Sheng Peng: Kings Sign Shore; Greg Balloch on Matt Villalta My thoughts about re-signing Nick Shore + Greg Balloch fills us in on Matt Villalta

Nice write up on Shore, and nice intel gather on Villalta.

So Shore, Dowd, Weal, Mersch etc..all put up great numbers leading Manchester to it's championship. So was it Sutter's defensive scheme that suppressed those numbers? Will the new coaching staff get more offense from these Guy's ?

So Shore, Dowd, Weal, Mersch etc..all put up great numbers leading Manchester to it's championship. So was it Sutter's defensive scheme that suppressed those numbers? Will the new coaching staff get more offense from these Guy's ?
- wrister

Shore will likely always be a 4ht liner. But Sutters systems def kills the creativity that players once had. Im just hoping these guys can find it again.

So Shore, Dowd, Weal, Mersch etc..all put up great numbers leading Manchester to it's championship. So was it Sutter's defensive scheme that suppressed those numbers? Will the new coaching staff get more offense from these Guy's ?
- wrister

Manchester played the same system (the "Sutter defensive scheme")--that's the organization's intent, to have the same system in the AHL as the NHL, to prepare the kids--so it's not like they got up to the NHL and were faced with and held back by a system that they weren't used to. Nothing is likely to change with the new coaching staff, especially one that'll have as much in common with Sutter's system as Stothers' did. Shore, Dowd and Mersch are simply good AHLers who are unlikely to be anything more than unremarkable bottom-6ers at the NHL level. Those guys have gotten overrated because they were/are the best of a poor prospect pool and happened to win an AHL championship, but being good at one level doesn't mean that you're good enough to take that success to the next level.

Manchester played the same system (the "Sutter defensive scheme")--that's the organization's intent, to have the same system in the AHL as the NHL, to prepare the kids--so it's not like they got up to the NHL and were faced with and held back by a system that they weren't used to.
- Osprey

Essentially this.

I mean, the system doesn't help -- if you're playing a constrictive system and your competition is way more difficult to simply overwhelming in the NHL, it can be difficult to gain your own confidence and the trust of your coach (see Weal in his brief cup of coffee in LA). But it's not just the system. It's a combination of "not being good enough" to some degree (at the time of the call-up) and the coach not being as willing to let the kids learn from their mistakes.

Actually, if memory serves me right, Sutter's system seemed to do a good job of separating the wheat from the chaff. The youngsters who survived it, like Toffoli, Pearson, Martinez, and Muzzin, grew to be regarded, for the most part, as responsible two-way producers. Touted guys like Loktionov and Vey may never have been full-time NHL material to begin with and Sutter seemed to identify that. The only kid, as of now, who looks like LA dumped too early (who actually played for Sutter) is Weal.

Yeah, I excluded Weal on purpose because it seems like he's the one of those four with the most potential to be something at the NHL level. It's bizarre how the one with the most potential was discarded after only 10 games, but those others are worse and still in the organization. I guess that Weal simply didn't have the type of game that Sutter appreciated, so there could be something to Sutter holding him back. Unfortunately, the one guy who might've benefited from Sutter's firing was discarded before it even happened and the players who are left (Shore, Dowd and Mersch) are ones that I doubt will benefit nearly as much from a coaching change.

Yeah, I excluded Weal on purpose because it seems like he's the one of those four with the most potential to be something at the NHL level. It's bizarre how the one with the most potential was discarded after only 10 games, but those others are worse and still in the organization. I guess that Weal simply didn't have the type of game that Sutter appreciated, so there could be something to Sutter holding him back. Unfortunately, the one guy who might've benefited from Sutter's firing was discarded before it even happened and the players who are left (Shore, Dowd and Mersch) are ones that I doubt will benefit nearly as much from a coaching change.
- Osprey

I think there is something to be said about where Sutter played the kids as well. It was rare if ever that a player who was top line in the AHL was then given significant top 6 minutes in the NHL. When you come up and play with Nolan, Andreoff, Clifford, King you have to be the player making plays and making space. Those other guys will forecheck but not a lot more. That's a very tough ask.

It was refreshing to see Kempe get at least a little time playing with top players, and Dowd has shown the skill set to make things happen with good players. To Sutter's credit he played Dowd on the 2nd PP unit, but he also benched Dowd A LOT when we badly needed offense.

Dowd has shown the skill set to make things happen with good players. To Sutter's credit he played Dowd on the 2nd PP unit, but he also benched Dowd A LOT when we badly needed offense.
- ColoTim

Yea, while Dowd is older, which caps his upside, I'm more hopeful that he can take a step forward than Shore this season. LA's plans to try to attack the high-danger areas more fits Dowd's playmaking profile -- he has some daring to his game and can attack that area successfully if given the green light. Oddly enough, it was his defensive game that faltered more than anything and kept him from earning bigger minutes.

Whats everyone's opinion on Muzzin? Bounceback year? Trying to plan my draft for my fantasy teams and I was looking at Muzzin.

Whats everyone's opinion on Muzzin? Bounceback year? Trying to plan my draft for my fantasy teams and I was looking at Muzzin.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

The entire team was a poop show.

Everyone expects multiple players to bounce back. He is no different.

Pierre Turgeon

Pierre Turgeon
- KINGS67

I'm actually excited about LA picking him up. I also like the idea of having devoted 'offensive coordinator' on staff.

Re: Weal

That was a mistake giving him up. I view him like another "Versteeg", but I think he would have fit nicely into this new regime with time and patience. Total blown call by the last group. Rant off.

Yea, while Dowd is older, which caps his upside, I'm more hopeful that he can take a step forward than Shore this season. LA's plans to try to attack the high-danger areas more fits Dowd's playmaking profile -- he has some daring to his game and can attack that area successfully if given the green light. Oddly enough, it was his defensive game that faltered more than anything and kept him from earning bigger minutes.
- Sheng.Peng

I think Shore is setting up to be a very solid and responsible 4th line center, and that his offense won't ever follow from the AHL. But its important to point out that he outscored Dowd at 5v5. If Shore had Dowd's minutes (ie better wingers and PP time) would he have exceeded Dowd's production? I like both of them, and I don't contest that Dowd is more creative, but I think what Shore does considering who's he with and the minutes he gets was under-rated this past season. They both have to prove it this year, because next season Amadio will be knocking, Kempe can play C, you might even have Vilardi and JAD competing, not to mention that without upgrades in play we would at least have to consider bringing in a FA option.