Will Alex Turcotte have a spot in LA?

[LAKings88]

As of today I see three potential spots:

RW2
LW4
RW4

Kaliyev, Grundstrom, Fagemo, Turcotte, and I’d guess Lafferiere, are all competing for those spots.

Maybe JAD too.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Unpopular opinion--

A healthy Turcotte is more useful and plug-and-play than any of those guys, in the Iafallo/Moore mold, with upside.

 

[FeartheFur]

Turcotte. Play him. Sink or swim at this point.

 

[FSL KINGS]

With all the players requiring waivers & a possible short roster, don't see Turcotte making it out of camp.

 

[Herby]

With all the players requiring waivers & a possible short roster, don't see Turcotte making it out of camp.

The Kings claim to be a SC contender, waivers shouldn’t matter at all, lineup decisions should be 100% a meritocracy.

Plus, playing the waivers game has not exactly produced good results for our youth.

Turcotte’s contract expires after this season and if he isn’t established it’s likely he doesn’t receive a QO. The Kings should probably at least try and see if they can salvage this guy into a 4th liner.

 

[Cianide]

Trade him.

 

[ru4reals]

Trade him.

I'll take a 7th rounder for Alex at this moment. Maybe we'll get a 6th. Was a big fan of his but it's time to move on. Get something at least.

 

[Mats26]

A spot, yes he will, in the locker room right next to Englund who almost ended his career.

​

 

[Mcsorley47]

Englund could be our 3rd pair physical D.

He’s not ideal but it will work.

 

[Cianide]

I'll take a 7th rounder for Alex at this moment. Maybe we'll get a 6th. Was a big fan of his but it's time to move on. Get something at least.

He would return at least a 2nd.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Is it too late for him to get fitted for some goalie pads

 

[Mcsorley47]

Alex can still turn into a Gabe.

I wouldn’t mind him taking the whole year off and coming back next year.

If Clarke doesn’t hit as a star player this organization went 0-4 with high 1st round picks.

 

[Cianide]

Alex can still turn into a Gabe.

I wouldn’t mind him taking the whole year off and coming back next year.

If Clarke doesn’t hit as a star player this organization went 0-4 with high 1st round picks.

Why are you writing off Byfield? He hasn't been playing center yet. Give it some time.

 

[Mcsorley47]

Why are you writing off Byfield? He hasn't been playing center yet. Give it some time.

I’m not writing him off.

But it’s possible he turns out to be a good to great player instead of a game breaker we hoped he‘d be.

I see Clarke emerging as a star/stud player.

 

[Statto]

Alex can still turn into a Gabe.

I wouldn’t mind him taking the whole year off and coming back next year.

If Clarke doesn’t hit as a star player this organization went 0-4 with high 1st round picks.

I still think Byfield can be special.

He gave himself a decent platform last year (playing with the required structure in particular) and he will be a different prospect after a summer of getting physically stronger. He also hadn’t been shooting the puck as well as he can (look at his shooting in junior, I’m talking the release not the result) and whilst part of that is confidence i also have a suspicion that lengthening his stick has been a factor (that led to his confidence issue with his shot). This year he goes into the season having gotten used to the longer stick.

If he can get his shot going he will be a very different prospect as it‘d drastically change the dynamic of the top line. It’d also make him more direct at times, which on breakouts with Kempe could be fun. His shot is the key thing for me, if it comes good we will be very happy.

There are no guarantees just a big, important IF.

 

[Mcsorley47]

I still think Byfield can be special.

He gave himself a decent platform last year (playing with the required structure in particular) and he will be a different prospect after a summer of getting physically stronger. He also hadn’t been shooting the puck as well as he can (look at his shooting in junior, I’m talking the release not the result) and whilst part of that is confidence i also have a suspicion that lengthening his stick has been a factor (that led to his confidence issue with his shot). This year he goes into the season having gotten used to the longer stick.

If he can get his shot going he will be a very different prospect as it‘d drastically change the dynamic of the top line. It’d also make him more direct at times, which on breakouts with Kempe could be fun. His shot is the key thing for me, if it comes good we will be very happy.

There are no guarantees just a big, important IF.

I see Tage Thompson and think of Byfield.

I love the guy and want him to make it, just like Gabe did!

Alex can still make it too.

But I think if Brandt can have a big year this year and breakout, it’s going to elevate the team.

Right or wrong, I just feel Brandts emerging success takes the focus or pressure away from Byfield.

Kopitar and Doughty both showed glimpses of elite ability right away; you could see something special about them.

I just see the same thing in Clarke.

Byfield is our guy and isn’t getting traded. He‘ll breakout at some point. I’m not worried about him.

 

[johnjm22]

Turcotte should be playing 1C in Ontario this year, flanked by a couple good wingers. If he could stay healthy and score near a PPG that would be an amazing rebound.

I don't have much hope though.

 

[Mattias]

Turcotte should be playing 1C in Ontario this year, flanked by a couple good wingers. If he could stay healthy and score near a PPG that would be an amazing rebound.

I don't have much hope though.

But it also gives him the best 'This is your best shot, Alex' moment he would have in the organization.

Has he really been given the best opportunity in the AHL since arrival? From roster management of games I've seen, Turcotte has been on the third line of the Reign.

I hope for a Vilardi like growth out of Turcotte this year. Majority of us believed Vilardi was going to be waiver fodder before training camp.

 

[FrozenKing18]

I haven’t followed his progress, has he just been injured all the time or has he been playing and just can’t find his footing?

 

[Steve Zissou]

I haven’t followed his progress, has he just been injured all the time or has he been playing and just can’t find his footing?

When he has played he's looked good. Not great, but good.

Coaching staff and teammates said in recent exit interviews they were extremely complimentary of Turcotte when he's in the lineup and that he's the glue that holds everything together.

He just needs a full season of staying healthy. Same as Vilardi when he was injured.

 

[kilowatt]

I wonder if he can steal a spot in our top nine.

Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Turcotte - PLD - Fiala
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Kaliyev

 

[Steve Zissou]

@kilowatt TMac really needs to get Kaliyev off that 4th line.

 

[kilowatt]

@kilowatt TMac really needs to get Kaliyev off that 4th line.

I don’t think Kaliyev has shown the endurance or defensive prowess to do so yet. I just have zero confidence in him being more than a sheltered power play specialist.

 

[Inner Turbulence]

@kilowatt TMac really needs to get Kaliyev off that 4th line.

KALIYEV needs to get himself off that 4th line by playing well enough. If he does he'll get off the line eventually. Right now he hasn't shown enough to deserve that.

 

[Trash Panda]

KALIYEV needs to get himself off that 4th line by playing well enough. If he does he'll get off the line eventually. Right now he hasn't shown enough to deserve that.

This fallacy has been repeated over and over, despite being hogwash.

Bottom six grinders are supposed to make safe plays & munch minutes up while wearing down opposing D pairs.

Kaliyev has never been that player, and slotting him in such a role is only stunting his development. It’s never going to work breaking him in, while on the 4th line making “safe” plays.

My biggest gripe with Todd and his staff, outside of riding Kopitar & Doughty into the dirt.