Ben Shelley: Weekly Recap: Kings Edition (January 24)

I don't like Lizotte centering the 2nd line, between two goal scorers, while Vilardi centers the 3rd. Lizotte is not the future of this team or a future top-6 player; Vilardi is. Vilardi should be given the best chance to succeed, not handcuffed with Andersson and Brown to try to make the 3rd better, or whatever McLellan's strategy is.

Edit: ...and Vilardi scores on a pass from Brown. Figures...

I don't like Lizotte centering the 2nd line, between two goal scorers, while Vilardi centers the 3rd. Lizotte is not the future of this team or a future top-6 player; Vilardi is. Vilardi should be given the best chance to succeed, not handcuffed with Andersson and Brown to try to make the 3rd better, or whatever McLellan's strategy is.

Edit: ...and Vilardi scores on a pass from Brown. Figures...
- Osprey

I agree. I think Vilardi should definitely center the second line. However, he is building some chemistry with Lias. When Turcotte and Frk are healthy I could see brown moving even farther down to the fourth line and our top three lines having some real speed and skill.

Iafallo- Kopi - Kempe
AA - Vilardi- Carter
Lias A - Turcotte - Frk
Moore - Lizzo- Brown

Maybe switch Frk and Carter so Turcotte has a Vet to play with but I think I’d like that set up quite a bit. Anyways, sorry for the ramble. In short, I agree with you.

I think that Turcotte will go to Ontario, where he really belongs this season. He's never played pro hockey, remember. I doubt that he'll get more than a cup of coffee. Maybe they'll give him just a taste before they send him down, like how junior players sometimes get them before being sent back, but I'm sure that he's pegged to be on the Reign this season and they're keeping him up for now mostly for the experience.

I agree. I think Vilardi should definitely center the second line. However, he is building some chemistry with Lias. When Turcotte and Frk are healthy I could see brown moving even farther down to the fourth line and our top three lines having some real speed and skill.

Iafallo- Kopi - Kempe
AA - Vilardi- Carter
Lias A - Turcotte - Frk
Moore - Lizzo- Brown

Maybe switch Frk and Carter so Turcotte has a Vet to play with but I think I’d like that set up quite a bit. Anyways, sorry for the ramble. In short, I agree with you.
- KingKopitar

The only problem with having Vilardi on the 2nd line is that the speed of AA and Carter are wasted. Vilardi skates like Luc Robitaille. If they can bring up Byfield for a handful of games (I don't think he will earn a full time spot this season), I'd like to see him on that line, as his skating is top-notch.

Once healthy, I'm looking forward to seeing the Kempe-Vilardi-Frk line reunited.

The only problem with having Vilardi on the 2nd line is that the speed of AA and Carter are wasted. Vilardi skates like Luc Robitaille. If they can bring up Byfield for a handful of games (I don't think he will earn a full time spot this season), I'd like to see him on that line, as his skating is top-notch.
- tkecanuck341

Most of the times that I've seen AA and Carter use their speed, Lizotte hasn't been anywhere to be seen, so I don't really think that it'd be wasted. I think that a lot more of their ability is wasted by being centered by Lizotte. He may have speed, but he doesn't have Vilardi's IQ, vision or ability to hold onto the puck.

BTW, something that you don't see every day is a Kings player leading the league in points (technically, tied, but with 1 less game played), so take a look while it lasts:

http://www.nhl.com/stats/

Most of the times that I've seen AA and Carter use their speed, Lizotte hasn't been anywhere to be seen, so I don't really think that it'd be wasted. I think that a lot more of their ability is wasted by being centered by Lizotte. He may have speed, but he doesn't have Vilardi's IQ, vision or ability to hold onto the puck.

BTW, something that you don't see every day is a Kings player leading the league in points (technically, tied, but with 1 less game played), so take a look while it lasts:

http://www.nhl.com/stats/
- Osprey

Yeah, it’s nice to see Kopi getting rewarded for his offensive play. As for Vilardi, I don’t think AA or Carter will suffer playing with him. But I could see the argument that keeping him on a separate line spreads the scoring out and allows him to maybe get his NHL feet under him against easier competition. With regards to Turcotte, or Byfield for that matter, I’m not sure either stays permanently with the club either but I do see Turcotte as having the best chance of doing so this year. And I don’t think he is staying for the experience, at least right now. He has been injured and, thus, unable to be sent down or assigned.