Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season Part 2

[KingsFan7824]

That's why we're hoping better options comes along, or he produces better numbers if he's put in that spot again. I like him as a player, just wish he produced more consistently, which is what we are also constantly saying about Kempe, among others who are counted on to score goals but continuously disappoint us (Toffoli).

Wagner saw much less ice time and appeared in 20 less games and scored 12 goals in 62 games. Iafallo netted just three more goals playing on the top line in 82 games.

As we've seen with Kopitar, we can't wish players to be the type of player they aren't; he's not going to drive the net most of the time. Iafallo isn't all that talented, so he's not going to score a lot. If the owner of the franchise wants him playing on his left side, or the coach can't get enough of his undrafted hustle, then he's going to be on the 1st line, regardless of how many pucks he's physically able to get by an NHL level goalie. He's 25 now, he's mostly a place holder. As are the vast majority of college free agents. There's a reason that like 98% of them never get drafted.

 

[King'sPawn]

*cough Arthur Kaliyev cough

I think he's more of a RW, tbh

 

[YP44]

*cough Arthur Kaliyev cough

I think some ofthe centers LA has been drafting will end up playing the wing. Time will tell

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Would you guys do:
Eriksson + Juolevi + 1st (opposite year that Tampa gets) for 7th round pick

If they retained a million i would consider it. I actually really like Juolevi

 

[KingsFan7824]

Would you guys do:
Eriksson + Juolevi + 1st (opposite year that Tampa gets) for 7th round pick

Sure, but does ownership want to spend(waste) another $13m real dollars? Although I might try and pressure them for something better than just Juolevi and what might not be the highest of picks for 3 years of Eriksson.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I think he's more of a RW, tbh

Yup. He (Kaliyev) loves the right side half wall, especially on the PP.

But to reiterate, he's never played on the left side, only RW.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Yup. He (Kaliyev) loves the right side half wall, especially on the PP.

But to reiterate, he's never played on the left side, only RW.

Elite prospects seems to disagree

Arthur Kaliyev at eliteprospects.com

so does dobberprospects
Arthur Kaliyev


even mayors mannor has him listed as both lw and rw

2019 NHL Draft Preview: Arthur Kaliyev, OHL Forward

 

[King'sPawn]

Elite prospects seems to disagree

Arthur Kaliyev at eliteprospects.com

so does dobberprospects
Arthur Kaliyev


even mayors mannor has him listed as both lw and rw

2019 NHL Draft Preview: Arthur Kaliyev, OHL Forward

I know. I wrote the article for MM, and John edited it

NOTE: David Hofreiter was the lead contributor in the gathering of information used in this article. You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

While he plays both, his role as a sniper would be most beneficial on the right wing. In fact, most snipers benefit from shooting on their off wing, as he's a left handed shot.

Look at the heat map in the Mayor's Manor article. There's very little offense coming from him on the left side, it's all on the right.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Official release.


If he continues to get top six minutes, his numbers better improve. Iafallo produced Dwight King like numbers when King was the same age (24-25). You need better numbers than that if you're playing with Kopitar and Brown.

His numbers did improve from 9 goals to 15 and from 25 points to 33. That's a 33% increase on a team that went from middle of the pack in scoring to a couple of goals off dead last. The only other player to even have an increase at all was Clifford (who had a massive year by his standards), so a 33% increase in scoring in that situation is pretty insane.

I agree he needs to continue to improve, but I'd argue against him being any sort of problem. In theory, he should be good for 40ish points this year, and I think he's got upside of 50 or more if the team doesn't suck eggs at offense.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

I know. I wrote the article for MM, and John edited it



While he plays both, his role as a sniper would be most beneficial on the right wing. In fact, most snipers benefit from shooting on their off wing, as he's a left handed shot.

Look at the heat map in the Mayor's Manor article. There's very little offense coming from him on the left side, it's all on the right.

I know u said he plays both i was only doing the quotes for the other poster that said he never played it at all I remember u saying u wrote the article. If u recall i was the first person to ask about him. Thinking more of the lw prospect i think i ll hope for Prohorkins to take over from Iafallo even thou he might be better off at center.

 

[King'sPawn]

I know u said he plays both i was only doing the quotes for the other poster that said he never played it at all I remember u saying u wrote the article. If u recall i was the first person to ask about him. Thinking more of the lw prospect i think i ll hope for Prohorkins to take over from Iafallo even thou he might be better off at center.

Sorry, I misread

I agree either Prokhorkin, Fagemo, or Grundstrom make it as a top line LW.

Edit: to be clear, eight wing/left wing is basically calling him "not a center". Like you, I found references to him being a left wing (including the OHL web site) but all indications on the ice is he'll be more of a right wing, in my opinion.

But frankly committing to one wing when other sources contradict would just lead to arguments of "your article is wrong, because these sites list him as this position"

 

[tny760]

His numbers did improve from 9 goals to 15 and from 25 points to 33. That's a 33% increase on a team that went from middle of the pack in scoring to a couple of goals off dead last. The only other player to even have an increase at all was Clifford (who had a massive year by his standards), so a 33% increase in scoring in that situation is pretty insane.

I agree he needs to continue to improve, but I'd argue against him being any sort of problem. In theory, he should be good for 40ish points this year, and I think he's got upside of 50 or more if the team doesn't suck eggs at offense.

which is something i have absolutely no problem with paying $2.5M for

i'd like to think there's still some development to be done with him too, at least when it comes to consistency, but i like the kid. just had some streaks where he'd absolutely vanish

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

which is something i have absolutely no problem with paying $2.5M for

i'd like to think there's still some development to be done with him too, at least when it comes to consistency, but i like the kid. just had some streaks where he'd absolutely vanish

Absolutely.

This is his third pro season now, I expect a little more impact myself. But I think people forget sometimes he came straight from college--explaining how he gassed out at the end of his first pro season. Then last year the team was utter crap and he still saw massive gains. I'm excited to see what this year brings, but even if he's just the same dude with ironed-out inconsistencies, he's well worth his price tag. Improvement would make him a bargain, and we could sure use one of those.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Elite prospects seems to disagree

Arthur Kaliyev at eliteprospects.com

so does dobberprospects
Arthur Kaliyev

even mayors mannor has him listed as both lw and rw

2019 NHL Draft Preview: Arthur Kaliyev, OHL Forward

I'm relying on me watching his highs and lows during game tape (covering the point) as well as all of his teammates being confused why scouts had him listed as a LW on Twitter before, during, and after the draft.

Furthermore, those prospect pages mix up the LW/RW quite often, so that's no surprise to me.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Also, Iafallo's 27 even strength points were 4th on the team.

 

[crassbonanza]

Also, Iafallo's 27 even strength points were 4th on the team.

For reference, Kerfoot had 26 even strength points last season and just signed a 3.5 x 4

 

[BigKing]

No issues with it. Next two years don't matter. He tops out as a pretty good 3rd liner/great 4th liner.

As I've said numerous times, he is very Lewis like. I know numbers will get quoted about how he appears to be a better scorer but look at his line mates and then the era he is playing in v. Lewis. Also with Lewis, he had his best scoring seasons recently as well in a more wide-open league. Iafallo isn't putting up the same numbers if he is playing 11 minutes a night on the 2011 Kings.

He does have a better shot than Lewis though. That doesn't really say a whole lot, however. I do think if this team gets to a point where they have a 3rd line of Iafallo/Kempe/Grundstrom with an adequate Top 6, we'll be cooking with gas.

 

[kilowatt]

At 15 goals and 33 points this past season, Iafallo would have been 4th in goals scored and 7th in points on our 13-14 roster, and 5th in goals scored and 6th in points on our 11-12 roster.

But the main board is right, he’s overpaid and this contract is going to really hurt us in -*checks notes* - one year.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Good contract for Iafallo, I like seeing him with two years and under $2.5m per.

I think Kempe should come in around the same ballpark number, maybe 3 yrs, or 2.75m

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[Rusty Batch]

Sanford isn't a top 6 player either but he energized the Blues top line and they were great against Boston. Not every forward playing in your top 6 needs to be a legit offensive threat.

Be nice if more than one was though.

 

[johnjm22]

If he continues to get top six minutes, his numbers better improve. Iafallo produced Dwight King like numbers when King was the same age (24-25). You need better numbers than that if you're playing with Kopitar and Brown.

Except when Dwight King was 24/25 he wasn't playing on the top line and getting PP time like Iafallo does.

But similarly to Dwight, Alex can't score enough to justify a top 6 role, but doesn't bring enough grit, spark or defensive prowess for a bottom 6 role.

Unless he takes a significant step forward this year, he's a borderline NHL player. A player of his caliber should have to compete for an NHL spot in camp.

He's not any better than Leipsic at this point.

 

[johnjm22]

has shown chemistry with our best forward who, over the years, has had little to no chemistry with most players (Williams, Brown, Smyth...that's about it that I can recall).

I don't agree with this at all. Kopitar has had great runs with all the players you just mentioned.

I don't see how Iafallo specifically has more chemistry with him than anyone else.

I think Kopitar's production is all on him. When he's on his game he produces, when he's not he doesn't.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't agree with this at all. Kopitar has had great runs with all the players you just mentioned.

I don't see how Iafallo specifically has more chemistry with him than anyone else.

I think Kopitar's production is all on him. When he's on his game he produces, when he's not he doesn't.

That's what I was saying. Those are the guys he's had chemistry with. Almost no one else seems to fit, for better or worse. Pearson, Toffoli had a good one year run there but I wouldn't necessarily say Lucic-Kopitar-Toffoli had 'chemistry,' Carter doesn't really, etc.

Iafallo can play up there and match that line, not looking at all out of place in a way no other middle-sixer ever really could. Dwight King had a 15 goal year that one year, but would you say he read Kopitar and Brown well, complemented their games?

 

[johnjm22]

I misread what you said.

That's what I was saying. Those are the guys he's had chemistry with. Almost no one else seems to fit, for better or worse. Pearson, Toffoli had a good one year run there but I wouldn't necessarily say Lucic-Kopitar-Toffoli had 'chemistry,' Carter doesn't really, etc.

Iafallo can play up there and match that line, not looking at all out of place in a way no other middle-sixer ever really could. Dwight King had a 15 goal year that one year, but would you say he read Kopitar and Brown well, complemented their games?

No, but I wouldn't say that about Iafallo either.

I don't see him doing anything on the top line that most middling players couldn't.