McNabb, Andreoff’s progress explained by Sutter

Even if they’re in their first full year with the Kings, there is some familiarity that joins Brayden McNabb and Andy Andreoff. Their new numbers – 3 for McNabb and 15 for Andreoff – are those formerly worn in junior hockey.

“I just kind of got used to it throughout the five years I was in Oshawa, so I was lucky that 15 was still available here,” Andreoff said.

Both players secured their place on the team by virtue of training camps that improved as the preseason progressed, leading to the decisions to waive Adam Cracknell and Jeff Schultz – who also strung together quality camps – in an attempt to assign both players to AHL-Manchester.

“I think they both got better as camp went on. Based on that, they’re deserving of a roster spot,” Darryl Sutter said. “I thought that Brayden especially, because of the position, it’s not easy. But I think one thing that we’ve seen from him is that he’s willing to really work on his game. He’s really coachable. Obviously he’s a left-handed defenseman – he plays only the left side – but he can play with any of our right-handed defensemen, which is something that I really like. A lot of times guys can only play with a certain partner. The way our righties are set up – hey, Drew’s Drew – and Slava and Greener are obviously different players. So to be able to say that we can comfortably put Brayden with any one of those guys, it’s good for him, it’s good for us.”

Though they play different positions, Sutter’s evaluation of Andreoff was similar.

“I thought he got better as camp went on,” Sutter said. “I think he’s got lots to learn, but he’s like Brayden in that sense, where he’s coachable. He wants to play in the NHL. Obviously…there are four guys at center ahead of him if they’re healthy, for sure, and there’s four or five left wingers for sure, so he’s slotted in the right place.”

Barring injuries or trades, the likelihood is that come Wednesday night, McNabb, Andreoff and Jordan Nolan will open the season as scratches, though the players’ own play and continued development will have an impact on their ability to absorb a larger role as the season progresses.

Brayden McNabb, on securing a roster spot:
It’s really exciting to be a part of the Kings. It’s an honor. It’s a great organization. I’m thrilled to be here and am just looking forward to getting better each day and hopefully crack the lineup.

McNabb, on wearing number three in junior hockey:
Yeah, I’ve always liked three and I was lucky enough to have an option to get it, so I’m happy with it.

McNabb, on becoming more acclimated to the team:
It was good. It was a pretty smooth transition being here last year for playoffs. The coaches do a great job of preparing the players and getting the systems down. It maybe took me a couple games to get everything figured out, but the last two or three games, I thought I felt pretty good with the systems, and there’s obviously still a lot to work on, and I’ll continue to do that.

McNabb, on getting more shots off in the preseason finale:
Yeah, good to get a little bit more involved in the offensive area. That comes with time, like I said earlier. I think I’m just going to get better as the season goes on.

McNabb, on skating with Drew Doughty in the preseason finale:
It’s awesome. He’s one of the best, if not the best, D in the league. That being said, it was great.

McNabb, on whether skating with Doughty provides a better appreciation of his game:
I mean, when you’re playing with him every shift, you really see how good he is and what he does with the puck and the little things [that] watching the game, you don’t really see and appreciate. He’s obviously a great talent.

McNabb, on Doughty’s on-ice communication:
He’s lots. He’s pretty loose on the ice. It kind of helps everyone else to be less uptight and stuff, so he’s good to have on the bench and obviously on the ice.

McNabb, on opening the season with the defending champions serving as a “childhood dream”:
It’s an honor. Like you said, it’s something you dream of as a kid. It’s here, but I’ve got to continue to work and try and get better.

Andy Andreoff, on the team’s communication through training camp:
Well, they said it’s a big summer for me, I have a good shot at making the team. So I worked with Payner throughout the summer and he helped a lot with a few things – just working on the wall play and stuff like that, faceoffs, little details that’ll help my game to make it to the next level.

Andreoff, on whether the team clearly laid out its roster options before camp:
No, not really. They just say ‘You’ve got a good shot this year.’ They can’t really say anything. You’ve just got to get ready for camp and be prepared to make the jump and be ready for camp.

Andreoff, on whether he was familiar with Brad Richardson, the last player to wear 15:
No, I didn’t. I heard he was a good player, all the guys liked him. It’s good for that number to be open still and to wear it.