Roy vs Walker

[Perennial]

Just wondering how these two are viewed by the organization...

Is either guy considered a valuable piece of the team's core, or are they just a couple of warm bodies filling in until better options emerge?

Is one noticeably better than the other?

Click to read more...

 

[Trash Panda]

Matt Roy is invaluable to the D-corps, and a core piece.

His solid & steady game is a unique skill set to our prospect pool, nobody else in the organization plays a heavy game like he does, while retaining the ability to move the puck.

Walker is a good player, but much more easily replaceable.

 

[killermiller]

Roy = reliable top 4 who can shut down top lines.

Walker = 3rd pairing defenseman with offensive upside that can quarterback a 2nd PP unit who's alright defensively in limited roles.

Roy should be a big part in the Kings core D group, Walker slots into our 3rd pairing well right now but can be replaced a bit easier. Love both guys though, honestly think our D is almost set for the future.

 

[bland]

Roy is a top 4 defender on any team in the league. Walker is a talented skater and puck mover, but limited in his zone. Walker is likely to be traded in the next 18 months as Faber may move straight to the NHL next year.

 

[kingsboy11]

When they were both first called up I was more impressed with Walker than I was with Roy, but over time you could really see the influence that Roy has on the game with his ability to shut down plays. Is he going to be a major point producer? No, but he's someone who you can rely upon night in and night out. Walker is nice to have because he's currently the only defenseman who's truly a puck moving defenseman and who can provide offense, but with guys like Clarke, Faber, Spence and Kirsanov coming up its going to be hard to keep his spot long term.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Roy is more valuable and is part of the core, whatever that is. He’s our home grown Scuderi. Walker is an everyday player and probably the better skater. He’s just not consistent enough either defensively or on offense to get an elevated role. And Roy has cemented his spot leading PK2. While Walker hasn’t done anything of note quarterbacking PP2.

 

[johnjm22]

Roy was a disappointment last year. He regressed from his excellent play in 19/20. It remains to be seen what he is.

Walker is a late bloomer. He was 14th among all defensemen in 5v5 P60 scoring last season. He could be on the cusp of really hitting his stride and become better than people think.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Roy was a disappointment last year. He regressed from his excellent play in 19/20. It remains to be seen what he is.

I wonder why....?

 

[BringTheReign]

If I'm staring into my crystal ball at a roster 2-3 years from now, I see Roy as an absolute rock on the 3rd pair and on the 1st PK unit.

I think Walker will be expendable if the Kings actually are able to execute their plan to trade for a stud LHD, but honestly, I could see him sticking around on 3rd pair instead if he continues to outperform Bjornfot, Anderson, etc. even as they develop. I think the tricky thing with Walker is he's slightly older and therefore will be slightly more expensive than the similar-style, younger guys who can plug into the lineup.

 

[johnjm22]

I wonder why....?

I was going to mention that, but truth is he wasn't playing great before the injury either.

 

[driller1]

If you want to quantify Roy vs Walker, the Kings think Roy is worth $3.1M/yr and Walker is worth $2.6M/yr.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Roy ALSO battled Covid last year, willing to make it a throwaway year from him

Walker spent some time next to DD and didn't look out of place, he can play up and down the lineup as need be, but he's in the ideal role now, we just need just a little bit more O out of him.

 

[Fishhead]

I wonder why....?

Kevin Fiala is a punk-ass, cheap shot artist. Just because he can score doesn't make him any less than a criminal on the ice at times.

He's RFA next year, think we should offer sheet him?

 

[Steve Zissou]

Kevin Fiala is RFA next year, think we should offer sheet him?

Not with all of our young pups coming up through the system in the next couple of years.

::cough:: Montreal and Carolina

 

[KingTech]

I think most of my fellow King fans underestimate Walker I honest think he could handle 2nd pairing minutes. That said the only way he ll ever see them is on another team. I think hes got a offensive upside if he could get a shot at 2nd pairing mins.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

These guys are the right handed versions of Muzzin and Martinez with minor differences.

Roy = Muzzin
Walker = Martinez

Roy has less offensive upside than Muzzin and Walker has less defensive skills. But both guys play the same styles

 

[MBH]

Matt Roy, Mikey Anderson and Sean Walker.
3 defensemen who should probably be on a third pairing - and probably not together.
Kind of hurts losing Klague given the dearth of legit defensive talent in the organization.

Klague led all kings defensemen with 1.39 points/60.

 

[johnjm22]

Matt Roy, Mikey Anderson and Sean Walker.
3 defensemen who should probably be on a third pairing - and probably not together.
Kind of hurts losing Klague given the dearth of legit defensive talent in the organization.

Klague led all kings defensemen with 1.39 points/60.

It's true that Roy/Anderson/Walker were playing like 3rd pairing dmen last year. But Roy was very, very good in 19/20. Especially as the season progressed. If he can get back to that level, he's a top 4 dman on any team in the league.

Walker was 14th among all dmen league wide in points/60 (minimum 20 games). And that's while playing on a poor offensive team and having a terrible injury. If you look at his career, he's always been a late bloomer everywhere. He has some upside and really showed some good things towards the end of the season.

Anderson was 21 years old last year.

You can't be serious about Clague. That's a very small sample size. His development has stalled out badly. He's not getting it done even in the AHL.

I appreciate your outsider perspective.

 

[Docgonzo]

Matt Roy, Mikey Anderson and Sean Walker.
3 defensemen who should probably be on a third pairing - and probably not together.
Kind of hurts losing Klague given the dearth of legit defensive talent in the organization.

Klague led all kings defensemen with 1.39 points/60.

Didnt Clague just get sent to AHL he’s not lost. And I don’t think Clague and defensive talent would be the best description. Maybe offensive talent at the defense position.

 

[kilowatt]

Clague hasn't really shown any more offensive prowess than Walker to be honest, but his defense was not good at all. I like Clague and I wish him the best but I just really don't see him making the Kings in the future. We have a few later picks in Moverare and Strand in front of him and a ton of young players ready to knock him down the depth chart even further.

Roy is legit, but I hope we get to the point where he's our third-pairing RHD.

Anderson - Doughty
Bjornfot - Clarke
Walker - Roy

What are we gonna do when Faber, Spence, Grans, and Kirsanov are ready too?

 

[Choralone]

What are we gonna do when Faber, Spence, Grans, and Kirsanov are ready too?

Two men enter. One man leaves.

 

[Statto]

Clague hasn't really shown any more offensive prowess than Walker to be honest, but his defense was not good at all. I like Clague and I wish him the best but I just really don't see him making the Kings in the future. We have a few later picks in Moverare and Strand in front of him and a ton of young players ready to knock him down the depth chart even further.

Roy is legit, but I hope we get to the point where he's our third-pairing RHD.

Anderson - Doughty
Bjornfot - Clarke
Walker - Roy

What are we gonna do when Faber, Spence, Grans, and Kirsanov are ready too?

When Faber and Kirsanov are ready both Roy and Walker are gone and Anderson likely gets moved as part of a major package in getting the mystical LHD. I like all 3 of those D-Men but we have better players coming through and we will need to create space for Faber, Kirsanov and the mystery LHD. Maybe Roy stays and when Clarke is ‘properly’ ready it Doughty that moves on but there will be some major moves that happen as part of sorting out our blue line long term. Of the current roster I think only Björnfot is likely to still be there in 4 years time. Obviously it assumes players develop as you’d expect, which isn’t away the case but we have a good record developing D-Men.

 

[cyclones22]

Two very different defensemen. I hope that both of them don't suffer from major injuries like they did last season. Missing so much time really derailed their seasons. Especially since the defense as a whole (except Maatta) really started well last season. To be fair to Walker, he was paired with garbage all season. Maatta (who at the worst times thinks HE's the offensive defenseman in a pairing) and MacDermid once injuries necessitated him playing. I imagine Walker is pretty thrilled that it looks like he's got Edler instead. Yeah, Edler's lost a step but none of Walker's old partners had even half the hockey brain Edler has now.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Just remembering chunks of last season where we had no Roy or Walker and were rolling out Doughty Anderson MacDermid Clague Bjornfot Maatta Strand LOL

If that's not worth a few extra points in the standings I don't know what is. I'm pretty sure I saw the actual points take MacDermid wide a few times.

 

[Matt13]

Neither had an easy year last year.