BRAYDEN SCHENN 
This season: 1 game, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 penalty minutes, 12:31 ice time.
The good: Schenn got the call-up for a Nov. 26 game at Vancouver, in part because he was playing in a tournament in nearby Victoria, and even though Schenn didn’t really get to practice with the Kings, he certainly didn’t embarrass himself in his first NHL game. Schenn returned to Brandon of the WHL and completed a fine season in which he totaled 34 goals and 65 assists in 59 games.
The bad: There’s really no “bad” about Schenn at this point. He certainly projects as an NHL player. The only question is, can he eventually rise to the level of a second-line center and give the Kings a great one-two punch with Kopitar and Schenn?
Going forward: It should be a very interesting training camp for Schenn. Given that he carries a salary-cap hit of just over $3 million (thanks to potential bonuses), the Kings might need Schenn to show that he can contribute in more than a fourth-line role, for instance. If he’s ready for a more substantial role, though, they’re going to have a very difficult time sending him back to junior.
I really enjoyed watching the Vancouver game that Schenn played in (no thanks to FSW) and I was at the preseason game where he scored 2 goals against the Ducks. For a 5th overall pick, I sure hope he is ready to join the Kings next season.
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This dude needs to be on the kings next year….
what did Pittsburgh do? they drafted two world class centers…. Crosby and Malkin, we need to get rid of stoll and let Schenn take over the 2nd line, he’s a great play maker, he can set up brownie and he plays like brownie (hard nosed in your face) and he can actually put the puck in the net, not to mention control the play and will probably develop as a leader in the future (he was captain of the Wheat Kings…)
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It kills me that we cant send him to Manch next year…. because another year in juniors would be pointless. He has nothing left to prove (except winning a memorial cup this month!)
I think it might be too much to ask for him to be ready for a top 6 role next year…. but I could be wrong …
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 10:49 am
@VanKingsFan,
I think Schenn was very disappointed that he wasn’t part of the ‘make your team the first year and make them better’ class last year, from pick #5. He seems to have something to prove, and I am totally convinced he makes the team next year (barring–knock on wood, hit my head–injury).
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Luke's younger bro Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
I think its stupid that 18, 19, and 20 year olds can’t play in the AHL. It’s a developmental league for cryin’ out loud! The rule should be that once your drafted by a team you can play him in either juniors, the nhl, OR THE AHL! That would make the Kings decision much easier than it has to be.
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sd Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
@Luke’s younger bro, I believe that rule is in place by request of the junior leagues to keep the talent level up at the junior level. That’s a developmental league as well and helps the kids get better before they are drafted. It’s probably a big part of the reason why we’re seeing so many better young kids enter the NHL these days.
I do agree though. It hurts Schenn and the Kings in this case.
Can someone explain to me the different between NHL Salary versus Cap Hit? It appears smyth has an NHL salary of 4.5 in 2011-2012 but a cap hit of 6.25? Also, does Schenn’s salary count towards our payroll if he doesn’t make the team? Same with all those AHL players? How does this stuff work…
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brandyn Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@,
Smyths contract is frontloaded, meaning it declines every year into the contract.
Prospects do count towards the cap hit, but there contracts are small…. some of the prospects in Manchester are not signed with the kings, they are signed with manchester, but we still own there rights.
Schenn’s is a higher entry level contract amount because he was a high pick…. his bonuses are included in the contract.
For example doughty got a bonus for scoring 10 goals i think it was…
If schenn reaches a milestone thats in the contract, the bonus kicks in, if he doesnt, it is around 1 million not 3 million
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Anonymous Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:08 am
@, Cap hit is simply the dollar amount of the contract divided by the length of the contract (number of years). It is the average amount of money paid to a player for the length of the contract.
The salary is the actual dollar amount the player will get paid from one year to the next. There are rules governing how much a player can earn year-to-year, but for example, if someone were to sign a 3-year, 8 million dollar contract, the CAP HIT is 2.67 million for the 3 years he’s under contract, but the SALARY may be structured in such a way that he gets paid 4 million the first year of the contract, 3 in the second, and 1 in the last.
Schenn is under contract, so he is getting paid. However, his contract will not affect the cap hit until he makes the roster.
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Quisp Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
re cap/salary question
(1) Cap hit is the average per-year salary, like anonymous said. It’s the same every year of a player’s contract, even though the salary for any one year can go up or down. Having said that:
(2) bonuses might vary from year to year, and bonuses ARE ADDED TO THE CAP HIT, as though they are guaranteed salary, which they aren’t; but:
(3) a team can go ahead and spend a player’s ear-marked bonus amount, provided that if they actually do have to pay out the bonus, the team gets under the cap by whatever means necessary. This is the so-called “bonus cushion.”
(4) CAP HITS ONLY COUNT AGAINST THE CAP IF THE PLAYER IS ON THE ACTIVE ROSTER. Players in the AHL or on IR do not count. (Well, there is a weird complicated IR clause, but the net result is that players on IR do not count against the cap.)
(5) Schenn’s deal is, I believe, $900K with bonuses adding up to $3.14MM. I’m sure of the big number, the base salary may be $850K or $875K.
(6) Although Schenn is under contract, as an 18 year old, his contract only starts when he plays his 10th game in the NHL. If he stays in juniors, he doesn’t get paid.
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Hey Rich, what happening with Thomas Hickey? is he still injuried because I don’t see his name on Manchester report on lakings.com news tab. what story on Hickey?
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Schenn had a great training camp and made it hard for the Kings to send him back to Juniors. I think the Kings have got to take the cap hit and give him a shot in the NHL. I suspect that he’ll have a Matt Duchesne type of season.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 10:57 am
@HeyChief, Pretty large expectations, and they are different types of players… I could see him having a season more like Evander Kanes. More likely he will develop similarly to Mike Richards. First few years he will play good defensively, good checking and PK game, but I think his offense will take a couple years to round itself out.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Hey Van–
Schenn makes the team.
Betcha!
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roadtripper Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:25 am
@HeyChief, I don’t see any reason this kid doesn’t make the team and do well, but again I don’t think Terry Murray, with the way he makes SO MANY changes to the lines, will help him be all that he could be…
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I couldn’t cast a vote on this one. 1 game is not nearly enough to rate Schenn. Hopefully next year we can see him in a kings uniform.
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Seems like this kid should get a chance.
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I have a feeling he will be our #2 “Center Ice Man” next year.
Off topic – I was looking at the Manchester depth chart on LAK.com and noticed Piskula was listed as a 4th line forward. When did he convert to Forward?
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Daniel, the more “Centre Ice Men” we can get the better…
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The Kings will be in a different place in September, that of a team expected to make the playoffs. Can they go into the season with a 19 year old 2nd line center who hasn’t proven anything at the NHL level?
Another season in junior might not be wanted, but there isn’t any reason to rush Schenn. Stoll is signed for another two years, Handzus is signed through next year, plus a year in Manchester after next season wouldn’t hurt. I know Doughty came right in. I know Duchene played well in Colorado. But neither one of those guys came into the league on a team that was expected to be any good.
Unless the Kings absolutely know that Schenn will make the team, it’s tough to see a place for him. You can’t trade Stoll, for example, until you know Schenn is making the team. However, if you have to go to camp not knowing that, it would be tough to trade Stoll at the end of camp when most if not all teams are set in terms of the cap.
As of right now, I’m seeing Schenn back in junior. That can obviously change, especially in the next few months, depending on what the Kings do.
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brandyn Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:46 am
@KingsFan78,
Place stoll on waivers hahaaha
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How I’d like to see the lines:
Smyth-Kopi-JW
Richy-Schenn-Brown
Moller-Zeus-Simmer
Parse-Stoll-Clune
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 11:42 am
@2hitnik,
I put either Stoll or Moller on the 2nd line wing instead of Richie. More toughness is needed I think too.. not enforcer toughness.. just general toughness
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luc20rules Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
@2hitnik, Moller on the defensive stopper line? Richy is likely the best defensive LW of the players you have listed. With the makeup of the 4th line I would think you would need to go with a scoring look to make it worth while, so I would place Clifford or Parse on the 3rd line and move Moller to the 4th.
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USCG Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 10:01 am
@2hitnik, no way we make the playoffs with those weak lines.
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There’s nothing to grade yet. The Kings have him on the right track so far, at least.
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I would love for Schenn to make Stoll expendable as trade bait. Not that I don’t like the guy, but he’s simply not good enough to be a #2 center and with the way the kings are he can’t be a shut down center. He’s a great third line center in the playoffs though, that could be enough to fetch something from somebody next season.
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I say we get kovalchuk and get rid of Fro. Then our lines would look something like this…
Kovalchuck Kopitar Williams
Smyth Schenn Brown
Richardson Handzus Simmonds
Parse Moller Clune
Stoll is the odd man out. He would either be in Schenn or Moller’s spot. He is to good for the fourth line so it all depends on whether Brayden is NHL ready. If he is than Stoll becomes trade bait. Either way the Kings win.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
@Bring Kovi to LA!, Thats what New Jersey thought … but all Kovalchuk brought them was a first round embarrassing exit.
Just to play devils advocate.
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Bring Kovi to LA! Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
@VanKingsFan, That wasn’t Kovalchuck’s fault. He led the team in goals and points in the playoffs. He could of used help from Parise and Langenbrunner.
And besides, that might make him a little more affordable for us to sign. I’m tellin’ ya man, he is the missing peice of the puzzle.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@Bring Kovi to LA!,
Maybe he is.. maybe he isn’t. He has not had any kind of team success anywhere he has played, only individual success.
My point is that I bet New Jersey thought he was the missing piece of the puzzle too… and it turns out he wasn’t, and it cost them a hefty price.
I am not saying it would be a bad move to pick him up, but it is really risky, especially if we give him a lot of years and a big salary, I do not want to be caught in the same trap as Atlanta.
Schenn, like Bernier, has done everything asked of him this year. He played his a** off in Brandon, put up huge numbers, was a leader, etc. etc..
I agree with everyone who said there’s little point in keeping him in juniors next year.
I also would not be surprised if Stoll was dealt over the summer, although that does seem a bit risky given that we don’t know if Schenn can do what Stoll does in the face-off circle. I dimly recall being told that Schenn is excellent on the draw, and if that’s really true — I mean, if Lombardi is confident that this is true — I think it’s reasonable to trade Stoll this summer. (and I’m not even necessarily talking about my crackpot Iginla for Stoll, Williams and picks fantasy trade.)
it’s not like Stoll was clutch or anything. he’s good. he wins face-offs. he has a nice shot.
but if lombardi thinks Voynov and Schenn are making the team (Voynov being able to replace Stoll on the PP), I think Stoll is expendable sooner rather than later. He’s going to get dealt the following season anyway, right? May as well maximize returns.
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Dominick Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
@Quisp, I’m not so sure we trade Stoll at all.Even with the new guys,it’s a long season.Seeing how they will handle the grind of an NHL season should be a priority.
If these guys do work out then maybe Stoll gets traded at the midseason mark,or the trade deadline.I’m sure there’s going to be some kind of learning curve,and Stoll can provide some stability till these guys get their game on track.
Schenn was drafted higher than Kopi,and Brownie played with us at a young age,so maybe Schenn will make an impact early,but I would keep Stoll around just till Schenn’s game rounds out.
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jet Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
@Quisp, I usually think you are right on the money, but let me play devils advocate on this one. First BS is probably the youngest draftee of his class. Second his brother hit the wall this year. Many Leaf’s fans are starting to believe they may have Aki Berg’d him, by playing him too early. Although disarry is defined in the dictionary as “Mapleleafs”. Finally, there was an incredibly intelligent poster who two years ago mentioned the best part of DL having so many picks is that we can let some of the talent “percolate” in Mancheter for a year or two. Do you recall that post?
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do you people who give guys F’s only vote on the goal total? I have seen a lot of F’s when guys get no goals…serioulsy why do so many ppl not take this seriously? time to grow up children and if ur not a kings fan then kindly piss off…go kings go
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@kingsfanforlife, I half agree with you .. .but at the same time if you don’t respect everyone’s opinion that’s how you easily start a fight. Your entitled to yours, others are entitled to theirs, even when they don’t agree with you.
And secondly… its an online blog poll… there really isn’t any reason to take it seriously
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Baring picking up a free agent or trade:
Smyth-Kopi-Moller
Brown-Schenn-JW
Richy-Zeus-Simmer
Parse-Stoll-Clune
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VanKingsFan Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@2hitnik, The thing that worries me is that Brown has said himself that he doesn’t really like playing on the left side…
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symbology Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
@2hitnik,
No can do. That is too much cap space taken up at center. The Kings cannot afford to have a 4th line center with a 3.6 mil cap hit. The only way Schenn makes the team with his cap hit is if he is playing on the 2nd line and for that to happen, Stoll would need to be traded. Also, I’m not sure that we can afford to lose Stoll’s face-offs at this point.
Another option is to put Schenn on the left side on the 2nd line with Stoll and Brown. Give Schenn time to get accustomed to the NHL before you force him to be the 2nd line center.
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I gave him a C+ because, in the game in Vancouver, I thought he did a pretty good job for someone who had never played in the NHL before that night. I thought it loked like he was playing on adrenaline for the first part of the game. He didn’t do anything dumb and looked like he belonged, but he was also not exceptional in any way, either. C+ it is.
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I jumped on Wikipedia and read the article, but it was a lot like walking through pudding: slow going and afterward I felt kinda dirty.
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Will his big numbers in juniors translate to the NHL immediately ? More then likely not right away and thats why I would be very leary of trading Stoll. What the Kings could do as a stop gap measure is sign Andy Macdonald to a 2 year deal and he could center the 2nd line for now. I think a guy like that, and with his experience would really get the 2nd line going. Who knows though, maybe Schenn makes another great impression and the Kings simply cant say no this time..stay tuned
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I know zero about this guy.
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it SOUNDED like he played well in Vancouver….maybe next year we will be able to see those games from Canada….
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One thing I am wondering about this guy is,If he still needs seasoning after this upcoming training camp,instead of sending him to juniors,why don’t we send him to Europe to play with some bigger players,and a more competetive talent level?
Everyone seems to think it’s NHL or bust.I’m not sure that’s an option,but it would make sense.
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luc20rules Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
@Dominick, DL, NE, & RH have all spoken to how the purchase of Manchester Monarchs had created an environment of managing the players better. When you just assign a player to some other organization they may use a different system, focus on different things. By owning the minor league clubs they are able to develop the prospects to fit the system. I just don’t think good or bad DL will send Schenn outside the Kings organization to play professionally.
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Dominick Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
@luc20rules, It was just a thought,since Manchester is not an option,because of his age.Your right,DL probably wouldn’t send him outside the organization.
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We need think like Detroit, not the Rangers. We to treat Schenn like Detroit did with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. There’s certainly no reason for him to go back to the juniors, but we can start him on the 3rd or 4th line and bring him along as slowly as we can at the NHL level. There’s no point in putting pressure on him immediately as a top 6 scorer.
Give him some power play time, of course, and if/when he picks his offensive game up, he gets more time and moves up the depth chart.
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symbology Reply:
May 11th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
@sd,
We cannot do that. Schenn’s contract with bonuses creates over 3 mil in cap space. You cannot have your 4th line center / player taking up 3+ mil in cap space if you want to fill a cup contending roster. I don’t think he is suitable for the 3rd line shutdown roll at this point. If he plays, he plays on the 2nd line and another player needs to be traded/moved.
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I have a hard time believing that DL won’t get his UFA ( 1 forward and 1 D-man ) this summer. Now that the KINGS have made the playoffs, things will change. Don’t be surprised to see a trade as well.
Westgarth will be the enforcer and for the first time in several years they will have a fighter that can actually score. Did you hear that 41?
Two or three from the farm will make the team with one being Bernier.
GO KINGS!
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