We continue our run of knocking these bad boys out (Holy cow did September get here fast...), and
if you missed the last one on Jordan Nolan take a look.
Tanner Pearson #70
Age: 22
Contract Status: ELC $735K through 2014-15 (RFA)
Stats:
Other stats
Shooting %: 7.5
Points per game (Playoff/Reg.): 0.50/0.28
Corsi on: 11.96
Corsi relative: -0.4
QoC relative: -.347
His season:
Boy did this guy flip the mother of all switches from regular season to postseason. I don’t think anyone his kick down a door and screamed his presence this hard since Jack Torrance in The Shining.
Pearson, by all accounts, looked like a rookie during the regular season. He had flashes of solid play, but overall was tentative in his play. He did, however, come much as advertised. He is a hard-working winger, a full 200-foot player, and will make up for his lack of offensive talent with grit, tenacity, and intelligence. He is more than just a third line grinder, but not quite a top-line scoring threat. That was pretty much what he looked like at a very very basic and young stage during the regular season.
What happened between the regular season and playoffs is beyond me, but once the Kings paired up he and Tyler Toffoli between Jeff Carter all hell broke loose. Pearson’s coming out party came at the perfect time for the Kings, as his 12 point post-season led them on to a cup. In particular his play in the Chicago series was ultimately a major reason why the Kings were able to take that series in seven games. Pearson had six points and two goals in that series and his line has no doubt haunted the dreams of many a Chicago fan and player since. The speed in which Pearson brought to the table changed the scope of the later stages of the Sharks series and the Chicago series. Pearson was always considered a plus skater, but the way he utilized it against NHL defenseman was thoroughly impressive in my book.
While Pearson still has a somewhat limited upside in terms of offensive production, he definitely showed the potential to be a grinding second liner who could touch the realm of 40-50 points in the right circumstances. Looking at his playoff pace alone he would be a 40 point player in a regular season. This is all coming out of a rookie who is just 22 years old. These are all very good things if you are a Kings fan. Pearson put on a solid display of talent, and was never really a risk while on the ice. That’s something that was exemplified by Sutter and staff, as they had Pearson out to kill penalties and also take shifts late in the game. Where is all that talk about Sutter being hard on young players eh Calgary fans? No question he had his growing pains this year, and he looked rather ineffective in his first call up when he was overshadowed by the play of Toffoli and Pearson. That was all a thing in the past though come June when he scored some huge goals, and was a major cog in the Kings cup run.
Moving forward
The sky is the limit for Pearson at this point. His ELC expires after this season and he definitely announced himself in the postseason. Now the challenge is to do it in the regular season and continue to take steps forward in his development. He still has a limited upside, but he figures to be a top-9 contributor with the Kings from this season forward. His roster spot was well earned, but now he has to keep it. The Kings very much score by committee, and they need Pearson to be a part of that committee on a regular basis. The wing group with the Kings is very fluid, and he may find himself on the fourth or the first depending on how Darryl Sutter feels. He best be prepared for that.
He is at the very basic stage of his development, and at this point should not be concerned with being an AHL player anymore. Pearson has a bright future ahead of him, now it just comes down to where he will settle in with the Kings. If he can play anything like post-season Pearson we are looking at the beginning of a very solid career. Mind you, this kid was a former first round selection in a pretty loaded 2012 Entry draft. His ceiling could be much higher than anticipated. Start to very good things for young Tanner Pearson.
Final Grade: B+
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