Ben Shelley: Kings’ expansion draft protected list revealed

Lias Anderson showed enough upside this season to warrant being protected?

Lias Anderson showed enough upside this season to warrant being protected?
- rrentz

Yeah, relative to what was left exposed. And, perhaps, a little sunk cost fallacy at work, too.

It was pretty straightforward who was gonna be available.hope Seattle passes on clague and he gets a chance to grow more with us

If I were Seattle I would take AA. I think he is the only proven NHL player on our list, has the skill set, is still young at 26 and could be signed for a reasonable cap hit (RFA). Would be a good piece for them. If they do take Clague would be a bit of a bummer because we have been developing him forever. But he has had his chance go break the lineup but let multiple pass him on the depth chart recently (aka Mikey Anderson and Toby B.) I'm not even convinced he will be an NHL player yet.

Lias Anderson showed enough upside this season to warrant being protected?
- rrentz

He played well in his AHL games and led the team in points per game. When he came up he played well. I noticed he was progressing through out the season and was playing better by the end of the season. I think with a bit more seasoning he will be good player. He will certainly get his chance.

He played well in his AHL games and led the team in points per game. When he came up he played well. I noticed he was progressing through out the season and was playing better by the end of the season. I think with a bit more seasoning he will be good player. He will certainly get his chance.
- KingsFan67

Gotcha. Thanks

If I were Seattle I would take AA. I think he is the only proven NHL player on our list, has the skill set, is still young at 26 and could be signed for a reasonable cap hit (RFA). Would be a good piece for them. If they do take Clague would be a bit of a bummer because we have been developing him forever. But he has had his chance go break the lineup but let multiple pass him on the depth chart recently (aka Mikey Anderson and Toby B.) I'm not even convinced he will be an NHL player yet.
- KingsFan67

Kings arent signing AA. Seattle wont have to select him.

And for Lias Anderson. He was a PPG player for the AHL, Played ok for LA in limited role. And LA spent a 2nd to get him. Makes total sense hes protected.

Only thing that wasn't certain was the Brown protection over Grundstrom. I had it as a coin flip and was interested to see which way the Kings went. I would have had no complaints either way.

I think protecting L. Andersson is the right move, he may very well turn into a very good middle six winger. I watched him a lot last year, and he definitely improved as the season went along, including an 8 game stretch near the end of the season where he recorded six points. During that same stretch of games Vilardi recorded 7 points and that line was probably the most dangerous line the Kings could put on the ice.

Hopefully that chemistry can continue to grow, if so that is 2/3rds of a very solid 3rd line. I don't hate AA completing that line, but Kupari might end up being that guy. I also think Lias has the skill set to very effective on the power play, if he is ever able to earn that time.

Either way, solid 3rd line with lots of room to grow.

Also. Athanasiou is a 20 goal scorer. Yes, the Kings are resigning him.

Seattle should select AA -- he's an NHL player.

Seattle should select AA -- he's an NHL player.
- Cabbages and Kings

Once again. You dont select someone LA isnt signing. Clague or Lizotte is the pick. And sadly its likely Clauge. John Hoven is normally correct and has contacts. He says AA isnt coming back. He's also not be qualified.

Poisondhearts -- That's interesting news about AA. I wonder why he isn't coming back? Is there some sort of off ice behavior going on? Or perhaps his qualifying offer would have to be too high based on his previous salary?

I'm not sure.

Interesting though -- thanks for the info.

Poisondhearts -- That's interesting news about AA. I wonder why he isn't coming back? Is there some sort of off ice behavior going on? Or perhaps his qualifying offer would have to be too high based on his previous salary?

I'm not sure.

Interesting though -- thanks for the info.
- Cabbages and Kings

I think its more of a sense of. If you give youngsters a shot. They could produce what he did. Plus free agency gives you alot of options. AA could come back. But him being a RFA and not being qualified and or protected. I think says enough. I think LA liked him. But his consistency wasnt there. esp after injury. And those number we could get from a youngster.

Its why Ben Shelley confuses me a little bit. I know hes covering to many teams for this platform. But I mean. Mayors Manor is there. And its free content. And hes accurate far more than not. Hes got the connections. You can just relay what hes saying, and not act surprised by it.

Once again. You dont select someone LA isnt signing. Clague or Lizotte is the pick. And sadly its likely Clauge. John Hoven is normally correct and has contacts. He says AA isnt coming back. He's also not be qualified.
- poisondhearts37

If it's Clauge then so be it. He had several chances to break the line up and was passed up with Mikey Anderson and Toby B. both younger players. I'm not convinced they take Clauge or a D man from LA because there are a lot of other D men around on other teams and they have to take a certain mix of player positions. Maybe??

Also, with regard to AA if the Mayor thinks he won't be signed he is typically right, but I think that would be a mistake by LA. 20+ scorers don't grow on tress and while giving the kids a chance is good I seriously doubt there is anyone coming up that is going to score 20+ goals on the big club in their rookie year. Give AA 1 or 2 years. Have him perform and flip him down the road when the young guys have some experience (unless the Kings need the cap space for a big ticket acquisition).

I think that it's not a choice between AA and a kid, but between AA and that 2nd top-6 forward. I think that, if Blake had decided to bring AA back, he would've looked to add only one top-6 forward, but he decided a while ago that he'd see if he could find something even better, maybe someone more proven, less streaky, able to play in more situations and who'll be around longer. If he ends up striking out a few days into free agency, then bringing back AA can still be done if he's still unsigned. I just doubt that the plan was to add two top-6 forwards and AA. That would've really hampered the kids. The plan, IMO, was to either add one and bring back AA or add two, and by the time that we heard about adding two, the choice was made.

Hoven came out with an article today saying that the word out of Seattle is that they're taking one of Wagner or MacDermid. Clague was a distant 3rd. Athanasiou wasn't in the top 5.

I think that it's not a choice between AA and a kid, but between AA and that 2nd top-6 forward. I think that, if Blake had decided to bring AA back, he would've looked to add only one top-6 forward, but he decided a while ago that he'd see if he could find something even better, maybe someone more proven, less streaky, able to play in more situations and who'll be around longer. If he ends up striking out a few days into free agency, then bringing back AA can still be done if he's still unsigned. I just doubt that the plan was to add two top-6 forwards and AA. That would've really hampered the kids. The plan, IMO, was to either add one and bring back AA or add two, and by the time that we heard about adding two, the choice was made.
- Osprey

I agree,and I'm willing to bet there will be guys that step like vilardi,iafallo and kempe to score a little more this yr and arvidsson can score,he may even get some time with kopitar.thats why I believe AA wasnt offered a job.
the real battle will start in camp when kaliyev,kupari,turcotte,byfield all trying to take bottom 6 mins from someone.

Just what I see.

Iafallo kopitar brown
Kempe vilardi arvidsson
Andersson lizotte moore
Wagner JDA lemieux

Byfield,kaliyev,kupari,turcotte

Anderson doughty
Bjornfot roy
Maata Walker
Mcdermid,wolanin.thats why I hope they dont take clague.

Too many kids coming that will naturally push guys out of ice time or be parts of bigger piece trades.no need to rush,they will only gain value imho.