There are several interesting Kings notes in Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts column, which leads off with one NHL executive saying “Colin Miller is ready to play in the NHL now,” and a nod to Derek Forbort’s impressive Calder Cup run.
There was also this, in Thought #2:
“Have you ever been to the rink in Manchester?” Canucks GM Jim Benning said Saturday. (No.) “They have a banner showing all of the players who played here on their first Stanley Cup team. Then, they have a banner with all of those who played on the second one. They are the gold standard of our business, drafting and developing. That’s what we want to get to.”
Friedman also noted, as I have also heard, that Kim Dillabaugh, Goaltending Development, is being sought as a goaltending coach by multiple teams. There’s also an interesting bit on potential interest in Bill Ranford, and how some NHL teams treat their goaltending coaching and development hierarchy.
Regarding Friedman’s note on excellent two-way Avalanche center Ryan O’Reilly, whom the Avalanche are listening to offers for, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the Kings are kicking his tires, even if they’re pressed against the cap and O’Reilly will cost $6,000,000 in 2015-16 before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. According to one source within the organization, the Kings were extremely high on O’Reilly leading into the 2009 NHL Draft (as many teams were) and had pursued trades to move up to try to be in position to select him. Colorado ultimately selected him at 33rd overall, and the Kings were more than happy to nab (eventual) two-time Stanley Cup winner Kyle Clifford at 35.
Anyway, back to Friedman’s work. It’s the best column in hockey. You should read it.
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