Thoughts on New Kings Players

[bmr]

i like how our top 2 lines are so sick that we have to leave out Richards and Conn-smythe Williams out of them. Somehow our offensive roster exploded and became better than our defense, which is still among the best in the league.

The additions of Carter and Gaborik and the emergence of Toffoli and Pearson have made all this possible. The best part of all of this is that we were all complaining about our team speed and matching up against fast teams, and now we have the ability to do that.

Also, I was a bit worried about the defense with the loss of Mitchell (and previously Scuderi), but Dean and Co. really seem to be on top of this. Muzzin and Martinez have another year of experience and Voynov is looking to bounce back after a bad year. Doughty is Doughty and you know Regehr and Greene will be solid. Hoping for a great year.

Boy do the Ducks have a lot of young talent. Some of these guys have real futures in this league. They have done an excellent job of drafting as well. Never even heard of that Karlsson kid, but he's going to be pretty good. Etem really wants to make the team as well.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I was Shore impressed with Nick last night. I think he is 1 more season away

 

[Johnny Utah]

I think the dilemna for LA is keeping Andreoff, Nolan and McNabb as the 3 spare players since they are all young. Not ideal for them to sitting most of the year.

By the way, where has Trevor Lewis been?

 

[regulate]

I was Shore impressed with Nick last night. I think he is 1 more season away

I didn't think Shore did too much offensively, he is sound on defense, put he is over-matched right now in the faceoff circle. The last two games he was 37% and 25 % respectively, and that is not going to get it done at the NHL level.

After watching Shore and Dowd, I think Dowd is the better offensive center. He has a goal and an assist in two games played, and made that nice backhand cross ice pass last night to Regehr who scored off the pass.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I didn't think Shore did too much offensively, he is sound on defense, put he is over-matched right now in the faceoff circle. The last two games he was 37% and 25 % respectively, and that is not going to get it done at the NHL level.

After watching Shore and Dowd, I think Dowd is the better offensive center. He has a goal and an assist in two games played, and made that nice backhand cross ice pass last night to Regehr who scored off the pass.

The last two games, he was also playing against veteran NHLers.

Like I said, he does need more seasoning and is a work in progress. But I think he has a future

 

[regulate]

I think the dilemna for LA is keeping Andreoff, Nolan and McNabb as the 3 spare players since they are all young. Not ideal for them to sitting most of the year.

By the way, where has Trevor Lewis been?

Lewis played in the first home game during the Phoenix split squad games. He is obviously on the team, so they are giving all the potential 4th liners a real good look. I don't think it's a terrible thing if Andreoff, Nolan and McNabb sit. As long as they are on the team, I don't think they care, and for Andreoff, it's a big deal to make $550,000 vs $75,000. McNabb has a one-way deal, so he will make $650,000 regardless.

 

[bmr]

I didn't think Shore did too much offensively, he is sound on defense, put he is over-matched right now in the faceoff circle. The last two games he was 37% and 25 % respectively, and that is not going to get it done at the NHL level.

After watching Shore and Dowd, I think Dowd is the better offensive center. He has a goal and an assist in two games played, and made that nice backhand cross ice pass last night to Regehr who scored off the pass.

That was a really nice pass..didn't pay attention to the fact that it was Dowd. I think he will be good this year in Manch.

 

[damacles1156]

I didn't think Shore did too much offensively, he is sound on defense, put he is over-matched right now in the faceoff circle. The last two games he was 37% and 25 % respectively, and that is not going to get it done at the NHL level.

After watching Shore and Dowd, I think Dowd is the better offensive center. He has a goal and an assist in two games played, and made that nice backhand cross ice pass last night to Regehr who scored off the pass.

Preseason.

Shore is around 55-60% guy in the circle at the AHL level nightly, always been a beast in the circle since College.

His offense will come along, but he is not going to be a 50-60 point center in the NHL. More like 40-45, play a really good 200ft game.

Shore is a perfect bottom six Center, Kings have Stoll/Lewis replacement.

 

[SirloinUB]

Hey guys, Some good stuff in this thread. I especially enjoyed the reports on Cracknell, who is the reason I have ventured into your forum. He is a relative of mine, which leads to a question

How likely is it that Cracknell sticks out to make the roster? What about being a regular in the lineup?

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Hey guys, Some good stuff in this thread. I especially enjoyed the reports on Cracknell, who is the reason I have ventured into your forum. He is a relative of mine, which leads to a question

How likely is it that Cracknell sticks out to make the roster? What about being a regular in the lineup?

Theoretically.... he needs to beat out Nolan, which I think he can.

 

[bmr]

Hey guys, Some good stuff in this thread. I especially enjoyed the reports on Cracknell, who is the reason I have ventured into your forum. He is a relative of mine, which leads to a question

How likely is it that Cracknell sticks out to make the roster? What about being a regular in the lineup?

I think at this point it is 50/50. Dean has a tough decision to make regarding Nolan/Andreoff. IMHO, Cracknell is the better fit on the 4th line between all these guys. Some people say he is just a fringe NHL player, but from what i've observed in the preseason he is the best fit up to this point.

 

[Trolfoli]

Lewis played in the first home game during the Phoenix split squad games. He is obviously on the team, so they are giving all the potential 4th liners a real good look. I don't think it's a terrible thing if Andreoff, Nolan and McNabb sit. As long as they are on the team, I don't think they care, and for Andreoff, it's a big deal to make $550,000 vs $75,000. McNabb has a one-way deal, so he will make $650,000 regardless.

I don't think McNabb will sit over Martinez... This is Sutter we're talking about.

If the Kings offense is functioning this year it will make it that much harder for Martinez to get ice time. Remember last year when he was only put in after the WM/MG pairing failed over a bunch of games? Sutter could change his mind... I won't believe it till I see Martinez out of the dog house for an extended period of time.

Edit: Greene/Regehr will probably get injured at some point so both will end up playing.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Hey guys, Some good stuff in this thread. I especially enjoyed the reports on Cracknell, who is the reason I have ventured into your forum. He is a relative of mine, which leads to a question

How likely is it that Cracknell sticks out to make the roster? What about being a regular in the lineup?

Welcome, SirloinUB! To answer your question frankly, I think Cracknell was brought in as insurance, much like Jeff Schultz last year. I think he will be sent to Manchester but might get a call-up at some point in the season or playoffs. Bad news: the Kings have similar players in Clifford, Nolan and Andreoff, and they all have a lot of history in the Kings system. Good news: I can't think of any other winger in Manchester who is more NHL-ready than Cracknell and he's done fine in camp. Welcome Cracknell to the Kings for us!

 

[kingsfan]

I don't think McNabb will sit over Martinez... This is Sutter we're talking about.

If the Kings offense is functioning this year it will make it that much harder for Martinez to get ice time. Remember last year when he was only put in after the WM/MG pairing failed over a bunch of games? Sutter could change his mind... I won't believe it till I see Martinez out of the dog house for an extended period of time.

Edit: Greene/Regehr will probably get injured at some point so both will end up playing.

I think A-Mart misses out because Sutter has a Ron Jeremy sized woody for everyone else last year and the year before. However there's no reason yet to believe Sutter even likes McNabb. Odds are he didn't even see McNabb live before LA acquired him so right now its DL that likes McNabb. Sutter.... maybe not.

the other factor to consider is Willie Mitchell departing. He played over 20 minutes a game. It's doubtful DS just hands all of that over to McNabb. That'd put him fourth on the team in ice time. Odds are Martinez will get some of that, as will Muzzin, and McNabb will get about 15 minutes a game.

As a comparision, when Muzzin came in as a rookie in 2012-2013, he played 17:53 a game. Assuming McNabb makes the team, I'd think that's about what we could expect for him as well, barring any injuries to him or other blueliners of course.

 

[Johnny Utah]

What's the fascination with Jeff Schultz. He reminds me of Denis Tsurgov. I thought he was awful in the playoffs and was beat flat footed numerous times by the Ducks. The Kings almost dressed McNabb over him.

 

[SirloinUB]

Theoretically.... he needs to beat out Nolan, which I think he can.

I think at this point it is 50/50. Dean has a tough decision to make regarding Nolan/Andreoff. IMHO, Cracknell is the better fit on the 4th line between all these guys. Some people say he is just a fringe NHL player, but from what i've observed in the preseason he is the best fit up to this point.

Welcome, SirloinUB! To answer your question frankly, I think Cracknell was brought in as insurance, much like Jeff Schultz last year. I think he will be sent to Manchester but might get a call-up at some point in the season or playoffs. Bad news: the Kings have similar players in Clifford, Nolan and Andreoff, and they all have a lot of history in the Kings system. Good news: I can't think of any other winger in Manchester who is more NHL-ready than Cracknell and he's done fine in camp. Welcome Cracknell to the Kings for us!

Thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated. Probably wont see me too frequently but i will venture in from time to time if i have something noteworthy to share, or have any questions about his game.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Nizar]

What will happen with Bodnarchuk? Too bad he is injured again.

 

[Trolfoli]

I think A-Mart misses out because Sutter has a Ron Jeremy sized woody for everyone else last year and the year before. However there's no reason yet to believe Sutter even likes McNabb. Odds are he didn't even see McNabb live before LA acquired him so right now its DL that likes McNabb. Sutter.... maybe not.

the other factor to consider is Willie Mitchell departing. He played over 20 minutes a game. It's doubtful DS just hands all of that over to McNabb. That'd put him fourth on the team in ice time. Odds are Martinez will get some of that, as will Muzzin, and McNabb will get about 15 minutes a game.

As a comparision, when Muzzin came in as a rookie in 2012-2013, he played 17:53 a game. Assuming McNabb makes the team, I'd think that's about what we could expect for him as well, barring any injuries to him or other blueliners of course.

Bigger, slower, more physical... and less likely to jump in the rush ... I'm not saying it's 100%, but Sutter's gone for truculence over the better player before...