Jason Lewis: Would the Kings Consider Playing Nic Dowd at 2C?

Not until Jeff Carter regresses.
3c is more likely. Kopitar has 1C locked. I do not see a reasonable reason to demote Carter or move him to wing.

Dowd is highly underrated by Kings fans who have not seen a lot of his play. The wildcard is Sutter. While he bury him if Dowd makes a risky pass that leads to an opposition chance, or let him play and see what he can do. An excellent penalty killer and face-off man too. He was the Reign's Kopitar last season. They will miss him. Let's hope Sutter uses him wisely. He is a good hockey player.

If they want to throw in the towel on the season, they would put him at 2C. Frankly, it speaks to the sorry state that the pipeline is in when he's "one of the more exciting prospects coming up." Fans are going to pump their prospects' tires, but a 26-year-old who still can't score 20 goals or a point per game against mostly younger players at the AHL level, with the obscene ice-time that he's gotten down there, probably isn't worth the air. That doesn't mean that he can't carve out some sort of NHL career, but chances are extremely low that it'll be noteworthy. It's best not to get your hopes up.

If they want to throw in the towel on the season, they would put him at 2C. Frankly, it speaks to the sorry state that the pipeline is in when he's "one of the more exciting prospects coming up." Fans are going to pump their prospects' tires, but a 26-year-old who still can't score 20 goals or a point per game against mostly younger players at the AHL level, with the obscene ice-time that he's gotten down there, probably isn't worth the air. That doesn't mean that he can't carve out some sort of NHL career, but chances are extremely low that it'll be noteworthy. It's best not to get your hopes up.
- Osprey

I take it you've never watched Dowd or the Ontario Reign play.

Mind you, Dowd scored at a .83 PPG pace this year, which was tied for the team lead. He plays a full 200-foot game. He plays all-situations. He plays in a structure that does not promote offensive hockey, but still managed to score at a decent clip.

I'm surprised that you of all people, Osprey, would take a statistical approach!

Mind you, Dowd scored at a .83 PPG pace this year, which was tied for the team lead. He plays a full 200-foot game. He plays all-situations. He plays in a structure that does not promote offensive hockey, but still managed to score at a decent clip.
- Jason_Lewis

It's not entirely unimpressive, but it doesn't mean that it'll translate to the NHL. The AHL is filled with older players who are productive, disciplined and trustworthy, but just couldn't manage to translate even half of their AHL success to the NHL. If he were 20 years old, doing all of this, that would be very impressive and something to potentially get excited about, but he's 26. I hate to be the "age-ist," but you're mostly developed by 26 and the number of players who go this long before sniffing the majors and then take it up another level to be impact players there is extremely small. He might well carve out a career in the NHL as a bottom-6 player, and that wouldn't be so bad at all, but you opened the topic explicitly on his top-6 potential, so that's what I was responding to.

would the kings sign vermette????

Another Debbie Downer comment. Do you real8ze what JL does right? He covers the upcoming talent for the kings for different media outlets. He knows way more about prospects than you and with that said you come across offensive. JL is way too nice to you. BTW i would guess from your responses that you do not track ontario, they have won the Calder cup year before last and then went to the finals last year in defence of thier title of AHL champs. What does that say for the pipeline? Wah, wah ,wah

I might have missed it in the body of the story: How is Dowd on face-offs?

Sutter will be the biggest inhibitor to Dowd getting any regular time let alone a spot on the 2nd line. I hope he develops, though. Our center depth used to be our strength.

I might have missed it in the body of the story: How is Dowd on face-offs?

Sutter will be the biggest inhibitor to Dowd getting any regular time let alone a spot on the 2nd line. I hope he develops, though. Our center depth used to be our strength.
- Only_A_Ladd

Very good. Sheng Peng of JFTC tracked them this year and last I saw he sat at 55% on the season.

would the kings sign vermette????
- KingsFan30

Too old, not useful anymore, and would take playing time away from player who could use it to develop AKA Dowd/Shore/Andreoff

would the kings sign vermette????
- KingsFan30

I think that Lombardi will take a look at it and what he wants, contract-wise. If he's willing to do a 1-year deal for much less than he was making, it could work. I'm sure that Lombardi can't be happy with the team's center depth. It's risky enough trusting the 3C spot to Shore/Dowd, but an injury to Kopitar or Carter, even for a short amount of time, could put the season in jeopardy. Also an area of weakness for the team is faceoffs, and, based on last season's 55.8% rate (and his 56% the year before), Vermette would instantly become the best faceoff man on the team (Kopitar led with 53.5% last season). Add to that his ability to contribute on the powerplay (his 16pts last year would've been 3rd-most on the Kings) and he'd be a useful pickup, much like Lecavalier last season, IMO.

I appreciate this topic.
*As an aside, I would avoid Vermette. He is pretty much only useful on powerplay now; he could help a competitive team needing a veteran to mesh with young talent (Florida?), but our talent is our veterans and the role Vermette would occupy would be to the detriment of the youth movement.

Onto Dowd: I sincerely hope him and Shore start the season as our bottom 6 centers, but my gut says that is not how Sutter will play it. I agree Dowd looked more comfortable, more creative, and more potent than Shore (and I'm one of Shore's few defenders), Dowd deserves the shot. Shore is a proven defensive center and break out player, a safe 4c to cover the likely bruising wingers he'll have.

I can't figure out what to do with our line up, but maybe something like:
King-Kopi-Gabo
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Lewis-Dowd-Purcell
Clifford-Shore-Brown

I dislike King on 1c as much as anyone, but it just seems right having a big body with Kopi. Mersch is still not NHL proven, still can't skate good enough, and given that he can go down to AHL (right?) is a safer move than passing someone else through waivers. Dowd gets a sniper-type and an energy type as his wings, Brown gets to be physical and take all the shots on his line because his linemates can't shoot.

Thanks for touching on this topic Jason keep up the good work..
Every situation is different when it comes to a players development.. Dowd is a late bloomer and I have a feeling/hope he'll thrive in the nhl some of you hockeybuzzers are ridiculous with your comments when your not even a Kings fan


I'd stick Dowd with King which is much like having mersch on his wing like he did in the A and maybe Purcell

Wonder what happens with Brown

Nice write-up. I am excited that Nic Dowd will get a shot to make the Kings roster this year. And I think he will be a nice addition.
He sees the ice well, has great hands, decent skater, good playmaker and probably more important he was a true leader on that Reign team.
I have know Nic since he lived in Huntsville AL. Time will tell if you got a great player but I know you got a great person.

Nice write-up. I am excited that Nic Dowd will get a shot to make the Kings roster this year. And I think he will be a nice addition.
He sees the ice well, has great hands, decent skater, good playmaker and probably more important he was a true leader on that Reign team.
I have know Nic since he lived in Huntsville AL. Time will tell if you got a great player but I know you got a great person.
- wrister

Nice

Wonder what happens with Brown
- Jmoogs