Kings Article: Sean Walker’s Stock with the LA Kings is Rising Faster, Higher Than Expected
- Thread starter FrozenRoyalty
- Start date
BringTheReign
Registered User
BallPointHammer
Los Angeles Kings - We're Back!
Thank you for the article FR. It's nice to see one of the young guys stepping up and making a name for himself during a disappointing season. Also, nice to see the system is working as in signing college free agents and developing them the right way.
Raccoon Jesus
Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Thought this was an interesting piece re: philosophy beyond Walker too:
"“At that age, for some kids, you have to plug’em into the wall to get’em going,” Futa noted. “For others, you have to pull’em back. Part of what has made [Walker] effective is that willingness to jump up into the play and be involved and understand that sometimes, it’s not going to go great the other way. But talking to Blakey the other day, moving forward, we want to be a team that takes those chances to score goals and outscore teams rather than try to sit on a one-goal lead and try to be safe all the time. We want to be more industrious that way.”"
I'm definitely rooting for Walker. He's got an interesting skillset vs. the rest of our current prospects. I know he's a work in progress and I hope he figures it out because right now he's Randy Jones in the d-zone. Edit: and 17 points in 22 games is real nice AHL production!
"“At that age, for some kids, you have to plug’em into the wall to get’em going,” Futa noted. “For others, you have to pull’em back. Part of what has made [Walker] effective is that willingness to jump up into the play and be involved and understand that sometimes, it’s not going to go great the other way. But talking to Blakey the other day, moving forward, we want to be a team that takes those chances to score goals and outscore teams rather than try to sit on a one-goal lead and try to be safe all the time. We want to be more industrious that way.”"
I'm definitely rooting for Walker. He's got an interesting skillset vs. the rest of our current prospects. I know he's a work in progress and I hope he figures it out because right now he's Randy Jones in the d-zone. Edit: and 17 points in 22 games is real nice AHL production!
DoktorJeep
Winners of the Offseason
The author calls Walker one of the top, undrafted college prospects.
Walker is turning 25 at the end of the year, so I think he’s past the age he can be called a prospect, which IMO is roughly 23 years old max.
I think he and a lot of other guys like him in the Kings AHL team are more like projects than prospects. And projects can work out, if the player has talent and gets ice time in the right role. Look at Iafallo as the perfect example.
And then you have a guy like Forbort, who has been a multi year project, handed ice time for no real objective reasons but was treated like a prospect because of bad drafting.
Walker is turning 25 at the end of the year, so I think he’s past the age he can be called a prospect, which IMO is roughly 23 years old max.
I think he and a lot of other guys like him in the Kings AHL team are more like projects than prospects. And projects can work out, if the player has talent and gets ice time in the right role. Look at Iafallo as the perfect example.
And then you have a guy like Forbort, who has been a multi year project, handed ice time for no real objective reasons but was treated like a prospect because of bad drafting.
tny760
Registered User
- Mar 12, 2017
- 19,711
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then they better change the play style to constantly activating defensemen the way nashville et al do, cause right now it's a once in a blue moon type of thing
walker suits that role since he's not lighting the world on fire with his defensive play, but i certainly hope that message got through to coaching as well
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
Now we know who the guy who voted for Yanni Gourde over Mathew Barzal in Calder Trophy voting will be nominating for #1 in his Calder ballot this year
lumbergh
It was an idea. I didn't say it was a good idea.
Meh. He passes the eye test okay, but it's not as if he's blowing the doors off the place. 3 points in 19 games is not all that impressive for an offensive defenseman, and he's a -6. A lot of that has to do with playing next to Phaneuf, but still, not all that impressive to me so far.
lumbergh
It was an idea. I didn't say it was a good idea.
A reminder how good Muzzin has been over the past 6 season. He just makes almost everyone he plays with look good. Except Martinez.
FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
Most prospects get a chance to turn pro at 20-21. If they're really good, 18-19, but that's rare. College kids often stay in school until age 22, so it's really not uncommon for them to still be prospects a few years later.
FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
You pointed out the problem with your assessment. Only 19 games in the NHL. What are you expecting in such a small sample size?
FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
Now we know who the guy who voted for Yanni Gourde over Mathew Barzal in Calder Trophy voting will be nominating for #1 in his Calder ballot this year
*yawn*
King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
- 21,967
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Good article, thanks Gann!
I rarely get excited about offensive defensemen at the pro level, especially on the Kings, but I'm pulling for him!
I rarely get excited about offensive defensemen at the pro level, especially on the Kings, but I'm pulling for him!
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
Ah, so you were asleep when you submitted your vote! FYI, Barzal has as many assists as Gourde has points this season, and his team is first in the division. Care to defend that vote or will you admit you made a silly mistake in your selection?
