Jason Lewis: What You Need to Know about the LA Kings Prospects Left in Camp

Jason Lewis: What You Need to Know about the LA Kings Prospects Left in Camp
- Jason_Lewis

Well Done.
Jason, to date what would your 23 man roster look like ?

Well Done.
Jason, to date what would your 23 man roster look like ?
- wrister

This is what I would like it to be:

Mersch-Kopitar-Gaborik
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Purcell-Dowd-Brown
Clifford-Lewis-Nolan
Shore-Setoguchi
King (Until Gaborik off IR, then trade)

McNabb-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Forbort-Gravel
Gilbert

Quick
Budaj

This is what it will be:

Purcell-Kopitar-Gaborik
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Shore-Brown
Clifford-Dowd-Lewis
Andreoff-Nolan
Setoguchi (until Gaborik is off IR, then waivers/AHL)

McNabb-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Gilbert-Greene
Forbort

Quick
Zatkoff

Are the kings pretty set on defence ? Could they move out one of Gravel or Forbort ( sorry if I butchered that) ? And what would it take ?

Are the kings pretty set on defence ? Could they move out one of Gravel or Forbort ( sorry if I butchered that) ? And what would it take ?
- blizzzard

I'd say gravel likely to stay over forbort but that's just me. Couldn't even guess what it would take to get either of them. Not much if you ask me

I'd say gravel likely to stay over forbort but that's just me. Couldn't even guess what it would take to get either of them. Not much if you ask me
- KINGS67

Kalinin ? He is 24 I believe and is a bit of a power forward. I think he would be a better fit then maybe Reid Boucher or Joe Blandisi but I think any of those three could be had if it potentially helps shore up what's looking to be a shaky blue line for us.

Kalinin ? He is 24 I believe and is a bit of a power forward. I think he would be a better fit then maybe Reid Boucher or Joe Blandisi but I think any of those three could be had if it potentially helps shore up what's looking to be a shaky blue line for us.
- blizzzard

I really haven't seen a whole lot from either of those guys but I do love the way gravel plays. Forbort on the other hand not so impressive. He is a stay at home damn IMO. For me, i like the doughty types, the 2 way guys. That's just me though..... loving LaDue

Are the kings pretty set on defence ? Could they move out one of Gravel or Forbort ( sorry if I butchered that) ? And what would it take ?
- blizzzard

Either Gravel or Forbort could be moved, but unless sent in a package deal with someone else, neither would return much. Maybe a mid-round draft pick for either.

I'd like for Kempe to stay and grow with the core a little bit before it's turned over. If his game can be even (not a detriment) then he's as valuable as any in the bottom 6. Maybe a kids 3rd line with more weight put on skillset then normal 3rd lines go. I feel that the 3rd and 4th line should see near equal time since the bulk will be played by the top 6. Float Kempe up every now and then on a regular basis to reward him if he deserves it to pump his confidence and get him a taste of real skilled linemates.

I'd like for Kempe to stay and grow with the core a little bit before it's turned over. If his game can be even (not a detriment) then he's as valuable as any in the bottom 6. Maybe a kids 3rd line with more weight put on skillset then normal 3rd lines go. I feel that the 3rd and 4th line should see near equal time since the bulk will be played by the top 6. Float Kempe up every now and then on a regular basis to reward him if he deserves it to pump his confidence and get him a taste of real skilled linemates.
- Stu17

This is not a bad idea. If he's not playing with Kopi or Carter, then I'd like to see Kempe play a little with Lewis. Then you'd have two fast, harassing forwards on a shutdown line.

This is not a bad idea. If he's not playing with Kopi or Carter, then I'd like to see Kempe play a little with Lewis. Then you'd have two fast, harassing forwards on a shutdown line.
- Only_A_Ladd

At the expense of whom? The Kings have to cut 4 more players to get down to their roster size (5 if they decide to stick with 8 defensemen). They have one player on a tryout (Setoguchi) and two players that are waiver exempt (Mersch, Kempe), so unless one of them really stands out in training camp, those three are the front-runners to be cut. Latta will likely be the other, since he's the newcomer and hasn't really done anything to stand out.

Since Gaborik is going to be injured for at least the first month of the season, they can potentially replace him with one of these guys. With the suspension to Pearson as well, Mersch is likely the front runner because the Kings are in need of a LW, and they won't have to worry about his contract when Gaborik comes back from injury. If they decide they want a little extra depth, they can sign Setoguchi to a contract, but they'll have to keep it under $950k, otherwise they'll carry some of his cap hit when he gets demoted after Gaborik returns.

Either way, there really isn't any room on the roster right now for Kempe. He's only 20 years old and just completed his first year pro. He's better off playing 20+ minutes per night in Ontario than only 11-13 minutes in LA. He's on his ELC contract for 3 more years, so it's not like we have to rush him.

How's Seto doing in camp and in preseason games so far? Rooting for him even if it's on the Kings

How's Seto doing in camp and in preseason games so far? Rooting for him even if it's on the Kings
- sjsharksss

He's doing well enough to possibly earn himself a contract. Rooting for him though he started as a fish

He's doing well enough to possibly earn himself a contract. Rooting for him though he started as a fish
- CRTNLarva_2.0

Sounds worth the risk for you guys, especially considering I bet he still has some resentment toward us after that Burns trade... Could see him giving his all against us on opening night

I'd like to see Forbort, LaDue, and Gravel all make the team. It's not before long that Greene and Scuderi start (frank)ing up. It's really just a forgone conclusion. Forbort is often call ed "invisible", but that maybe just what we need and LaDue is a right hand shot who has the tools. The Kings are just wasting time messing around with Gilbert and others who just don't have it anymore. Let the young ones play and win.

Sounds worth the risk for you guys, especially considering I bet he still has some resentment toward us after that Burns trade... Could see him giving his all against us on opening night
- sjsharksss

It would be awesome for him to become a Shark killer. I especially would like to see him score a few on Jones. It would be excellent for the rivalry without a doubt.

I'd like for Kempe to stay and grow with the core a little bit before it's turned over. If his game can be even (not a detriment) then he's as valuable as any in the bottom 6. Maybe a kids 3rd line with more weight put on skillset then normal 3rd lines go. I feel that the 3rd and 4th line should see near equal time since the bulk will be played by the top 6. Float Kempe up every now and then on a regular basis to reward him if he deserves it to pump his confidence and get him a taste of real skilled linemates.
- Stu17

I'd be concerned that that would hurt Kempe's potential. He's never been one of the top guys on his teams. He was 9th in forward scoring on both of his Modo teams, tied for 7th on the Monarchs and 6th on the Reign. He's always been a support player, never a go-to guy. He thus projects as a 3rd-line NHLer if nothing changes, IMO. What he desperately needs is to be a top player for once, so that he gets a taste of it and, maybe, learns for himself that he's capable of being that.

Another year in the AHL, being a top-6er getting top minutes and powerplay time, should answer whether he might cut it as a 2nd-liner in the NHL or not. If you take that away from him and just throw him into the NHL on the 3rd line, I'm afraid that a 3rd liner is all that he'll ever really be. Even if you were to promote him up, he wouldn't have the experience and confidence to make the most of it, IMO, and would eventually wind up back in the support role that he's most comfortable with.

The organization has a whole lot of 3rd-line-caliber players that they can throw on that line, instead. I just think that it'd be dangerous to jeopardize the development of perhaps their only prospect with top-6 potential by putting him into a 3rd line role (10 minutes per game, no powerplay, linemates who can't finish, etc.) at an age when he desperately needs ice time and opportunity to have a shot at that potential.

At the expense of whom? The Kings have to cut 4 more players to get down to their roster size (5 if they decide to stick with 8 defensemen). They have one player on a tryout (Setoguchi) and two players that are waiver exempt (Mersch, Kempe), so unless one of them really stands out in training camp, those three are the front-runners to be cut. Latta will likely be the other, since he's the newcomer and hasn't really done anything to stand out.

Since Gaborik is going to be injured for at least the first month of the season, they can potentially replace him with one of these guys. With the suspension to Pearson as well, Mersch is likely the front runner because the Kings are in need of a LW, and they won't have to worry about his contract when Gaborik comes back from injury. If they decide they want a little extra depth, they can sign Setoguchi to a contract, but they'll have to keep it under $950k, otherwise they'll carry some of his cap hit when he gets demoted after Gaborik returns.

Either way, there really isn't any room on the roster right now for Kempe. He's only 20 years old and just completed his first year pro. He's better off playing 20+ minutes per night in Ontario than only 11-13 minutes in LA. He's on his ELC contract for 3 more years, so it's not like we have to rush him.
- tkecanuck341

It was a general comment about when he plays. I doubt he gets much playing time this year.

I'd be concerned that that would hurt Kempe's potential. He's never been one of the top guys on his teams. He was 9th in forward scoring on both of his Modo teams, tied for 7th on the Monarchs and 6th on the Reign. He's always been a support player, never a go-to guy. He thus projects as a 3rd-line NHLer if nothing changes, IMO. What he desperately needs is to be a top player for once, so that he gets a taste of it and, maybe, learns for himself that he's capable of being that.

Another year in the AHL, being a top-6er getting top minutes and powerplay time, should answer whether he might cut it as a 2nd-liner in the NHL or not. If you take that away from him and just throw him into the NHL on the 3rd line, I'm afraid that a 3rd liner is all that he'll ever really be. Even if you were to promote him up, he wouldn't have the experience and confidence to make the most of it, IMO, and would eventually wind up back in the support role that he's most comfortable with.

The organization has a whole lot of 3rd-line-caliber players that they can throw on that line, instead. I just think that it'd be dangerous to jeopardize the development of perhaps their only prospect with top-6 potential by putting him into a 3rd line role (10 minutes per game, no powerplay, linemates who can't finish, etc.) at an age when he desperately needs ice time and opportunity to have a shot at that potential.
- Osprey

That's a valid point on Kempe but I just think he's a late bloomer. I don't think playing on the 3rd will hurt him down the road. The Kings need his tools now.

That's a valid point on Kempe but I just think he's a late bloomer. I don't think playing on the 3rd will hurt him down the road. The Kings need his tools now.
- malonepeters

If 20 is a late bloomer I am getting way too old for this stuff