Ben Shelley: Projecting the Kings’ lineup next season: Forwards

Vilardi and Frk played together for 30+ games in the AHL, and that led to nearly PPG production from Vilardi and a team leading 23 goals in 37 games from Frk. We saw them on a line together for the handful of games that they both played in the NHL this season, and it appears they picked up right where they left off. I suspect we will see them together on a line again.

Grundstrom hasn't looked good. Reports from Stothers and some of the development staff have said that he's trying to do too much and is getting frustrated with his lack of progress. He apparently is very hard on himself when he doesn't succeed and it is preventing him from taking steps forward. He might figure it all out and get his development back on track, but I suspect we won't see him in the starting lineup next season. He'll be waiver eligible, so he'll be in the NHL, but he'll likely be one of the extras to start the season.

Turcotte might get a look in the NHL, but I think the Kings will make use of the ELC slide. As you said, the Kings aren't necessarily looking to compete next season, so there's no reason to rush his development. A year in the AHL playing with the Kings future forwards (Madden, Kupari, JAD, Thomas, Dudas, etc.) will be good for him.

Here's what I think the lines will look like to start next season:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Frk
Prokhorkin - Amadio - Carter
Moore - Lizotte - Wagner
Spares: Grundstrom and Luff

Carter and Amadio can swap at C/RW as they both have experience playing both positions. The first line is obviously the first line, but number the remaining lines as you see fit.

It will be interesting to see what the forwards in Ontario will look like next season, the talent they will have down there is going to be ridiculous. On defense, three of last season's starters will be gone (Anderson and Clague to NHL, LaDue to UFA), things might look a little bit shaky.

Vilardi and Frk played together for 30+ games in the AHL, and that led to nearly PPG production from Vilardi and a team leading 23 goals in 37 games from Frk. We saw them on a line together for the handful of games that they both played in the NHL this season, and it appears they picked up right where they left off. I suspect we will see them together on a line again.

Grundstrom hasn't looked good. Reports from Stothers and some of the development staff have said that he's trying to do too much and is getting frustrated with his lack of progress. He apparently is very hard on himself when he doesn't succeed and it is preventing him from taking steps forward. He might figure it all out and get his development back on track, but I suspect we won't see him in the starting lineup next season. He'll be waiver eligible, so he'll be in the NHL, but he'll likely be one of the extras to start the season.

Turcotte might get a look in the NHL, but I think the Kings will make use of the ELC slide. As you said, the Kings aren't necessarily looking to compete next season, so there's no reason to rush his development. A year in the AHL playing with the Kings future forwards (Madden, Kupari, JAD, Thomas, Dudas, etc.) will be good for him.

Here's what I think the lines will look like to start next season:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Frk
Prokhorkin - Amadio - Carter
Moore - Lizotte - Wagner
Spares: Grundstrom and Luff

Carter and Amadio can swap at C/RW as they both have experience playing both positions. The first line is obviously the first line, but number the remaining lines as you see fit.

It will be interesting to see what the forwards in Ontario will look like next season, the talent they will have down there is going to be ridiculous. On defense, three of last season's starters will be gone (Anderson and Clague to NHL, LaDue to UFA), things might look a little bit shaky.
- tkecanuck341

Yeah. I really liked watching Vilardi and Frk play together. Fun to watch. Really hope Grundstrom can figure it out. He’d be a really good 3rd line guy if he can IMO.

Vilardi and Frk played together for 30+ games in the AHL, and that led to nearly PPG production from Vilardi and a team leading 23 goals in 37 games from Frk. We saw them on a line together for the handful of games that they both played in the NHL this season, and it appears they picked up right where they left off. I suspect we will see them together on a line again.

Grundstrom hasn't looked good. Reports from Stothers and some of the development staff have said that he's trying to do too much and is getting frustrated with his lack of progress. He apparently is very hard on himself when he doesn't succeed and it is preventing him from taking steps forward. He might figure it all out and get his development back on track, but I suspect we won't see him in the starting lineup next season. He'll be waiver eligible, so he'll be in the NHL, but he'll likely be one of the extras to start the season.

Turcotte might get a look in the NHL, but I think the Kings will make use of the ELC slide. As you said, the Kings aren't necessarily looking to compete next season, so there's no reason to rush his development. A year in the AHL playing with the Kings future forwards (Madden, Kupari, JAD, Thomas, Dudas, etc.) will be good for him.

Here's what I think the lines will look like to start next season:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Frk
Prokhorkin - Amadio - Carter
Moore - Lizotte - Wagner
Spares: Grundstrom and Luff

Carter and Amadio can swap at C/RW as they both have experience playing both positions. The first line is obviously the first line, but number the remaining lines as you see fit.

It will be interesting to see what the forwards in Ontario will look like next season, the talent they will have down there is going to be ridiculous. On defense, three of last season's starters will be gone (Anderson and Clague to NHL, LaDue to UFA), things might look a little bit shaky.
- tkecanuck341

Thanks for reading!

Definitely possible Vilardi and Frk stick together. I think a lot of who's starting in the bottom-six could depend on how training camp goes. I haven't seen a ton of Grundstrom since he left Toronto but I really liked him with the Marlies. Hopefully he's able to put it all together.

For Turcotte, even if he doesn't start in the NHL, if he's tearing up the minors I think they'd bring him up. I don't know that they'd save a year of the ELC just for the sake of it. But if he gets a trial run and doesn't look ready in the NHL or starts in Ontario and looks like he needs more time, then I could definitely see them keeping him in the AHL to save a year.