Jason Lewis: Where Does Andy Andreoff Belong?

Jason Lewis: Where Does Andy Andreoff Belong?
- Jason_Lewis

Kid has a great name. Play him!


Edit: Perry Sucks.

AA at wing means Lewis at 4th line center, right? King's back, so that makes for a different look to the third line. Would lose Lewis' speed, but King is a monster on the boards and in the corners. With Lewis at 4C, that's a nice 1-4 the Kings would have at full strength with Kopi-Carts-Shore-Lewis.

I agree with your overall assessment of Andreoff. I have consistently said that he's a nothing-special fringe-NHLer. He's fairly atrocious at faceoffs and isn't great in the defensive zone. His offensive awareness is decent, but replaceable.

The only problem I have with playing him at wing is who he replaces in the depth chart. Even with all the injuries the Kings have now, we don't really have a spot for him at wing in the lineup. Lewis and Shore are currently taking up the 2C & 3C center duties, and if Andreoff moves away from center, then Weal is the only current remaining option to replace him down the middle. Weal coming into the lineup means someone has to come out. He's not going to replace King or Brown, so the only two options are Mersch and Nolan. Do you really want Andreoff in the lineup over either of those guys? I don't.

AA at wing means Lewis at 4th line center, right? King's back, so that makes for a different look to the third line. Would lose Lewis' speed, but King is a monster on the boards and in the corners. With Lewis at 4C, that's a nice 1-4 the Kings would have at full strength with Kopi-Carts-Shore-Lewis.
- Only_A_Ladd

Lewis is playing 2/3C right now, centering King and Brown (depends on which lines you consider to be 2/3). AA at wing means Weal at 4C and Mersch or Nolan out of the lineup, and I don't think Weal has done enough to deserve a spot over either of those guys.

The only reason Andreoff is currently in the lineup was due to the injuries to King, Clifford, and Carter. King is already back, so once Carter re-enters the lineup, Andreoff will likely be a healthy scratch again. Once Clifford returns, Mersch will head back to Ontario and Andreoff and Weal will be the healthy scratches.

Lucic-Kopitar/Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Kopitar/Carter-Gaborik
King-Shore-Brown
Mersch-Lewis-Nolan
Andreoff-Weal
Clifford (IR)

Lewis is playing 2/3C right now, centering King and Brown (depends on which lines you consider to be 2/3). AA at wing means Weal at 4C and Mersch or Nolan out of the lineup, and I don't think Weal has done enough to deserve a spot over either of those guys.

The only reason Andreoff is currently in the lineup was due to the injuries to King, Clifford, and Carter. King is already back, so once Carter re-enters the lineup, Andreoff will likely be a healthy scratch again. Once Clifford returns, Mersch will head back to Ontario and Andreoff and Weal will be the healthy scratches.

Lucic-Kopitar/Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Kopitar/Carter-Gaborik
King-Shore-Brown
Mersch-Lewis-Nolan
Andreoff-Weal
Clifford (IR)
- tkecanuck341

I think Mersch will be the first one scratched. Sent back to Ontario. Andreoff love him or hate him. Is more valuable atm. Due to him being able to play basically any position.

Can we not send Weal back to Ontario? Suck I guess to lose more kids to waivers.

Lewis is playing 2/3C right now, centering King and Brown (depends on which lines you consider to be 2/3). AA at wing means Weal at 4C and Mersch or Nolan out of the lineup, and I don't think Weal has done enough to deserve a spot over either of those guys.

The only reason Andreoff is currently in the lineup was due to the injuries to King, Clifford, and Carter. King is already back, so once Carter re-enters the lineup, Andreoff will likely be a healthy scratch again. Once Clifford returns, Mersch will head back to Ontario and Andreoff and Weal will be the healthy scratches.

Lucic-Kopitar/Carter-Toffoli
Pearson-Kopitar/Carter-Gaborik
King-Shore-Brown
Mersch-Lewis-Nolan
Andreoff-Weal
Clifford (IR)
- tkecanuck341

lewis will play with brown and king i would guess which puts shore at 4th line center. with what wings is anyones guess

I think Mersch will be the first one scratched. Sent back to Ontario. Andreoff love him or hate him. Is more valuable atm. Due to him being able to play basically any position.

Can we not send Weal back to Ontario? Suck I guess to lose more kids to waivers.
- poisondhearts37

I don't disagree with that. Andreoff at center is more valuable than Mersch at wing. However, if we're saying that Andreoff shouldn't be playing center, than he loses that versatility and most of his value. I would rather have Mersch at wing than Andreoff, but if we have to open up a roster spot, then Mersch goes down to Ontario due to his waiver exempt status.

Weal (and Andreoff), has to clear waivers to go to Ontario. Someone will nab the reigning AHL MVP if we expose him to waivers, so he's not going anywhere unless it is via trade.

lewis will play with brown and king i would guess which puts shore at 4th line center. with what wings is anyones guess
- masterhans

That works too. My intention was primarily to show the scratches.

That works too. My intention was primarily to show the scratches.
- tkecanuck341

seems like a good problem to have. create some competition in the bottom 6 for playing time

seems like a good problem to have. create some competition in the bottom 6 for playing time
- masterhans

I agree. Mersch's first 6 or 7 games were nothing special, but he has looked really solid in his last two games. I'd like to keep him in the lineup to see if he can continuously improve as long as there is a roster spot available for him. If he regresses to the Mersch from 5 games ago, then Andreoff can take his spot, otherwise I'd like to see Andreoff and Weal as the forward healthy scratches once Carter comes back.

The question seems to assume that he belongs in the NHL at all and it's just a matter of which position. I've seen nothing to tell me that he even belongs at this level (at least yet) and, certainly, not to have a virtually guaranteed roster spot. If they need to use him because of injuries, so be it, but, when the team is relatively healthy, he should be in the minors or healthy scratched. He doesn't provide enough to justify taking opportunity away from guys like Weal, Mersch and others who have proven more in their careers and have higher ceilings. So far, those guys have had opportunities, but, as the Kings get healthier, it's going to become an issue and I'm afraid that Weal will be traded and Mersch sent down so that Lombardi and Sutter can retain the amazing services of Andreoff.

The question seems to assume that he belongs in the NHL at all and it's just a matter of which position. I've seen nothing to tell me that he even belongs at this level (at least yet) and, certainly, not to have a virtually guaranteed roster spot. If they need to use him because of injuries, so be it, but, when the team is relatively healthy, he should be in the minors or healthy scratched. He doesn't provide enough to justify taking opportunity away from guys like Weal, Mersch and others who have proven more in their careers and have higher ceilings. So far, those guys have had opportunities, but, as the Kings get healthier, it's going to become an issue and I'm afraid that Weal will be traded and Mersch sent down so that Lombardi and Sutter can retain the amazing services of Andreoff.
- Osprey

No disagreeance here. His position as an NHL player is questionable at best. However, he has been a mainstay on the roster nevertheless. If they do plan on using him it should probably be at wing rather than center.

As far as a replacement in the depth chart goes? I'd rotate he and Nolan until Clifford comes back or Mersch proves more consistent

No disagreeance here. His position as an NHL player is questionable at best. However, he has been a mainstay on the roster nevertheless. If they do plan on using him it should probably be at wing rather than center.

As far as a replacement in the depth chart goes? I'd rotate he and Nolan until Clifford comes back or Mersch proves more consistent
- Jason_Lewis

I think Nolan has been really good lately. He has been an effective forechecker, has thrown numerous hits on opposing players, and has managed to take only 2 minor penalties in the last 16 games. He was one of the best players on the ice for the Kings in the Toronto debacle a couple weeks ago. He even stood out so much one game that he was rewarded with several shifts with Kopitar on the top line.

I think removing him from the lineup would be a mistake, especially if the only reason for doing so is to give Andreoff some ice time. There really is no upside to Andreoff's game, so the only effect of taking out a steadily improving Nolan is to interrupt the progress that he has made.

I'm with Osprey on this one. It's one thing to fill in for injuries, it's another story altogether to replace an established roster player in the lineup.

He's less of a liability than Nolan move him to wing.

i really hope they dont send mersch back to ontario when clifford is healthy. you know what you have in clifford, andreoff and nolan. mersch at least gives you more hope for offensive upside in the bottom six. then again, so does weal and he's barely had a consistent chance to show it.

i really hope they dont send mersch back to ontario when clifford is healthy. you know what you have in clifford, andreoff and nolan. mersch at least gives you more hope for offensive upside in the bottom six. then again, so does weal and he's barely had a consistent chance to show it.
- hiway39

What other option do they have? Mersch is the only forward that can be moved without being exposed to waivers, and once Clifford comes off IR they'll have to move someone. Rather than move someone out of the organization, they'll move Mersch down to Ontario where he can get top line minutes and be called up again in the event of injury.

Weal has been given numerous opportunities to prove he deserves a spot in the lineup and has yet to show that he can fit in on this team. The AHL is not the NHL and success in the minors doesn't buy you anything in the big show. You either produce with the minutes you're given, or you watch from the press box.

Unfortunately for Weal, due to his size and skillset, he has to play in the top six or not at all. In the Kings system, there is just no room for a undersized player in the bottom six. My guess is that he gets another 5-10 games before the trade deadline. He'll continue to be unimpressive as he has all season, and he will be shipped out at the trade deadline in a package deal for a rental defenseman or by himself for a 3rd/4th round draft pick. Mersch will be the injury wing replacement and Andreoff will be the injury center replacement.

What other option do they have? Mersch is the only forward that can be moved without being exposed to waivers, and once Clifford comes off IR they'll have to move someone. Rather than move someone out of the organization, they'll move Mersch down to Ontario where he can get top line minutes and be called up again in the event of injury.
- tkecanuck341

The other option that they have is to simply send Andreoff down, even though it means exposing him to waivers. It's very unlikely that he'll be claimed. Unfortunately, Lombardi won't risk that, no matter how unlikely. He'd rather keep both assets, even if it hurts the development of the much better one.

Nice win!!