For the two junior-eligible players on the Kings’ roster, it’s been a bit of the “rookie shuffle.” Kyle Clifford played against Carolina while Brayden Schenn sat out. Schenn returned to play against Phoenix and Colorado while Clifford sat. Now they trade places again tonight in Minnesota, as Clifford will play left wing on the fourth line and Schenn will be a healthy scratch.
Part of it, as Terry Murray explains below, is taking time to correct flaws in the games of the young players, but it also could be a matter of maximizing the players’ time at the NHL level. After each player plays his ninth game, the Kings will have to decide whether to send Clifford and/or Schenn back to junior or keep them and burn a contract year. Schenn has played six games and Clifford will play his fourth game tonight. Schenn has two points and Clifford has none, and both have been playing fourth-line roles. After today’s morning skate, Murray talked about the state of Schenn’s game.
MURRAY: “He’s a young guy, 19 years old, who is going to be a real good hockey player. We just need to continually pull him aside and talk to him about his shifts, reviewing the video and putting an emphasis on the checking part of the game. Whenever I talked to him, at the start of the year, we’re talking about point production all the time, and that’s where he’s coming from as a player. To me, it’s not that. Points will come. It’s good to see your name on the score sheet when the game is over, but for Schenn right now, the important thing is understanding the checking part of it. The part of the game that we value greatly is play without the puck, and there are some issues, some areas of the game that he’s breaking down, in our own D-zone coverage, so we’ll go back and talk and do some practice and get him back in again.”
Murray also gave his thoughts on Clifford, who tonight will play opposite Kevin Westgarth and be centered by Andrei Loktionov.
MURRAY: “It’s kind of the same, as talking about Schenn. Young guys are going to learn. It’s a process. They’re not going to be in the lineup every night and it’s important, whenever they’re not, that we give them two or three things to focus in on when they’re watching games, and that we continually talk and practice and review video of their shifts and make those corrections and adjustments to their game, and they’ll grow with it as the season goes along.”
The decision to keep or return Clifford and Schenn is basically in the hands of Dean Lombardi, but he certainly would seek Murray’s input as well. Murray was asked whether he would prefer to keep Schenn or see him develop further at the junior level.
MURRAY: “I want to keep him. That’s the mindset I’ve had right from the very beginning of the season. These young guys are on our team. They made the team out of training camp. They deserve to be here. My plan is to have them contribute as we get into February and March.”
I like this approach. Sure if we sucked and this is the best we can do. Then you keep them up and they learn on the job. But we have a solid team, they can get exposure to the NHL speed, understand the mental and physical prep needed for the pro-game. And you take your time to decide. No need to burn all 10 games in the first 10… Clifford be with the Kings for 1/3 of the season before they make a decision at this point, and that will help him in the long run…
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TM say’s “My plan is to have contribute ans we get into February and March.” DL I hope you agree!
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I love how TM is handling this. no need to push things, and burden the youngsters with point production. They need to learn how to dominate aspects of the game in which they can control themselves… AKA the checking /defensive side.
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I wonder if this is also has to do with the fact that Scott Parse is still out and they don’t want to use all of their eligibility until they find out if Parse can get back into the game?
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Dan H. Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
@Mark,
Good point there too. No guarantee he makes the lineup at this point too I guess.
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I have no issue and it stretches it out. Of course you’d like them both to be on fire and forcing the hand to keep them in the lineup but at their age there’s nothing wrong with having a lineup this deep and being able to teach as you go.
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The real news here is the status of Richardson as the left wing on the first line.
Schenn will not be kept on the Kings this season to be a part-time fourth winger. If that is his 2010-2011 fate, he will be sent back to Juniors.
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Deader2818 Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
You mean part time fourth center?
That is the thing, the Kings don’t want to move Schenn to wing and like to keep him at center and the Kings are 3 deep at center. Hes not going to bump Kopitar, Smyth-Stoll-Williams are playing great so I dont see him moving Stoll off that line and Handzues is great as the 3rd line/shut down center.
Going into this season, it was 4th line center or minors for Schenn and that is still the case. The Kings don’t mind moving Richardson around as he has shown he can play LW/C/RW but they want Schenn to develop into a 2nd line center behind Kopitar.
I think at this point, the Kings wont send him down. Clifford will most likely be sent down before Schenn.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@Deader2818,
Just can’t see Schenn getting only part-time NHL minutes this season. That’s why Juniors seems much more sensible. Minors is not yet the option.
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King Doughnuts Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Parse and Lewis can do the same job Schenn and Clifford are doing. Send the young guys down, save a year on their contracts, give them quality time on their Jr team’s 1st and 2nd lines and let them step into the same rolls next year with the Kings.
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Good2bKings Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
@King Doughnuts,
Well… Parse hasn’t played one minute yet, so he can’t do the same job. When he is added to the roster, we’ll see what management thinks. As for Lewis, it seems pretty obvious that the coaches don’t like his game at center on the fourth line; therefore, I have disagree with both of your arguments regarding the center position on the fourth line. As for spare wingers, Lewis fits the bill better than Clifford. However, that would leave the Kings without the middle-weight agitator that they so desire.
If Lokitonov excels as the fourth line center, then there could be an argument for sending Schenn down. However, I am not sure that four games is going to be enough for Loktionov to prove that Schenn is “expendable.” That being said, we still have Richardson who could center that like if Schenn was sent down and Loktionov couldn’t play.
Clifford is a bit of an enigma, but I think it is likely that he gets sent back to Junior due to the fact that the other options you speak of are out of options; therefore, they would have to clear waivers to be sent to Manchester and clear waivers to come back to the Kings.
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Neil Ellis Shafton Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
@Good2bKings,Loktionov is a better offensive center and or wing. He’s not a 4th line center, checking isn’t why he plays on a 1st or 2nd line. Loktionov is a better offensive player right now, which is why the Kings are giving him a good look. When they get Parse back, Loktionov gives them a versitile player who can help give the Kings depth as a fill in on a 2nd line, or even on the 1st line.
Clifford just needs to play, more minutes on a more consistent basis. Clifford is physically ready to play in the NHL, he just needs to be playing on a more consistent basis. Remember this kid lost a close friend, and this has been a distraction, so the more time he gets on a 4th or 3rd line the better he will become. He can score, but right now he’s acting as a checker, and he is a good defensive forward, who will also come to his teammates aid when necessary.
Schenn has to work on his skating, he needs to focus on improving his skating, and needs to really work with a powerskating coach. Schenn also is not ready to be moved from a 4th line center role, so it’s better for him to go back to Brandon, work on his skating this year, and also his quickness down low, he needs to really get his shot off quicker, and work on his hockey IQ.
If, Schenn can improve his skating, next year he will be more than ready to make a good case for staying,plus it also gives the Kings the option of having him play in the AHL, which is only going to benefit him. He’s 19, and his confidence is very important, so having him go back to Brandon, play for Team Canada in another World Juniors, work on his skating, can only benefit him and the Kings.
He obviously can score in juniors, however he needs to really work on his skating and hand/eye coordination if he wants to be considered a legit 2nd line center for the Kings. He’s Dustin Brown, minus the scoring touch, which will come in time.
Clifford/Schenn are not subject to waivers, they aren’t eligible for the AHL, so they have no chance of losing either if they are sent back to juniors before their 10th game in the NHL.
Loktionov can go back to the AHL, and also be called back if the Kings feel they need him back.
mrbrett7 Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Disagree. I don’t think they give a crap about the contract, especially when you consider the way it was structured.
Does he belong in the NHL? No, he belongs in the AHL, but thanks to the BS rules, he can’t. He does not belong in Juniors. The only thing that can happen there is his confidence gets hurt, his game gets hurt, or he can get hurt.
Even as a part time 4th line LW or C, he stays.
Clifford on the other hand is going back. He isn’t ready for full time duty NEXT year.
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Just a silly question: If they decide not to burn a contract year who are the most likely replacements?
Also, besides the guys at Manchester are there any UFAs still looking for jobs or have those that were unsigned either gone overseas to play or retired?
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King Doughnuts Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@The Weasel, Trevor Lewis can easily take over for Schenn. Lewis is on the current roster and he had a decent training camp. Parse can take the place of Clifford.
The Kings wouldn’t be losing much in production and they wouldn’t be burning a year on Schenn and Clifford playing sparingly this year.
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Good2bKings Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
@King Doughnuts,
Parse and Clifford have completely different roles on this team. Apples and orages, dude. Please stop!
Lewis had one good game in the preseason… it came when he played the wing.
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@Good2bKings,
I agree 100%.. It’s apples and oranges..
Parse isn’t a 4th line player, Lokti isn’t a 4th line player..
Lewis played against the Canes and was the sole contributor to 2 goals against that night..
Good post Good2b… I agree 100%
You guys are nuts…If I’m the GM I don’t keep Shenn or Clifford up..I space out their nine games give them over a month up with the big club to teach them what it takes to be a pro but after that I send them back to juniors because there is not enough seperation between them and the other options on the team…plus the ability to reward guys like Elkins,King and others down at Manchester. Just saving the contract year and allowing them to physically mature a year is well worth it the kings are deep and don’t need to rush these guys.
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IMHO
When Parse returns. Lewis put on waivers. He will be picked up by a team that can utilize his style of play. He is not the grinder TM wants him to be.
Schenn will stay. He is the player who will and can take this team to a whole different level.
Clifford is sent back to juniors. This Could should and will help him In the confidence area. I think this kid is the perfect grinder for TM style of play.
Loktionov will more than likely be the guy who is shuffled between the kings and the monarchs.
Westy hangs around for the only reason other than they need the enforcer.
On a side note enough with the shuffling already.
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Neil Ellis Shafton Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
@bigfan,”Schenn will stay. He is the player who will and can take this team to a whole different level”
Please, enlighten me! I’m really curious to know why you think Schenn playing on the 4th line, in a role he is not familiar with, is going to take the team to a whole different level.
4th line guys especially centers aren’t exactly known for lighting it up.
Lewis was not taken with the intention of being a grinder, he was a 1st round pick, not usually a place you take a grinding forward.
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bigfan Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
@Neil Ellis Shafton,
Um did you forget that it wasn’t TM that drafted Lewis it was Crawford. And even then Crawford didn’t know what was going on.
As for Schenn he has the skill set to be that guy. There is nothing wrong with him getting fourth line minutes and as the season goes on he will begin to get more minutes per game. I believe that with his style of play he can and should be that 40+ goal scorer with due time of course.
Like I said this is just my IMHO. I don’t think I need to “Enlighten” you.
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Neil Ellis Shafton Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
@bigfan, Dude you are wrong again, TM doesn’t draft neither did Crawford, it was Lombardi! Lombardi hired Crawford and fired Crawford, DL hired Murray.
DL drafted Lewis, not sure why you think a coach drafts a player, and IMHO your way off track.
Schenn wasn’t drafted to start playing 4th line Center, he was drafted because the Kings felt he could be a Top 6 center. He might just be, but 40+ goals you are really dreaming!
I knew nothing of player development prior to this season, but the fellow fans here, Rich and listening to DL and TM I am picking up things here and there.
Bottom line, I trust what TM and DL decide. Seems nearly everything TM and DL does work in the long run. I think the only mistake might of been playing Quick too much last year, but even that is hind sight (i.e. we could of easily missed the playoffs last year if EE lost us a bunch of games).
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Alot of people are saying Schenn isnt ready for NHL?? Last 2 games he’s been a main factor in all scoring, or at least has contributed. I will admit sure, he needs to work on a few things, but why send him back to the Juniors when the experiance he needs in at the NHL level, not the juniors. Loktionov is doing great, im sure he will stay on the 1st or 2nd line. In my opinion they need to keep schenn up and play him, work with him each and every game to make the adjustments he needs.
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neil Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
@LEE10, practicing with the big boys is good enough reason for me to keep Schenn……
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With all this rookie-forward talk, noone has mentioned Oscar Moeller’ name… is he dunzo?
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mrbrett7 Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@Stuart, My opinion, yes. He will have a good NHL career, just not in LA.
Why? Simply put, no room for him (which is not a bad thing).
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Simply because I don’t see room for them anywhere else I think the fourth line might end up being Parse, Lokti, and Westgarth. It is unfortunate because both Parse and Lokti have great hands and should not be 4th liners but I think DL will save both the contract years of Clifford and Schenn and they will be sent down. That is why they are being shuffled to extend their stay get experience and fill the roster until Parse is healthy.
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If Murray had Stamkos his first and second years he would have done the same to him that he is doing to Schenn. I think Murray is one crappy coach.
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LEE10 Reply:
October 25th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
@stevec, Well, I will say I do not think he is a good coach with you guys. But to his defence, the team doesnt have alot of room. If it were as wide open a team as per-say the Oilers, Im sure all the rookie would be playing with consistant minutes. The kings have big expectations this season and TM needs to make sure the team has the right peices. But I agree, he isnt very good at all with youth.
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Schenn is the next Mike Richards, maybe even Ryan Getzlaf. A talented scoring pivot that plays with grint and tenacity. He can do no more at the junior level except develop bad habits. He needs professional exposure.
Now, TM is not a great “game coach”, but he is an excellent, professional hockey man and a good teacher. He helped Kopitar’s development, he helped Dustin Brown’s development, and he’s been very good for Doughty’s game, too. With the proper coaching, and a focus on the little things, Schenn will blossom.
No one doubts the kid’s talent, hockey smarts, or work ethic. He just needs time to catch up to the speed of the game and learn how to play at the NHL level. Since he doesn’t have th option to do that at the AHL level, like Nazem Kadri, for example, his best option to stay and learn from the veterans and be a part of the Kings team. He will learn a hell of a lot more from guys like Handzus, Stoll, and Brown than he would back in Brandon, Manitoba playing with and against 17-year-olds.
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