Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 22:34:53 GMT
Despite trading several minor league prospects this season, the Los Angeles Kings have been able to maintain a solid roster in Manchester, N.H., the site of their AHL affiliate, the Monarchs.
With eight games left in the regular season, the Monarchs own a record of 36-30-3-5, good for 10th in the AHL.
The Monarchs have improved as the season has gone along, with several prospects developing rapidly, as well as a strong core of AHLers.
"It wasn't a great roster at the start of the season, but you look at the talent and depth there now, at forward and defence, and that's a very good team," said Kings GM Josh Lewis.
The Monarchs just got a lot of help for the last few games of the season with the demotions of forwards Mike Santorelli and Ryan Jones, defenceman Jeff Schultz and goalie Reto Berra, after a flurry of acquisitions by the big club at the trade deadline.
"Reto Berra is a solid backup at the NHL level, and Manchester's big weakness this year has been goaltending. Reto will be an excellent starter for them, and if we can't move him in the off-season so he can return to the NHL, he'll start next year down there as well."
Starter Patrik Bartosak has a poor .873 save percentage and a 2.30 GAA in 47 games this year. Backup Jean-Francois Berube has played 27 games, with an .877 SP and 2.89 GAA.
With the development of many players over the course of the season, the Monarchs now have a very deep forward group led by the likes of Justin Azevedo, Charlie Coyle, Valentin Zykov, Matia Marcantuoni and Jordan Weal.
Azevedo leads the club in scoring with 77 points in 63 games. After that, the scoring drops off quite a bit as Coyle's 50 points are second on the team, followed by Zykov's 43. Zykov has just been called up by the Kings.
However, as Lewis points out, the youngsters are learning to be all-around players.
"It's not just that they have the offensive ability. Most of our top nine guys are also quite good defensively and they're only getting better."
Next season, Coyle, Zykov, Marcantuoni and possibly Michael Mersch could jump to the big club. But there are players behind to take their places, and signings can be made if necessary.
During the course of the season, players like Nikolai Prokhorkin, Maxim Kitsyn, Scott Sabourin and Jordan Nolan have been dealt away, usually to help improve the big club.
The back end isn't quite as much of a strength as the forward corps, but it's still a strong group with the potential to get better.
Prospects Brayden McNabb and Colin Miller have led the way here. McNabb has 39 points this year, while Miller has been a strong, physical presence. The Kings have said that one or both could make the big club next year.
"Truth be told, Miller has the inside track right now on a spot on our team," said Lewis. "Brayden's worked hard on the offensive side of his game, but his defence has suffered a bit as a result."
Veteran Jeff Schultz has only played 20 games for Manchester between callups and injuries, but he's back now and is considered the best pure defender on the team. Derek Forbort and Andrew Bodnarchuk are also solid, stay at home guys, and 21-year-old Zach Leslie rounds out the group. Leslie has 22 points this year and has improved his game at both ends.
"There isn't much offence back there beyond McNabb and Miller, but they're good at stopping goals," Lewis said.
Bartosak and Berube have performed adequately this year, but neither are in the team's long-term plans. Lewis said if Berra is not around next season, the club will sign a starter for the Monarchs.
"We're always scouring the free agent pool for young guys with upside," he said. "The guys joining the Kings will leave big holes, but there are guys to replace them, and we'll most certainly sign a few young kids we think can develop into NHLers or star AHLers."
With eight games left in the regular season, the Monarchs own a record of 36-30-3-5, good for 10th in the AHL.
The Monarchs have improved as the season has gone along, with several prospects developing rapidly, as well as a strong core of AHLers.
"It wasn't a great roster at the start of the season, but you look at the talent and depth there now, at forward and defence, and that's a very good team," said Kings GM Josh Lewis.
The Monarchs just got a lot of help for the last few games of the season with the demotions of forwards Mike Santorelli and Ryan Jones, defenceman Jeff Schultz and goalie Reto Berra, after a flurry of acquisitions by the big club at the trade deadline.
"Reto Berra is a solid backup at the NHL level, and Manchester's big weakness this year has been goaltending. Reto will be an excellent starter for them, and if we can't move him in the off-season so he can return to the NHL, he'll start next year down there as well."
Starter Patrik Bartosak has a poor .873 save percentage and a 2.30 GAA in 47 games this year. Backup Jean-Francois Berube has played 27 games, with an .877 SP and 2.89 GAA.
With the development of many players over the course of the season, the Monarchs now have a very deep forward group led by the likes of Justin Azevedo, Charlie Coyle, Valentin Zykov, Matia Marcantuoni and Jordan Weal.
Azevedo leads the club in scoring with 77 points in 63 games. After that, the scoring drops off quite a bit as Coyle's 50 points are second on the team, followed by Zykov's 43. Zykov has just been called up by the Kings.
However, as Lewis points out, the youngsters are learning to be all-around players.
"It's not just that they have the offensive ability. Most of our top nine guys are also quite good defensively and they're only getting better."
Next season, Coyle, Zykov, Marcantuoni and possibly Michael Mersch could jump to the big club. But there are players behind to take their places, and signings can be made if necessary.
During the course of the season, players like Nikolai Prokhorkin, Maxim Kitsyn, Scott Sabourin and Jordan Nolan have been dealt away, usually to help improve the big club.
The back end isn't quite as much of a strength as the forward corps, but it's still a strong group with the potential to get better.
Prospects Brayden McNabb and Colin Miller have led the way here. McNabb has 39 points this year, while Miller has been a strong, physical presence. The Kings have said that one or both could make the big club next year.
"Truth be told, Miller has the inside track right now on a spot on our team," said Lewis. "Brayden's worked hard on the offensive side of his game, but his defence has suffered a bit as a result."
Veteran Jeff Schultz has only played 20 games for Manchester between callups and injuries, but he's back now and is considered the best pure defender on the team. Derek Forbort and Andrew Bodnarchuk are also solid, stay at home guys, and 21-year-old Zach Leslie rounds out the group. Leslie has 22 points this year and has improved his game at both ends.
"There isn't much offence back there beyond McNabb and Miller, but they're good at stopping goals," Lewis said.
Bartosak and Berube have performed adequately this year, but neither are in the team's long-term plans. Lewis said if Berra is not around next season, the club will sign a starter for the Monarchs.
"We're always scouring the free agent pool for young guys with upside," he said. "The guys joining the Kings will leave big holes, but there are guys to replace them, and we'll most certainly sign a few young kids we think can develop into NHLers or star AHLers."
i'll be doing it all on friday as its teh only day off I have at the moment. Sorry, we are down people and its long late shifts at teh moment. 