it's quite unattractive based on his production. Is his ceiling high or does he have the intangibles to be on the same line as our 1C/2C?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If thats realy our 2C-4C we're in deep ****... Kempe wont win the 2C, that'll go to a healthier Jeff Carter. Michael Amadio in a fair race likely claims the 3C .. Iafallo wont be on the top line again

Don't know what the exact alignment of all three lines will be, just throwing out what we were used to seeing, with the addition of Prokhorkin who we don't know exactly where he'll be.

Seems like the organization still has hopes in Kempe developing further at center, and even Kempe admits that is his preferred position.

The Kings also aren't a team that is going to be contending for a playoff spot and management has said as such, so them being in deep shit with their centers probably isn't a big concern.

 

[KingsHockey24]

There has to be something else going on with that guy, right? He seems too good for having multiple teams letting him go for nothing. Not saying he was spectacular or anything but he played harder and with more compete than most of the team and had decent skill to boot.

Good, he's nothing special anyways.

Have a rookie take his spot.

 

[kings11]

Don't know what the exact alignment of all three lines will be, just throwing out what we were used to seeing, with the addition of Prokhorkin who we don't know exactly where he'll be.

Seems like the organization still has hopes in Kempe developing further at center, and even Kempe admits that is his preferred position.

The Kings also aren't a team that is going to be contending for a playoff spot and management has said as such, so them being in deep **** with their centers probably isn't a big concern.

Mismanagemnt of prospects should be a concern though, Kempe is not a center and his hockey IQ has regressed the last few seasons... The kid is a LW and will continue to be inconsistent by playing a position that doesnt fit his skill set, even if he prefers to play there.. Kempe is an attacking with speed type that is better off being reactionary, centers need to be able to think and process plays ahead of time which he just doesnt do..

 

[Docgonzo]

Mismanagemnt of prospects should be a concern though, Kempe is not a center and his hockey IQ has regressed the last few seasons... The kid is a LW and will continue to be inconsistent by playing a position that doesnt fit his skill set, even if he prefers to play there.. Kempe is an attacking with speed type that is better off being reactionary, centers need to be able to think and process plays ahead of time which he just doesnt do..

Kempe also hasn’t had a competent coach since day 1 in the nhl so...

 

[kings11]

Kempe also hasn’t had a competent coach since day 1 in the nhl so...

That excuse can only go so far. He's had plenty of ice time and opportunities to established himself and he has come up short..

 

[Statto]

That excuse can only go so far. He's had plenty of ice time and opportunities to established himself and he has come up short..

If you take the view he’s being played out of position it’s a reason that has plenty of legs. He’s never had an opportunity to bed down and develop into a NHL left wing and given one one of his biggest negatives has been consistency perhaps it explains a lot.

 

[kings11]

If you take the view he’s being played out of position it’s a reason that has plenty of legs. He’s never had an opportunity to bed down and develop into a NHL left wing and given one one of his biggest negatives has been consistency perhaps it explains a lot.

I explained that part as well previously. They've mismanaged his development by forcing him at Center and like I said, he's a reactionary winger. He needs to be on the outside sniping and finishing plays not trying to create them.. I think/hope TMac puts him at LW, he'd easily be a 40pt guy 20/20 minimum

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[riznat]

i dont understand the coaching staff and their love towards Iafallo, can someone please explain to me why he's considered a top 6 forward?

I mean just looking at this stats for the past 2 years, it's quite unattractive based on his production. Is his ceiling high or does he have the intangibles to be on the same line as our 1C/2C?

Our prospect pool has sucked, nobody better. That and he tries hard? I think it’s mostly just lack of options the last 2 years. I also think they had hoped he would improve last year but didn’t really.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Our prospect pool has sucked, nobody better. That and he tries hard? I think it’s mostly just lack of options the last 2 years. I also think they had hoped he would improve last year but didn’t really.

He's responsible defensively-which is important when you can't score goals. Iafallo would be a really good 3rd line winger and I think Tmac will place him there and have Kovalchuk play on the top line.

 

[Mats26]

Iafallo has been pretty much replacing some of Pearson's production for cheap. He is a stop gap on the first line. Question will be once we get a true 1LW can he continue to grow and produce on the 2nd or 3rd lines in the future?

 

[Scottkmlps]

This. All of this.

 

[riznat]

Iafallo has been pretty much replacing some of Pearson's production for cheap. He is a stop gap on the first line. Question will be once we get a true 1LW can he continue to grow and produce on the 2nd or 3rd lines in the future?

If the production doesn't come, hes still a good replacement for Lewis for the next few years. Give him defensive responsibilities and PK time.

 

[Little Psycho]

It can simply be a case of him not being "one of their guys" and they want his roster spot occupied by a Kings draftee/UDFA signing that they've spent time developing.

Sounds like it


Edit: oops someone posted this already. Oh well

 

[Mats26]

If the production doesn't come, hes still a good replacement for Lewis for the next few years. Give him defensive responsibilities and PK time.

I don't see the fit for him on the fourth line. I project Clifford to be the 4th line LW for a few more years. Amadio\JAD as center and Luff\Wagner for RW.

On the PK, Kopitar, Brown, JAD, Amadio Wagner, Kempe, eventually Turcotte are all going to be killing penalties.

His best chance to stay on the team long term and be a core piece is to get the 2nd line LW position locked down. Can he produce 40+ points away from Kopitar? Can he even produce that with Kopitar? Big year for him.

 

[Herby]

Leipsic is at the Shore stage. When you can't stick on multiple bad teams and the option is a two-way NHL deal where you could be riding busses making 75k vs. more guaranteed money overseas.

 

[Telos]

Leipsic was an awesome third line energy forward, but if the dollars and cents don't add up then forget him and move on. Better to get another kid out there.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Leipsic was an awesome third line energy forward, but if the dollars and cents don't add up then forget him and move on. Better to get another kid out there.

True.

Make some room for Luff or Lizotte...granted, they have to play to earn a spot.