OSCAR MOLLER
This season: 34 games, 4 goals, 3 assists, 4 penalty minutes, 8:35 average ice time.
The good: All of the pieces are in place for Moller. He has skill, he’s a smart player and he’s a popular figure in the locker room. Despite his relative lack of size — he’s generously listed at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds — he’s a hard-nosed player who isn’t afraid to put himself in difficult areas, and his junior stats — a two-time 30-goal scorer — suggest that he has the ability to score at the NHL level.
The bad: It seems increasingly likely that, in order to stick with the Kings on a long-term basis, he’s going to have to crack the top six. The Kings have tried, several times, to fit in Moller on the fourth line, and even though he has the desire and heart to do it, it remains to be seen whether he has the size and strength. Consistency has also been an issue for Moller at the AHL level.
Going forward: Moller’s attitude and work ethic are cherished by the Kings. Terry Murray said Moller’s issue, going forward, is not necessarily “bulk” as much as it is “body control.” If Moller can play with an edge to his game, not get pushed around on the ice, and put up some points, he will have a solid future with the Kings.
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