Top Shelf Prospects 2018 Los Angeles Kings

regulate

Registered User
Aug 19, 2007
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Definitely dont think Dergy is the Kings 10th best prospect by a long shot.

Some internal dissension on the Kings staff whether they even want to sign him or bring him over. Austin Wagner (even with all of the holes in his game) is a 100X more likely to see NHL ice someday than Dergachyov. Wagner, Hults, Roy, Walker and even Lintuniemi would be a better choice at #10 right now. Amadio is underrated still too. He will be an NHL regular in my book.
 

King'sPawn

Enjoy the chaos
Jul 1, 2003
21,813
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Some internal dissension on the Kings staff whether they even want to sign him or bring him over. Austin Wagner (even with all of the holes in his game) is a 100X more likely to see NHL ice someday than Dergachyov. Wagner, Hults, Roy, Walker and even Lintuniemi would be a better choice at #10 right now. Amadio is underrated still too. He will be an NHL regular in my book.

I agree. My list I posted on the main boards is (I am adding tiers to show how close some are):

1. Gabriel Vilardi (C)

2. Cal Petersen (G)
3. Kale Clague (D)
4. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C)

5. Rasmus Kupari (RW/C)
6. Daniel Brickley (D)
7. Mikey Anderson (D)
8. Akil Thomas (RW/C)

9. Bulat Shafigullin (RW/LW)
10. Austin Wagner (LW)

Keep in mind I did not consider Amadio a prospect and so I didn't list him.
 

kingsboy11

Maestro
Dec 14, 2011
11,516
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Pretty decent list. Some minor quibbles as I think Petersen is ahead of JAD and Thomas. I personally don't really consider Amadio a prospect anymore and as others have said we don't see Dergachev as a top 10 prospect. Maybe someone like Wagner in that spot.
 
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LastWordArmy

Registered User
Sep 11, 2011
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Pretty decent list. Some minor quibbles as I think Petersen is ahead of JAD and Thomas. I personally don't really consider Amadio a prospect anymore and as others have said we don't see Dergachev as a top 10 prospect. Maybe someone like Wagner in that spot.

In the intro, we mention that under 50 NHL games and under age 25 is a prospect.

Later, team prospect pools will be compared, so there needs to be a bright-line rule as to what qualifies and what does not. It is much easier to compare if there is an objective standard that applies to all teams. That is why Amadio is a prospect for this list.
 

Raccoon Jesus

Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Oct 30, 2008
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I agree. My list I posted on the main boards is (I am adding tiers to show how close some are):

1. Gabriel Vilardi (C)

2. Cal Petersen (G)
3. Kale Clague (D)
4. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C)

5. Rasmus Kupari (RW/C)
6. Daniel Brickley (D)
7. Mikey Anderson (D)
8. Akil Thomas (RW/C)

9. Bulat Shafigullin (RW/LW)
10. Austin Wagner (LW)

Keep in mind I did not consider Amadio a prospect and so I didn't list him.

I posted this two months ago I think here as well as on the main board, pretty close:

"1. Vilardi
2.Peterson
3.Clague
4. Kupari
5. JAD
6. Thomas
7. Brickley
8. Anderson
9. Shafigullin
10. Eyssimont

Also very eager to see what happens with Cole Hults, Austin Strand, Rymsha. "

Seems like I just gave an extra bump for wildcard 'ceilings', like I think JAD is going to be a solid middle sixer at least, where Kupari definitely more boom or bust but has some elite tools.

I'm actually higher on Dergachyov than most but time is running out to get him across because he's just flat out not developing over in Russia. I'm pretty sure Kings drafted him seeing him as a big (emphasis on big) ball of clay, sort of like a high-end Auger, but they haven't even had a chance to mold him.
 

Reaper45

Registered User
Jul 14, 2003
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Los Angeles
I posted this two months ago I think here as well as on the main board, pretty close:

"1. Vilardi
2.Peterson
3.Clague
4. Kupari
5. JAD
6. Thomas
7. Brickley
8. Anderson
9. Shafigullin
10. Eyssimont

Also very eager to see what happens with Cole Hults, Austin Strand, Rymsha. "

Seems like I just gave an extra bump for wildcard 'ceilings', like I think JAD is going to be a solid middle sixer at least, where Kupari definitely more boom or bust but has some elite tools.

I'm actually higher on Dergachyov than most but time is running out to get him across because he's just flat out not developing over in Russia. I'm pretty sure Kings drafted him seeing him as a big (emphasis on big) ball of clay, sort of like a high-end Auger, but they haven't even had a chance to mold him.
I think if they could've got him over here and maybe playing juniors he could've made it eventually as an NHLer, now I dont see it happening.
 

Sleestak Nation

Registered User
Jul 6, 2009
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Land of the Lost
I posted this two months ago I think here as well as on the main board, pretty close:

"1. Vilardi
2.Peterson
3.Clague
4. Kupari
5. JAD
6. Thomas
7. Brickley
8. Anderson
9. Shafigullin
10. Eyssimont
That is a very acceptable list 1 through 7, IMHO. Interesting that all seven have been drafted or signed later than 2016.
 

Omni Owl

Mar 9, 2008
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494
Man I forgot we had Clague, I'm looking forward to see how he turns out.

I wish Porky would leave the KHL and come play some hockey here.
 
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KingsOfCali25

Start up the Bandwagon!
Feb 21, 2013
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I know everyone likes Clague's skillset but I think he is going to be average in the NHL if he makes it. He is a smaller Dman that struggles with physical play. My hope is he turns to like a Nick Leddy and less so of a Thomas Hickey. How does everyone else see him turning out?

1: Vilardi (duh)
2: Peterson
3: JAD
4: Brickley
5: Clague
6: Kupari
7: Thomas
8: Shafigullin (would be higher up but don't think he comes to the NHL, kid has skills)
9: Anderson
10: Hults
 

Raccoon Jesus

Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Oct 30, 2008
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I know everyone likes Clague's skillset but I think he is going to be average in the NHL if he makes it. He is a smaller Dman that struggles with physical play. My hope is he turns to like a Nick Leddy and less so of a Thomas Hickey. How does everyone else see him turning out?

I'm right with you on Clague. He hasn't shown any signs of figuring out the dzone, even when dominant at the junior level. I trust our development staff, but it's like the defensive IQ isn't there. Leddy/Krug would be optimistic but I see him more as a #4 offensive specialist than a top-pairing offensive guy.
 

KingTrouty

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Jan 18, 2015
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I'm right with you on Clague. He hasn't shown any signs of figuring out the dzone, even when dominant at the junior level. I trust our development staff, but it's like the defensive IQ isn't there. Leddy/Krug would be optimistic but I see him more as a #4 offensive specialist than a top-pairing offensive guy.
Where are you getting this info/knowledge from, RJ? Serious question
 

Fishhead

Registered User
Jul 15, 2003
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I'm right with you on Clague. He hasn't shown any signs of figuring out the dzone, even when dominant at the junior level. I trust our development staff, but it's like the defensive IQ isn't there. Leddy/Krug would be optimistic but I see him more as a #4 offensive specialist than a top-pairing offensive guy.

He does get lost at times, and that's only going to get worse if he doesn't figure that out. How quickly he adjusts and reacts will be key for him. I think with his offensive instincts he could turn into something like a Yandle-lite. Solid offense, but struggles with the defensive side of things. Put Clague on a young, growing team where he gets top minutes, I could see him getting 35-40 points a season. Put him on a decent team with defensive structure (like the Kings), maybe 20-30 points.

We'll see what Stutts can do with him this year, how much progress he makes will be pretty telling given how he dominated juniors.
 

KingCanadain1976

Registered User
Jul 8, 2009
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Thunder Bay Ont. Can
I'm right with you on Clague. He hasn't shown any signs of figuring out the dzone, even when dominant at the junior level. I trust our development staff, but it's like the defensive IQ isn't there. Leddy/Krug would be optimistic but I see him more as a #4 offensive specialist than a top-pairing offensive guy.
I can't disagree more I have read several scouting reports and seen hilites of his play and his stick is always in the right spot to deaden passes in the defensive zone and makes great break out passes I see him playing with Drew as a top pairing defense man. Yes he may need some work in the defensive zone but he has shown the defensive awareness as much as any jr player i have seen. A year in the ahl and he should be just fine. I think most people are over rating a goalie prospect Clague is easily our 2nd best prospect behind Valardi and most will be surprised as i see him getting a call up near the deadline Allowing a trade of Muzzin or Marinez for a young scoring winger
 

KingTrouty

Allons!
Jan 18, 2015
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I'm right with you on Clague. He hasn't shown any signs of figuring out the dzone, even when dominant at the junior level. I trust our development staff, but it's like the defensive IQ isn't there. Leddy/Krug would be optimistic but I see him more as a #4 offensive specialist than a top-pairing offensive guy.
He does get lost at times, and that's only going to get worse if he doesn't figure that out. How quickly he adjusts and reacts will be key for him. I think with his offensive instincts he could turn into something like a Yandle-lite. Solid offense, but struggles with the defensive side of things. Put Clague on a young, growing team where he gets top minutes, I could see him getting 35-40 points a season. Put him on a decent team with defensive structure (like the Kings), maybe 20-30 points.

We'll see what Stutts can do with him this year, how much progress he makes will be pretty telling given how he dominated juniors.
Where is all this coming from? Did I miss some recent article(s), or have you guys been watching Clague?
 

Raccoon Jesus

Todd McLellan is an inside agent
Oct 30, 2008
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For me,it's just limited viewings--mostly against WJC and NHL competition--and scouting reports/limited highlights of juniors action. He's fast, he's phenomenal offensively and with the puck on his stick, and in a lot of ways he's the new-era puck-moving possession d-man, but just like the rest of those guys people are enamored with, they struggle with checking and tougher deployment. Obviously in juniors he's a big fish in a small pond and can cover up his own mistakes, but he was a train wreck at the WJC, and he couldn't handle anything defensively vs. NHLers. It takes more than a good stick to be a good NHL defender. I certainly think he'll grow and build tools with our development staff, I'm just not sure we can build his defensive brain.

I realize this is a bit of a contrarian opinion though. His highlights are great. But they don't' make much footage of his lowlights, which are unsettlingly frequent. He's high-event, like Colin Miller, Kevin Shattenkirk, and a whole slew of other guys who are good offensive NHLers that shouldn't be eating tough minutes.
 

Fishhead

Registered User
Jul 15, 2003
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Clague did struggle mightily at the WJC, but that's not the only reason I am suspect of his defensive abilities. A friend of mine is a huge juniors fan (primarily WHL), I use his info to log in and watch games occasionally, but I honestly haven't watched him more than 10 games so there's that. Clague was solid on the stacked Brandon team a few years ago, but as the team weakened he seemed to regress a bit. It could just be he was trying to do too much, but he was constantly out of position defensively (at least when I saw him) last year. Offensively he was always in the right spot, he just has that instinct. Defensively, he relies on his skating to make up for mistakes and catch guys, but that's not going to work once the opposition skates on his level. He's certainly well coached and his effort is never in question, though, so that's a plus.

His offensive instincts are NHL level right now, IMO, he really stands out with the puck. He'll have to reach a happy medium and reign (sorry) that in a bit in Ontario and learn to create when the situation presents itself.
 

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