Sheng Peng: The Nic Dowd "Problem" Why Dowd's strong play might be a problem + who would you prioritize protecting in the Expansion Draft?

I love Forbort and Mcnabb, but I'll take the youngish third line center at this point in time if it were me. The Kings are extremely thin at the forward position for years to come and Dowd has proven to be an NHL center man as of right now. I'm waiting on LaDue to be a rising star for this team in the years to come. It'll be hard to lose one of Mcnabb or Forbort if it came down to it but I believe that they can be replaced.

The Kings forward corps depth is poor compared to the D. I would protect Dowd. I'm afraid the Knights will take Forbort over McNabb. I just not a fan of Nabber. His inconsistency drives me nuts. I can't believe the Kings waste a protection spot on Lewis.

I just recently learned the 2 years meant pro and not NHL, and it has me re-evaluating. Considering our defense has been solid sans-McNabb lately, you say Mcnabb/Forbort is Doughty's partner, and the other gets claimed. Our prospects are thin up front, we on paper would be much easier to fill a D spot with LaDue, Cernak, Macdermid, Clague all at various points of development. Now if we think they will be looking to us for D, then we go 4/4 and curate which of Mcnabb/Forbort they get (it would suck to lose Forbort after SO many years of development, the expansion draft process honestly sucks). The other side of this argument though is that Dowd is not the youngest and 3rd line centers are not the hardest thing to find in free agency. But since we leave one of Mcnabb/Forbort unprotected no matter what, I think we make sure D is what they pick. I'm a Mcnabb defender and Forbort has only looked solid for a short time, but I guess I have to hope they pick Mcnabb.

If I had to decide right now, it'd be Dowd. You just don't find his vision laying around. I've seen enough little plays that result in points to say that he's worth keeping around. You cant teach that stuff and hopefully he gets a little more physical (and for his size he's plenty physical) and manages to stay healthy, too.

This is too easy:

7 F = Kopitar, Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Dowd, Auger and Mersch or Lewis (coin flip).

3 D = DD, Amart, Forbort

G = Quick

You have to gamble a bit here, other teams are going to expose players and the new teams staff may have their eyes on the 20 they want already and it may or may not include 1 or 2 kings.

worst case scenario we lose Brown Gaborik Muzz and McNaab

Best case we lose McNaab Brown Greene King Gilbert Nolan Andreof.

Likely case? we lose Brown and McNaab

This all is better for the team in the long run. We shed tons of salary, give a chance to some of the deserving players in Ontario and have money and space to make moves.

Mcnabb is a 1.7 cap hit, Forbert 650 K, no brainer, Kings need to shed $$ they will be giving raises to Toffoli and Pearson.

Maybe they can get them to take Brown with throwing in a pick or 2.

I can't imagine a world in which Deano parts with Lewis. Maybe by the end of the year Dowd makes that possible. We'll see.

This is too easy:

7 F = Kopitar, Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Dowd, Auger and Mersch or Lewis (coin flip).

3 D = DD, Amart, Forbort

G = Quick

You have to gamble a bit here, other teams are going to expose players and the new teams staff may have their eyes on the 20 they want already and it may or may not include 1 or 2 kings.

worst case scenario we lose Brown Gaborik Muzz and McNaab

Best case we lose McNaab Brown Greene King Gilbert Nolan Andreof.

Likely case? we lose Brown and McNaab

This all is better for the team in the long run. We shed tons of salary, give a chance to some of the deserving players in Ontario and have money and space to make moves.
- MikeOxbyg

Why would any team, even an expansion team, take Brown off our hands? Not going to happen.

Why would any team, even an expansion team, take Brown off our hands? Not going to happen.
- Stu17

wishful thinking on my part

McNabb has proven more than Forbort has. He's proven that he can capably hang as Doughty's partner for a full season, rather than just a month so far. He's also a lot more physical than Forbort and has more offensive skill (not that we've seen much in the NHL so far, but compare his 102pts in 154gms in the AHL to Forbert's 43pts in 187gms). He's also only a year older, so we shouldn't get too enamored with the idea of going with "young blood." I think that it'd be unwise to protect Forbort over McNabb. Gaining only $1M in cap and getting only one year younger isn't worth the trade-off.

gravel could help cover the loss of forbort if he's selected. and if mcnabb is selected, forbort and gravel could step in the way they have this season with mcnabb hurt. you have to protect dowd with little depth up front.

I think Forbort has really started grow. Esp getting to play with Doughty. Doughty gives him responsibility. He trusts him enough to consistently pass him the puck. I would hate to loose him at this point. Same for Dowd. This is a very scarey time. Nobody put thought into this before. All the thought was, Lets pray they take Browns contract for us. I don't see any clear win/win in any list of protections outside of the obvious Kopi, Carts, Toff, Pearson, Doughty, Muzzing and Amart. It'll hurt us to lose one of or both of Forbort and McNabb. Ontop of keeping one of them to only loose Dowd. I know everybody loves Lewis as I do. Always see people talking about DeanO's love for him. But no way in hell does he get protected.

Even if Dowd is left unprotected, my guess is that Vegas takes McNabb. The reason being is that Dowd produces but not a whole hell of a lot. He's a nice player but there will be a lot of centerman to choose from and a punishing defenseman like McNabb will be less available who can play 20 min a night.

Off topic. Is Scuderi skating/playing anywhere? Or basically has he retired but since the Kings are paying almost none of his salary they are ok with keeping him in the press box or on some AHL roster even if he does not report/play. I know he played 3 games with the Reign. But I think that was early in the year.

Off topic. Is Scuderi skating/playing anywhere? Or basically has he retired but since the Kings are paying almost none of his salary they are ok with keeping him in the press box or on some AHL roster even if he does not report/play. I know he played 3 games with the Reign. But I think that was early in the year.
- -Doh-

Thats a good question. I legit forgot all about Scuds. For some reason I thought he was aiding in coaching somehow. But I dont actually know. Hes still listed online as a Reign player.

Off topic. Is Scuderi skating/playing anywhere? Or basically has he retired but since the Kings are paying almost none of his salary they are ok with keeping him in the press box or on some AHL roster even if he does not report/play. I know he played 3 games with the Reign. But I think that was early in the year.
- -Doh-

Scuderi just played a recent game against the Gulls or sone thing but overall they are letting him skip practice and collect his paycheck aso they are coddling him so he can go out in style. He's played 2 AHL games so far so he is pretty much done after this season IMHO.

Scuderi just played a recent game against the Gulls or sone thing but overall they are letting him skip practice and collect his paycheck aso they are coddling him so he can go out in style. He's played 2 AHL games so far so he is pretty much done after this season IMHO.
- verwustung

And I thought the Kings are paying him something?

Scuderi just played a recent game against the Gulls or sone thing but overall they are letting him skip practice and collect his paycheck aso they are coddling him so he can go out in style. He's played 2 AHL games so far so he is pretty much done after this season IMHO.
- verwustung

\\

Well good for him. He played a long time and deserves to go out on his own terms. Of course I would not mind him retiring and the Hawks getting a little extra cap space. That is probably a motivation for the Kings to not force him to play in the AHL or retire. They do not want to help the Hawks cap situation.

And I thought the Kings are paying him something?
- Stu17

I think they pay about $150,000 of his salary. The Hawks and Pens pay the rest.

The Kings are extremely thin at the forward position for years to come and Dowd has proven to be an NHL center man as of right now.
- KINGS67

you have to protect dowd with little depth up front.
- hiway39

The other side of this argument though is that Dowd is not the youngest and 3rd line centers are not the hardest thing to find in free agency. But since we leave one of Mcnabb/Forbort unprotected no matter what, I think we make sure D is what they pick. I'm a Mcnabb defender and Forbort has only looked solid for a short time, but I guess I have to hope they pick Mcnabb.
- CrownedKing

While the Kings aren't stacked up front for years to come, decent forwards, as CrownedKing points out, are usually easier to come by than good defenders. So that's why I voted for McNabb, besides being a fan of his overall game.

I'm afraid the Knights will take Forbort over McNabb.
- Regulate

Based on the reputation of the two players, it's hard to believe Vegas would do that if they had the choice. But Forbort's profile has been growing recently.

You cant teach that stuff and hopefully he gets a little more physical (and for his size he's plenty physical) and manages to stay healthy, too.
- Stu17

At 26, hard to see Dowd getting much stronger. He has also said that he prefers playing lighter. I think he may always be outmuscled by the Kesler-types, he'll have to outsmart them.

Why would any team, even an expansion team, take Brown off our hands? Not going to happen.
- Stu17

Well, they will have a salary floor haha. But you're probably right!

This is too easy:

7 F = Kopitar, Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Dowd, Auger and Mersch or Lewis (coin flip).

3 D = DD, Amart, Forbort

G = Quick

You have to gamble a bit here, other teams are going to expose players and the new teams staff may have their eyes on the 20 they want already and it may or may not include 1 or 2 kings.

worst case scenario we lose Brown Gaborik Muzz and McNaab
- MikeOxbyg

The Kings will lose only one player in the Expansion Draft. Vegas will pick one player from each team.

As of right now, there's no reason to protect Auger and probably Mersch. Vegas won't use their one "Kings pick" on a still-developing project like Auger. Mersch, maybe, depends on how much they like him. One of their pro scouts, Vaclav Nedomansky, lives in the area and was at a number of Reign games last year (before he was hired by Vegas), so I'm sure he has a strong opinion about many Kings/Reign players.

Mcnabb is a 1.7 cap hit, Forbert 650 K, no brainer, Kings need to shed $$ they will be giving raises to Toffoli and Pearson.
- fsanford

McNabb has proven more than Forbort has. He's proven that he can capably hang as Doughty's partner for a full season, rather than just a month so far. He's also a lot more physical than Forbort and has more offensive skill (not that we've seen much in the NHL so far, but compare his 102pts in 154gms in the AHL to Forbert's 43pts in 187gms). He's also only a year older, so we shouldn't get too enamored with the idea of going with "young blood." I think that it'd be unwise to protect Forbort over McNabb. Gaining only $1M in cap and getting only one year younger isn't worth the trade-off.
- Osprey

Agree with Osprey here, while the Kings will be cap-strapped, the million that you save for Forbort not likely worth it. And at this point, McNabb is better than Forbort. But it looks like Forbort, with McNabb's continued absence, will get at least another month to audition for a job next year.

I can't imagine a world in which Deano parts with Lewis.
- jmsalsa

Hey, good to see you here, Joel! I think Dean will probably be forced to take the chance and expose Lewis. Losing, say, McNabb for Lewis just doesn't make sense.

And while Lewis doesn't own the highest upside, which is what you commonly associate with Expansion Draft picks, Vegas will need leadership from somewhere and for a reasonable price. I'd guess they look at McNabb, Dowd, and probably Forbort before Lewis.

He's a nice player but there will be a lot of centerman to choose from and a punishing defenseman like McNabb will be less available who can play 20 min a night.
- verwustung

Yea, if it comes down to McNabb or Dowd, I think Vegas takes the defenseman. Same goes for the Kings too, regarding who they protect.

I would hate to loose him at this point. Same for Dowd. This is a very scarey time. Nobody put thought into this before. All the thought was, Lets pray they take Browns contract for us. I don't see any clear win/win in any list of protections outside of the obvious Kopi, Carts, Toff, Pearson, Doughty, Muzzing and Amart.
- poisondhearts37

Well, good thing that the Kings have been thinking about it. I imagine that's why, for example, the Kings signed Zatkoff to a two-year deal. But yea, the Kings look set to lose a decent player.

I think they pay about $150,000 of his salary. The Hawks and Pens pay the rest.
- -Doh-

The Kings, Hawks, and Pens are each paying about a third of Scuderi's last contract year (3.375 mil). LA is burying Scuderi in the AHL to save on the cap hit -- they still have to physically pay him -- and the hit comes out to about $180K.

Thanks for addressing everything Sheng!

Thanks for addressing everything Sheng!
- Stu17

Thanks, I try!