Sheng Peng: How Can Chris Lee Help Kings? Why a 36-year-old blueliner who's never played an NHL game can help a moribund attack.

Im just glad to see LA take a low risk for potential higher rewards in regards to scoring. Sad to see we can never land or be in the conversation for these college free agents.

A PTO. It doesn't hurt, but I doubt from the reports he can play NHL defense. That seems to be the knock. Sounds like he is not interested in the AHL either, so it's the Kings or bust. A long-shot for sure.

good 7 man to keep in the rotation, just hard to find the right guy to pair him up with in 5 on 5 play. also, it has the potential to reduce usage of Ladue or Gravel.

Im just glad to see LA take a low risk for potential higher rewards in regards to scoring. Sad to see we can never land or be in the conversation for these college free agents.

cal petersen was a pretty key college fa signee at a position of serious need, altho if all goes well with quick this season, we won't see the benefits for a while...which is a good thing.

Besides his age, that's probably the biggest concern about the 5'11" camp invitee. He's a willing defender, but can be bullied down-low, among other things. He's certainly a skater who lives off his skills and smarts.

But if Lee can manage to give Los Angeles solid bottom-pairing minutes and spark the power play, Rob Blake will be thrilled.

i guess the knock on that is does it prevent further development for guys like forbort, ladue, and gravel? i could see the pairs like (L-R):

Muzzin-Doughty
Forbort - Martinez
Gravel - LaDue

so if lee makes the team, that means someone like gravel or forbort has to sit, in a season where all signs points to the team needing to give those guys more time. not sure what the right answer is (if lee is good, then so be it) but we'll see how it plays out in camp.

Interesting signing! He'll be playing his heart out and giving them his all I'm sure! If he can play in the bottom pairing? Or 7th dman?..low risk high reward! dman depth is a great thing to have!

cal petersen was a pretty key college fa signee at a position of serious need, altho if all goes well with quick this season, we won't see the benefits for a while...which is a good thing.



i guess the knock on that is does it prevent further development for guys like forbort, ladue, and gravel? i could see the pairs like (L-R):

Muzzin-Doughty
Forbort - Martinez
Gravel - LaDue

so if lee makes the team, that means someone like gravel or forbort has to sit, in a season where all signs points to the team needing to give those guys more time. not sure what the right answer is (if lee is good, then so be it) but we'll see how it plays out in camp.
- hiway39

Great points! But ya if the kids outplay him then they'll be with the big club! But it's never a bad thing to let dman to develop and prosper in the AHL /minor leagues!

cal petersen was a pretty key college fa signee at a position of serious need, altho if all goes well with quick this season, we won't see the benefits for a while...which is a good thing.



i guess the knock on that is does it prevent further development for guys like forbort, ladue, and gravel? i could see the pairs like (L-R):

Muzzin-Doughty
Forbort - Martinez
Gravel - LaDue

so if lee makes the team, that means someone like gravel or forbort has to sit, in a season where all signs points to the team needing to give those guys more time. not sure what the right answer is (if lee is good, then so be it) but we'll see how it plays out in camp.
- hiway39

Great signing! An amazing kid..have all the tools and size to become an nhl goaltender! And the kings organization has produced some great ones!

i guess the knock on that is does it prevent further development for guys like forbort, ladue, and gravel? i could see the pairs like (L-R):

Muzzin-Doughty
Forbort - Martinez
Gravel - LaDue

so if lee makes the team, that means someone like gravel or forbort has to sit, in a season where all signs points to the team needing to give those guys more time. not sure what the right answer is (if lee is good, then so be it) but we'll see how it plays out in camp.
- hiway39

If anything he would be a 7th dman unless he is amazing during training camp or one of the kids just doesn't impress. He is pretty much going to the new McBain. It would be better to let him be the 7th guy instead of him being a 6th and taking a kids spot or even taking an AHLers spot, which like said above he doesn't seem to want to do. So let him sit until one of the kids has a bad game or someone has a minor injury.

If anything he would be a 7th dman unless he is amazing during training camp or one of the kids just doesn't impress. He is pretty much going to the new McBain. It would be better to let him be the 7th guy instead of him being a 6th and taking a kids spot or even taking an AHLers spot, which like said above he doesn't seem to want to do. So let him sit until one of the kids has a bad game or someone has a minor injury.
- LAkings96

mcbain i thought was actually better than his usage by sutter indicated. plus he was a right hand shot.

but good point, there are far worse 7th d options to go with. and given its the pre-season, gotta fill the roster for split squad games somehow.

Sheng, this is the first blog of yours that I've had serious issue with. 36 is not "advanced age"

I agree, McBain was overlooked as a solid 3rd pairing right IMO.

I'm torn, because I want to root for him to make the team. But I also want Gravel and LaDue to make the top 6 and be regulars. And I'm intrigued by Folin, especially as a righty. And I'm even excited for Fantenberg. The only one I'm not excited about is Forbort, he had some moments of growth but a lot of moments where he wasn't excelling.

I'm torn, because I want to root for him to make the team. But I also want Gravel and LaDue to make the top 6 and be regulars. And I'm intrigued by Folin, especially as a righty. And I'm even excited for Fantenberg. The only one I'm not excited about is Forbort, he had some moments of growth but a lot of moments where he wasn't excelling.
- CrownedKing

What if Gravel, Ladue, Forbot and Lee are all good enough it opens the door for one of Muzzin or Amart to be traded for a Legit younger scorer or to simply move out a Gaborik contract?

What if Gravel, Ladue, Forbot and Lee are all good enough it opens the door for one of Muzzin or Amart to be traded for a Legit younger scorer or to simply move out a Gaborik contract?
- poisondhearts37

maybe later in the season, but i dont see how blake could roll early on with trading 6 or 27 and entrust the back end to 4 pretty green players...

Sad to see we can never land or be in the conversation for these college free agents.
- poisondhearts37

Blake and company have changed this during the summer, signing Iafallo and Petersen, and being in the hunt for Butcher and Pionk.

Sheng, this is the first blog of yours that I've had serious issue with. 36 is not "advanced age"
- Osprey

Haha if only hockey reflected real life. Then Marian Gaborik would still be a young man!

He is pretty much going to the new McBain.
- LAkings96

I see Lee sharing a lot of McBain's defensive deficiencies, but Lee is much better offensively.

And I'm even excited for Fantenberg.
- CrownedKing

From what I've seen, Lee is better than Fantenberg. Fantenberg has a contract because he's younger and willing to play in the AHL, but if they were the same age, there would probably be no comparison between the two.

Blake and company have changed this during the summer, signing Iafallo and Petersen, and being in the hunt for Butcher and Pionk.

- Sheng.Peng

i found it surprising that LAK was in the final grouping for butcher, given they seem to have more young left hand d than they know what to do with already.