Brayden Schenn is back with the Kings, but for how long? It’s expected that the Kings will make a decision on Schenn’s short-term future before Thursday’s game, meaning that they will make the call as to whether to keep him or return him to junior. (It’s possible that Schenn’s short-term future might also include playing in next month’s World Juniors.) Schenn completed his AHL conditioning assignment over the weekend and had four goals, three assists and a plus-3 rating in seven games. Here’s what Schenn said today about his AHL time, and his future…
Question: Did you feel like you accomplished what you needed to in Manchester?
SCHENN: “The main thing was to get some confidence back and go play some games. I felt that I did do both of those, and now I come back here and hopefully I’ll just keep on working and see what happens. I’m just trying to work my way back into the lineup.”
Question: You’ve been in limbo, sort of, for quite a while now. Would you like some type of resolution soon, whatever it might be?
SCHENN: “I just take it day by day. It’s their decision, but after that stint (in Manchester), hopefully I can make their decision a little easier. I went down there trying to focus on my D-zone play, and I thought I improved. I came out with a good plus-minus, so I guess that’s a positive as well. So I guess we’ll just see what happens here now.”
Question: Were you able to get your legs back under you a little, get in some game shape?
SCHENN: “Yeah. I played seven games in 10 or 11 nights, so that was a lot of hockey. It was good to get going and get back into game shape, that type of thing. The main thing was to gain some confidence down there.”
Free Brayden Schenn
[Reply]
Erik4Kings Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@Seabass,
LOL. Seriously. I am pretty bummed we are watching Fowler make an impact already and Forbort is 2-3 years away in ND. And we still have no clue what we’re doing with Schenn. Prospects are great and all if we can use them, at this point, I am curious as to Deans plans because it seems like there isn’t one…
I still refer back to this draft and trading picks to move up a spot for this kid, a defenseman too? Bad decision.
[Reply]
Phil Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
@Erik4Kings, lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Fowler was taken before Forbort, so the Kings didn’t have the opportunity to draft Fowler. lets face the truth, Fowler made the Ducks this season because of injuries to Lydman and others. If not for those injuries, he might be back in junior. If Fowler were on the Kings, its very unlikely he would have made the team since he’d be behind Muzzin, Hickey, and now Martinez on the depth chart.
[Reply]
txkingsfan Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@Phil, thank you for an honest, logical explanation. The only reason Fowler made the team was out of necessity. The Ducks were decimated on defense. Why the rush to bring these kids in so soon? 10 years ago this was almost unheard of. Sure you had some freaks that skipped minors but most 18-19 year old players were in the minors for many years before they got a shot.
mrbrett7 Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
@Phil, Not to mention, the Ducks have NOWHERE the amount of depth the Kings do on defense within their system. In the Kings system, Fowler would not have even made it past the 2nd week, most likely, of training camp. He will be good, but make no mistake, you can’t compare any of them. The Ducks would drool for what the Kings have coming through the pike…just would be nice if they would mature a bit faster.
kingfletch Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 6:48 am
Either play him or send him back, this is a major year in his development, not playing is worse then playing in the juniors imo. I do however think he can play in the nhl, watching the games did anyone think wow this D.King player is way better then Schenn? I didnt.
[Reply]
Garry Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 7:53 am
@Seabass, I think he should be centering the 3rd line or —– he’s a future star, put him at center on the 2nd. I’m betting it would be an improvement.
[Reply]
49puckstothenuts Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 11:18 am
@Garry, Stoll has had a good year. Better at getting the puck on net than last year. You really think Schenn and/or that line would be producing more if Schenn there not Stoll?they
[Reply]
Good for Brayden…but don’t bring him up here now during “the Slump”…let him develope not to mention you have him for the extra year… he’ll be a good piece to the puzzle next season and ready to make the transition.
Find an enforcer and a scorer not try and fill the void with a young 2nd to 3rd line forward.
[Reply]
brayden will be a real good player in his career
[Reply]
Bill M. Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
@Mark, that’s like saying “Meat will taste good if you shove a stick through it and rotate it over a fire.”
[Reply]
David Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@Bill M., HAHAHA that’s hilarious poor mark must feel a little stupid right now ! But I agree with Bill in saying thank you Captain obvious (Mark)
[Reply]
Mark Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
@David,
I Don’t at all
have you seen him play before? besides the LA Kings. Wheat kings? just wondering do you know how he plays or do you just look at the stats and highlights?
KNFAN04 Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
@Mark,
MAYBE SO..BUT TIME WILL ONLY TELL WHEN!
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
@Mark, BRILLIANT!
[Reply]
David Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@Mark, Yes Mark I watched him through the entire world junior tournament last year and i’ve seen him play with the wheat kings many times I think it’s pretty clear he’s going to be a very good NHL player one day if he continues to develop the way he has as of now.
[Reply]
jayrew Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 7:07 am
@David, WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN HIM PLAY FOR THE WHEAT KINGS? (I really don’t think you have).
Seen this guy play in 6 different buildings in the WHL. Let him skate, he’s the real deal. His signature move is coming down the right side with power and flingin a wrister high.
Plus, he’s used to garbage travel schedules, look how far out Manitoba is!
i for one hope they keep schenn up. i’m not worried about saving money by delaying his contract–i’m more than willing to spend aeg’s money right here and now.
i have nothing to go on other than the many plays where schenn was in the right position and almost scored. i feel like the future is now…and i am already getting tired of journeymen like zeiler (no offense–and i mean that in both senses of the phrase).
[Reply]
txkingsfan Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@rontheking, you can’t look at Schenn’s contract in isolation. You have to look at it based on what other contracts will also be coming up at the time as well as the overall cap. If the Kings are forced to sign multiple guys at once, it limits their options.
[Reply]
Moondoggie Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
@rontheking, I’ve gotta agree with ya. Schenn has great hands and offensive sense. He sees the ice well. I knew that it was just a matter of time when he’d score his first goal as a King, then he got benched while TM & DL explored other options.
My gut feeling is that they don’t want to send him back to Brandon. My guess, he’ll stay up for the season; King will probably be sent back down making room for Brayden.
Just a guess I suppose. At this point, I don’t think the contract matters as much as getting some offense going, something Schenn certainly proved he’s capable of doing at Manchester.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:59 am
@rontheking, Not that I disagree with you, but it has nothing to do with money.
You start Schenn’s contract now, and he is a FA one year earlier than he could be. THAT is the sole reasoning, and a sound one at that.
[Reply]
This season is down the tubes w/o a scoring winger so why not play him in the bigs. Hay, TM why not the first line? Oh yea, you tried that already. Well TM keep moving lines and you will never find one that works. Spend some $$$ management and get a proven scorer. If Washington can trade, and they are in first place its OK if we do as well. After all 4 goals in 4 games may signal a basic problem……….and not a solution. TRADE DB, WS AND JJ!
[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@Jamer,
wow any other proven nhl starters you want to get rid of while you’re at it? why not kopitar as well?
has this blog been completely taken over by trolls?
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:01 am
@rontheking, Yes it has been. The #1 reason why I barely come by anymore. It’s all trolls and 10 year olds now.
[Reply]
slapshot Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
@Jamer, Well who can argue with this logic O.0,
Really?
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
@Jamer,
I hope you don’t have any kids, yikes!
[Reply]
as much as people think that Parse is not the answer. lets look at the stats more closely.
games goal assist points +/-
5 1 3 4 5
now those are damn good numbers. and he was not even 100%. some say that its because he played with kopi and even a grandma could get points. but has that happened with other wingers with kopi. i think not.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
@gcheng, He is a good player, and at 26 he is coming into his own and is a plus player.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
@gcheng,
To be fair, stats only tell part of a story. The most obvious part.
And yes, it has happened with other wingers, this year too. Do you think Brown would have 9 goals playing on the checking line?
[Reply]
DFW King Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
@gcheng,
Parse’s goal bounced in off his skate. Junk goals don’t really count.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:02 am
@DFW King, They absolutely do. Lucky Luc scored about 200 garbage goals, you want to tell him those don’t count? It’s about being in the right position to score those garbage goals…they all count.
[Reply]
Ersberg Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:12 am
@gcheng,
He’ll tank. He just doesn’t have the skill set to be a 1st liner.
Stats don’t always paint an accurate picture, a lot of his stats came from his linemates.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:02 am
@Ersberg, Disagree with you there. Most of Brown’s goals this season, he has created himself.
[Reply]
gcheng Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:17 am
@Ersberg,
if thats the case then why hasnt the other experimental wingers have gotten any points playing with kopi?
[Reply]
@Jamer,
so you’re willing to take out three proven young “core” players with long improving careers ahead of them in exchange for one proven scorer….
all right then!
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
@rontheking, Atta boy, give em hell Ron!
[Reply]
8ball Reply:
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:12 pm
puck73
better not to mess with RONTK.you don’t know
what that guy might do.
[Reply]
DL sent Shenn to minors not pay his salary $3.1M.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
@Alberto,
The 3.1M that was restructured to NOT be 3.1M so that he could play here in the first place? Oh and while you’re looking that up, think of an excuse for why he payed the NOT 3.1M 8 games already?
[Reply]
i think DL should make a play for dustin penner of edmonton. he is 28, a left win and pretty sure is not in their plans for the future.
edmonton are pretty thin in the backend and we have a lot to spare so it just might work.
[Reply]
Moondoggie Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
@gcheng, Well it’s not like the Kings don’t have the cap room. He is a LW; his +/- is a -4 which isn’t bad for a last place team and we could use the 7g/8a. I’m guessing he’d do some serious damage with Kopi. The question of course would be chemistry; what does Penner bring to the lockeroom??
But…I like the idea!
[Reply]
Mr. Nuff Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
@gcheng,
I’d prefer Ales Hemsky.
[Reply]
Ersberg Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 8:13 am
@Mr. Nuff,
Same here, Penner takes shifts off regularly.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:04 am
@Mr. Nuff, I would too, if he can gaurantee he can actually play a full season, healthy.
With Penner’s outrageous contract, I would be willing to give Edmonton a bag of used pucks for him, but only if they are willing to throw in Hall with him.
[Reply]
Hemsky is not available though. He’s part of their plan and if I’m not mistaken just signed a long contract not too long ago. Plus Penner with the bigger body is a better fit if I do say so myself. I like this idea, just don’t break the bank on such a deal.
I think like Moller, Voynov, and a 3rd/4th.
Is that overdoing it?
Maybe it’s just that I’m not that high on Oscar Moller’s future with our team.
[Reply]
gcheng Reply:
November 30th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
@T-Raw,
plus we need a left wing not another right wing and penner is 6-4 vs hemsley 6-0.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:05 am
@T-Raw, Hemsky also just stated recently that he does not want to part of a rebuilding process, and wants to win NOW.
[Reply]
I would be shocked if Schenn stayed on the roster. Let him go play in the World Juniors and stoke some more of his comnpetitive fire (I’m sure he would like another crack at the gold considering how it ended last year against the U.S.), save a year on his deal, and have him come back next fall as a more rounded player. It’s not as a slight to him or a “He has nothing left to prove in Brandon” scenario, but more to the overall maturation he needs to step into a bigger role next year.
[Reply]
Do you guys think we have a chance of landing Bogosian or Byufglien from Atlanta?
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:05 am
@TopShelf, no. Not a chance in hell, unless we are willing to give up EVERYONE, and play with Manchester.
[Reply]
Kopitar is the new version of Mats Sundin, never plays with true top line wingers lol. The kings went from 1st overall to out of playoffs, this is a massive tailspin. I think a trade should be made just to bring new blood and energy to locker room. They had to be crazy if they thought Zeiler was the one to do that. Im not high on Penner myself, overpaid and has alot of dry scoring spells.
[Reply]
Harty Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:37 am
@kingfletch, this can get turned around with basic, simple hockey….
-win the 50/50 battles
-win the bluelines, no giveaways or turnovers at blueline
-first to the puck in our end everytime
-dump the puck in and two on the puck, one on the body the other collects the puck
-work the walls
-play tough and smart
-quick line changes
-D move the puck with confidence not around the boards in our end
[Reply]
shenn should go back to juniors, save the year, let him play in the world juniors plus once brandon wheat kings season ends he can go to manchester to play with them during their playoff run…now that would be good experience.
[Reply]
jjallday Reply:
December 1st, 2010 at 9:54 am
@gb, i’m with you getting experience as a top line player which he hopefully will be in the juniors and then AHL playoffs is way better than sitting on the bench 2-3 games in a row
[Reply]
Trade JJ, SChenn, Moller and Drewiske to Pitt for Malkin and a defensemen.
Or at least, try to.
[Reply]