The Kings have very few roster questions. Well, really, they only have one real roster question: Who will play on the fourth line?
It might pale in comparison to some other team's question marks heading into camp, but it is compelling nevertheless. Why? Because the two major figures trying to make the NHL Roster, Jordan Weal and Brian O'Neill, are not waiver exempt. Not making the roster out of camp may very well end their Kings career via waiver claim. That is being dramatic though, as the possibility of them passing through waivers without a claim is always possible. It seems a bit harder to imagine though given the outstanding AHL careers both have had. We are talking about last year's regular season MVP (O'Neill) and playoff MVP mind you (Weal).
We are just two games deep out of eight preseason games, and already both players are making their presence felt. Each man has registered three points in the two contests. Weal has scored twice and also added an assist. The one goal, an overtime game-winner against Arizona. On the opposite side, O'Neill has a goal and two assists so far.
Both are vying for a spot on the Kings fourth line and/or the 13th/14th forward spots. If you consider Kyle Clifford and Jordan Nolan locks for the roster already (which they pretty much are), that is three spots available for four or five competing players.
Brian O'Neill Jordan Weal Nick Shore Andy Andreoff
and maybe you could consider Michael Mersch an outside shot. However, his young status in the AHL and his waiver exemption more than likely place him in Ontario to commence the season.
Weal, O'Neill, and Andreoff all would have to pass through waivers. Nick Shore, who is being groomed for the 3C spot currently being occupied by Jack of all trades Trevor Lewis, would hardly be a candidate for Ontario given his NHL experience.
Shore showed much improvement over the course of his 34 game stay in the NHL last season. He also is a natural center with good faceoff ability, something the Kings covet. To top it all of, Shore has also looked very strong in preseason as well. Even though he could be sent down and not claimed by other teams, a move that would prevent any calamity of waiver claims, he hardly seems like the man that will be moved.
Andreoff has grown in his own way and has come into preseason looking determined as ever. He finished last season fairly strong, which also helps. The level of sandpaper he brings to the table is something the Kings do like to have on their fourth line.
That leaves the two men in question: O'Neill and Weal. Tied together because of their success at the AHL level and now ironically tied together as the competition in a job interview. Funny world of the NHL right?
Darryl Sutter has had some great quotes that you can find over on LAKings Insider about the competition this year.
Here are a few in particular:
On what has stood out in training camp:I think there’s good competition. I think if you look at the past three or four years – four years for sure – there hasn’t been a lot of competition at training camp. It’s basically been pretty much in stone what your roster was because there wasn’t much turnover, and there’s opportunities for guys, but at the same time, there are returning veterans, returning star players, elite players. We need to really step their game up when the season starts. They have to build towards that.
The guys that we want to look at, the guys that are going to have to play lots of games so they say they got a fair shot, they’re going to play lots of games.
And just because we all love Sutterisms:
On whether Kevin Gravel will have a chance to play in the NHL this year: He played his first exhibition game tonight, so that’s good for him.
Finally, an altogether solid piece by Rosen summarizing the two competitors, O'Neill and Weal
Everyone is going to get a fair shake. Everyone is going to get a solid look. However, where will they fit? Do the Kings want more centers or more wingers? Are they willing to shift Weal to wing? Do they want a more speed driven bottom line? Or do they prefer the grit of a player like Andy Andreoff?
While both Weal and O'Neill have their work cut out for them given the NHL experience and familiarity logged by players in front of them, having to beat the odds is not a new thing for either player.
Weal, 23, drafted in 2010, was slated to go a bit higher but scouts were mainly deterred by his size. The former Regina Pat stands at 5'10" and around 180 pounds. Nevertheless, he has always had this up against him despite some sparkling scouting reports from his draft year.
“He has been beating odds for a long time — all the way up. At 5-10, 162 lbs. one would think he’s too small to play in the NHL, but they said that about the WHL, where he led Regina with 102 points. (Resembles) Jason Blake, the way he scoots around and finishes plays with great flare.… – Director of NHL Central Scouting, E.J. McGuire
From TheScore.com
"Among draft eligible Major Junior players this season, only Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin put up better point totals. If Weal slips to the second round, as many are predicting, he’ll be an absolute steal.…
Note, the Kings picked Weal up in the 3rd round of 2010.
From the THN 2010 Draft Guide
“He’s the smallest kid out of the west, but you want to talk about compete. He battles all over the ice and he’s a coach’s dream. These are the kind of kids you can win with if you can find a spot.…
Weal, a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native, also saw time on the Canadian U18 World Junior Championship team. He was outstanding in the tournament despite Canada being underwhelming as a whole. While team Canada crashed into the relegation rounds, Weal led the team in scoring with nine points in six games. In hindsight, it may not have been one of the most loaded teams in recent memory, but Weal stepped up nonetheless.
He has pretty much scored wherever he has played.
Brian O'Neill, 27, comes from a more obscure place. Weal was still highly thought of and compared to some very talented players despite having scouts question his size. He was well known in the WHL circuit and on the national stage. O'Neill, all things considered, was a pretty out of left field player that has made a huge impact in the AHL. He hails from Yardley, Pennsylvania, a town of just over 2400 people near Trenton, New Jersey and the Delaware River. There were no national team call-ups, no comparisons to other highly touted prospects, and almost zero draft profiles. O'Neill committed himself to four years at Yale University starting in 2008-09. While there he posted three consecutive seasons of 40-plus points with the Bulldogs. The accolades grew steadily. He made the ECAC all-rookie team in 08-09, was on the ECAC all-star team twice ('10-11, '11-12), and was voted Ivy League player of the year in 2011-12 as well. Coupled with his AHL success, (MVP, Calder Cup Champion, AHL all-star 14-15) that is quite a collection of accolades at the two levels he has primarily competed at. The knock? At 5'9" and 175 pounds would he ever be able to play in the NHL?
Having been undrafted, the Kings signed O'Neill in 2012 to a one-year entry level deal. He has been what you could consider a good soldier within the organization since then. He donned the alternate captaincy last season with the Monarchs, and had an inspiring 2014-15 campaign.
Two players from very different backgrounds, both sharing success at the AHL, and now both competing for a job against one another with an NHL club. Maybe both find a job within the Kings ranks, maybe only one does. Nevertheless, you have to respect the different paths both have walked in order to get to this position. One rising from obscurity, the other beating the constant detractors despite overt success on the ice.
It seems only fitting with the recent passing of Yogi Berra that a classic quote of his comes to mind that can be applied to both of these players,
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
O'Neill and Weal have both, no doubt, had plenty of forks in their respective roads. They have taken them, and here they are. We are just two games into an eight game pre-season. One or more players may tail off while others keep stepping forward. Keep an eye on Brian O'Neill and Jordan Weal as the camp continues to progress. They will definitely get their shots, and they may surprise once again. They are no strangers to surprising people it seems.
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