Tanner Pearson

[Bee Sheriff]

Soooo.........Ceiling raising as of late?

 

[Reclamation Project]

None of us really knew his ceiling. He's a kid. Same goes for Top Titty.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Ya, but not sure anyone anywhere thought he'd had wheels like he's had this season. Fourth gear.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

Ya, but not sure anyone anywhere thought he'd had wheels like he's had this season. Fourth gear.

He's the next Robitaille, not really, well maybe, but not really. But he's probably the best skater on the team, and has a weird, but such effective shot.

 

[Ron*]

Ya, but not sure anyone anywhere thought he'd had wheels like he's had this season. Fourth gear.

I did.

Look at my OP. Actually, I was astonished how fast this kid could fly. Watching him in person, he is even faster than it appears on TV.

 

[deeshamrock]

He's been the engine on the a line, the roaring motor that won't quit and drives hard. He's really something to watch, not just for the strength he brings, the hustle and grit but the IQ, he's one very smart player, he usually makes the right decision, that isn't something you can learn or coach, you either have it or you don't.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Ya, but not sure anyone anywhere thought he'd had wheels like he's had this season. Fourth gear.

Still two more!

 

[cyclones22]

Both Pearson and Toffoli were brought up the right way and I truly believe they are first line talents. Pearson has straight ahead speed, strength, positioning and IQ. Toffoli has Jerry Rice speed (won't have a good dash time, but good luck catching him from behind), shiftiness and that release. They obviously won't continue to shoot such high percentages, but it's not like they're firing off shots from the blueline and scoring lucky shots. They're scoring from prime areas because they know where to be on the ice. Great instincts isn't something you can teach.

 

[damacles1156]

They both go to scoring areas, until teams push Toffoli/Pearson out of the areas, they will continue to score.

Like Sutter says "Go to the scoring areas, you will be rewarded".

The reason guys taper off is, you pay a price for going to scoring areas. Pearson takes a beating nightly for doing so.

 

[Reclamation Project]

They both go to scoring areas, until teams push Toffoli/Pearson out of the areas, they will continue to score.

Like Sutter says "Go to the scoring areas, you will be rewarded".

The reason guys taper off is, you pay a price for going to scoring areas. Pearson takes a beating nightly for doing so.

Indeed. I remember last year when the Kings couldn't score and he kept saying that. Then, when the Kings scored a bunch of goals in one game he said that again. It's not the coaches, it's the players. Thankfully they've started doing it.

 

[Trolfoli]

Indeed. I remember last year when the Kings couldn't score and he kept saying that. Then, when the Kings scored a bunch of goals in one game he said that again. It's not the coaches, it's the players. Thankfully they've started doing it.

Think it's a little of both... Sutter tells the guys shoot first and crash for rebounds.... Which is what Williams/Brown do and how they have developed their games. This is also why Richards has 0 chemistry with them, because Richards is looking to pass and Brown/Williams are looking at the net for a rebound.

Now when you make a quick pass to someone set up to take a shot, changing the angle making the goalie move makes the first shot a lot more dangerous, harder to control and better rebounds. Think Toffoli's goal against CBJ. The down side here is it needs a line with 3 players that can pass and shoot... and are looking for the play....

So yes Sutter is saying go to the scoring areas.. but Sutter is clearly against, "passing the puck into the net". At this point it is clear which is the better approach...


The only question is can the rest of the players adapt their games to be effective, or are they going to need to be traded?

Of course Gabby/Kopi carrying the first line makes this less of an issue...

 

[Johnny Utah]

I always felt with Pearson he was either going to bust or be a stud. He was passed over 2x and drafted at 20. The buzz on him though was he went to the hard areas and could skate and that is exactly what is making him succeed now. His speed is deceptive and he is getting the jump around a lot of NHL d-men.

I am a big fan of Tanner after last years playoffs. When he turns 25-26, he will be a lot bigger and filled out and be tough to deal with around the net.

All of us die hard fans for years have talked about a legit second line LW on the Kings. It took years, but he is finally it.

 

[KingsCorona]

All of us die hard fans for years have talked about a legit second line LW on the Kings. It took years, but he is finally it.

This is exactly what I was hoping for when we were scrambling for a LW after Penner (who wasn't producing anyway) left and Frattin flopped. I wasn't expecting that he would able to develop so quickly and so completely, though Pearson has everything you'd want in a Top 6 power winger and more; here's hoping he can keep it going.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

All of us die hard fans for years have talked about a legit second line LW on the Kings. It took years, but he is finally it.

And now the irony, this is the exact type of player that the DT/ Al Murray tried to draft.
Remember David Steckel, Jens Karlsson, Scott Barney, Matt Zultek, Brian Boyle, and Lauri Tukonen?

 

[kings11]

funny how people over looked this kid but the guys over at The Hockey Writers had his player comparison as a Paul Stastny/Alex Steen type player.... so far so good.

 

[Scottkmlps]

And now the irony, this is the exact type of player that the DT/ Al Murray tried to draft.
Remember David Steckel, Jens Karlsson, Scott Barney, Matt Zultek, Brian Boyle, and Lauri Tukonen?

So much fail in there. To defend DT a bit, the Kings development was brutal back than.

 

[scryan]

Ya, but not sure anyone anywhere thought he'd had wheels like he's had this season. Fourth gear.

Since about going into the playoffs I have been REAL big on Pearson.
He has been awesome basically since his last call up, but watching the playoffs this is what I "expected"(hoped for)

 

[MsMeow]

I love watching him and Toffoli. They are fearless and so confident right now.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

So much fail in there. To defend DT a bit, the Kings development was brutal back than.

Though Scott Barney was very unlucky. Didnt play for 3 seasons while he had 2 excellent OHL seasons.

He's travelling through Europe.

 

[Bee Sheriff]

Great Article I Read comparing Pearson to Luuuuuuuc http://theroyalhalf.com/2014/10/left-wing-lowdown/

The Kings have selected 37 players in the first round in their 47 years in the league, which makes it fitting that their only Calder Trophy winner was a left winger who passed over time and time again before getting his shot. Now, the team can only hope that history will repeat itself 28 years later.

 

[T2M]

So much fail in there. To defend DT a bit, the Kings development was brutal back than.

By the same token, DL's development system starts with the scouting. The DT/AM drafting/development team started with size and expected natural skill to follow. In some ways, it's an early 80s model of development which probably echoes what DT did to get to the NHL. He was a smart guy who figured it out, but with the heavy development of systems play in the 1990s along with the overall increase in individual skills, mere enthusiasm and natural talent in 18-20 year olds wasn't enough. DL and his scouts draft for character first and foremost and talent second (not that they don't expect you to have excellent talent). DT drafted size, but as we've learned over the years, you have to have size with an even bigger heart to play the powerforward game at the NHL level because every body is going to get worn out and every heart will be tested by the relentless pounding NHL defenders will give you when you go in the dirty areas to score. With Boyle, Zultek, Tukkonen, Karlsson, and Steckel, that just wasn't there. Barney is an unfortunate situation. Now we have two things DT didn't have: A core character philosophy and time to make up for skill deficiencies while allowing those really hungry kids (and I'm sure that players like Muzzin, Toffoli, and Pearson were all starving for a chance at the NHL) to develop in Manchester in a systematic way. It really is both a culture and infrastructure shift of massive proportions when we look at it.

 

[Fishhead]

Tanner could be Jeff Carter v2. Maybe not quite what Jeff is on the D side, but close. They play very similar games.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

To me the best thing is that the valid concern over our inabilty to draft and develop a top 6 forwards appears to have been answered with two top 6 forwards simultaneously.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

By the same token, DL's development system starts with the scouting. The DT/AM drafting/development team started with size and expected natural skill to follow. In some ways, it's an early 80s model of development which probably echoes what DT did to get to the NHL. He was a smart guy who figured it out, but with the heavy development of systems play in the 1990s along with the overall increase in individual skills, mere enthusiasm and natural talent in 18-20 year olds wasn't enough. DL and his scouts draft for character first and foremost and talent second (not that they don't expect you to have excellent talent). DT drafted size, but as we've learned over the years, you have to have size with an even bigger heart to play the powerforward game at the NHL level because every body is going to get worn out and every heart will be tested by the relentless pounding NHL defenders will give you when you go in the dirty areas to score. With Boyle, Zultek, Tukkonen, Karlsson, and Steckel, that just wasn't there. Barney is an unfortunate situation. Now we have two things DT didn't have: A core character philosophy and time to make up for skill deficiencies while allowing those really hungry kids (and I'm sure that players like Muzzin, Toffoli, and Pearson were all starving for a chance at the NHL) to develop in Manchester in a systematic way. It really is both a culture and infrastructure shift of massive proportions when we look at it.

Excellent post.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

When Pearson first came up, I was not impressed at all. Then he came up the second time and looked like a completely different player. I think after that stint (maybe in the playoffs?) I made the comment that he might be the better player in comparison to Toffoli. Right now, it is hard to say. I feel like Pearson has more tools but Toffoli has incredible hands and his skating seems to have improved quite a bit. That move Toffoli made yesterday coming across the blue line, doing shifty stick handling like he was going to go between the defenders and then shifted to the outside, was awesome. the crowd even oohed and aahed.

This start to the season is no flash in the pan. Both of these guys are NHL players and will likely hit 20 goals this season if they stay healthy.

Also, I think the Luc comparison is a little more fitting for Toffoli if you are talking about playing styles.