Speculation: Trade Ideas and Free Agency XI

[Dr Jan Itor]

Curious to find out what the price is, on one hand he's an AHL player and a lot of NHL players wouldn't go for a 2nd, on the other hand he's a 22 year old who has put up points wherever he's played.

Former 3rd round pick, wonder how much his value has gone up since then. He put up 102 points in 72 games his draft year. Also curious why he fell to the third round.

That's what I was wondering too. Maybe they thought he was a product of Eberle or something. I guess at 5'10'' he doesn't have the ideal size, but that shouldn't drop him to the 3rd with the kind of production he had.

We are going to need somebody to plug into the 3rd line... either at center or right wing, depending on what they do with Coyle.

 

[AKL]

That's what I was wondering too. Maybe they thought he was a product of Eberle or something. I guess at 5'10'' he doesn't have the ideal size, but that shouldn't drop him to the 3rd with the kind of production he had.

Well, if the former is the case, he's definitely shown he's not just a product of Eberle. I agree with having a hard time believing it's his size. Smaller guys with worse numbers have gone higher.

 

[BigT2002]

Kimmo Timonen, anyone?

Been barking up that tree for the last 3 years Would be nice to see him on this team and holding down the fort on a 4/5 role.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Well, if the former is the case, he's definitely shown he's not just a product of Eberle. I agree with having a hard time believing it's his size. Smaller guys with worse numbers have gone higher.

Back in 2010, they pegged him as a late 3rd rounder, maybe a 2nd rounder.

I feel remissed if I didn’t pass along this spin on Weal by NHL Draft Notes website, written by a hockey scout:

Summary: This guy can flat out play the game. But he’s just not likely to get any bigger at all. He’ll struggle to become a top two line player, but my bet is he’ll still contribute as a 3rd/4th line guy and maybe a power play specialist. But I wouldn’t want to spend a top 45 pick on him, I’d probably not consider him until the 3rd round.

Draft Day: Kind of hard to figure, but I’d guess he’s gone before the end of the 3rd round. Could even be a 2nd rounder. But you have to wonder – if Brandon Kozun lasts until the 6th round, why would this guy go so much earlier?

http://thehockeywriters.com/the-hockey-spy’s-2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-profile-–-jordan-weal/

Also, his skating was a bit of a problem

Weaknesses: Size (obviously). Not quite the speed or quickness such a small player really needs to have.

http://nhldraftnotes.blogspot.com/2010/06/jordan-weal-c-regina-whl.html

 

[AKL]

Great post from a Kings fan with some outside sources used.

I'd easily trade a 3rd if we have a 2015 3rd, or if they'd accept a 2016 3rd.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

It'd be worth a shot to trade for Weal.

 

[AKL]

It'd be worth a shot to trade for Weal.

I definitely agree, no doubt. The question becomes whether or not they're willing to trade him for just a pick, or do they want to use him in a package for something bigger and better.

 

[AKL]

I'd trade our 2nd rounder this year for him. He's probably better and definitely more ready than anything we could take with our 2nd. Still only 22 so he's not old by any means.

 

[BigT2002]

I'd trade our 2nd rounder this year for him. He's probably better and definitely more ready than anything we could take with our 2nd. Still only 22 so he's not old by any means.

Do we have it this year it was it already traded?

 

[AKL]

Do we have it this year it was it already traded?

I guess I don't know. I know we traded our 3rd, I kind of assumed we still had our 2nd. If we don't, I don't know what we could give for him.

 

[Spurgeon]

I guess I don't know. I know we traded our 3rd, I kind of assumed we still had our 2nd. If we don't, I don't know what we could give for him.

We still have our 2nd this year. Traded our 2nd in 2016 for Moulson.

 

[Al Lagoon]

I would keep the 2nd, myself. Weal looks like a nice player, but there are lots of smaller skilled guys that shine at the AHL level but fail to translate to the NHL.

 

[AKL]

I would keep the 2nd, myself. Weal looks like a nice player, but there are lots of smaller skilled guys that shine at the AHL level but fail to translate to the NHL.

He's shined at every level he's played, and he's probably better and more NHL ready than whoever we'd draft with that 2nd rounder.

 

[thestonedkoala]

He's shined at every level he's played

So did Corey Locke, Patrick O'Sullivan...

 

[AKL]

So did Corey Locke, Patrick O'Sullivan...

So have Patrick Kane, Martin St. Louis, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. What's your point?

 

[tomgilbertfan]

So did Corey Locke, Patrick O'Sullivan...

As far as I know Weal doesn't have the emotional trauma that O'Sullivan had.

There will be busts that were undersized, and there will be successes. Weal's probability of NHL success is not impacted by either.

 

[AKL]

Trading a 2nd for Weal would be like drafting an NHL ready guy who's put up PPG numbers in the AHL already. He's only 22, not old by any means.

Yeah, he's 5'10, but the average height of forwards drafted in the 2nd round by Chuck Fletcher is 6'1.5, and the only one with NHL success so far is Zucker at 5'11. Size isn't everything.

Is Weal guaranteed to make it? No. But he's had 4 more years to prove himself- and he has- than whoever we would take in the draft.

This isn't Nick Leddy for Cam Barker, where we're trading for a reclamation project we hope will turn it around with us. This is trading for an NHL ready, 22 year old C who's given no reason to believe he won't continue to succeed and get better.

 

[Lennu32]

How about Olli Jokinen from Leafs? Probably could cost some lower pick and could provide some depth at center. He's UFA after the season and knows Wild's finnish players very well from Finnish National Team.

 

[AKL]

Yeah it's fun to keep acquiring Finns just because they're Finns.

Jokinen is done, I want no part of him.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

No thanks. 6 points on a Nashville team that has no trouble scoring.

 

[Lennu32]

Yeah it's fun to keep acquiring Finns just because they're Finns.

Jokinen is done, I want no part of him.

I really don't give a **** about players nationality. But being familiar with team's players is a big plus. Jokinen is also veteran, big guy and a center, who could be had for next to nothing. Didn't look out of the place at all in his last game. What if Koivu or Granlund get injured?

I'd be willing to trade 2nd for Weal. He looks promising.

 

[AKL]

Jokinen won't have a spot to play on this team. He's been worse than Haula this year.

Granlund
Koivu
Coyle
Haula
Carter (inj.)
Brodziak

All come before him on the C depth chart. Being familiar with Granlund and Koivu, and being a veteran doesn't mean much. The only meaningful experience he brings are 6 playoff games in his entire career.

 

[Lennu32]

Jokinen won't have a spot to play on this team. He's been worse than Haula this year.

Granlund
Koivu
Coyle
Haula
Carter (inj.)
Brodziak

All come before him on the C depth chart. Being familiar with Granlund and Koivu, and being a veteran doesn't mean much. The only meaningful experience he brings are 6 playoff games in his entire career.

Fair enough.

 

[Al Lagoon]

Trading a 2nd for Weal would be like drafting an NHL ready guy who's put up PPG numbers in the AHL already. He's only 22, not old by any means.

Yeah, he's 5'10, but the average height of forwards drafted in the 2nd round by Chuck Fletcher is 6'1.5, and the only one with NHL success so far is Zucker at 5'11. Size isn't everything.

Is Weal guaranteed to make it? No. But he's had 4 more years to prove himself- and he has- than whoever we would take in the draft.

This isn't Nick Leddy for Cam Barker, where we're trading for a reclamation project we hope will turn it around with us. This is trading for an NHL ready, 22 year old C who's given no reason to believe he won't continue to succeed and get better.

About the same age as Granlund. and smaller, and slower- you expect him to be better?

 

[AKL]

About the same size and age as Granlund - you expect him to be better?

No, but for just a pick, he'd be really nice depth. He could top out as an excellent AHL call up, or he could be a 50-60 point player in the NHL.

That's pretty much all you can hope for from anyone you draft in the 2nd round, the only difference is Weal is more proven and NHL ready than anyone you could draft.