News Clips 4-20-17
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News Clips 4-20-17 FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: things to point the iPhone at. Takeoffs and landings were vogue, as were hotel views from Vancouver and the occasional Dwight King smile. But some of April 19, 2017 the most interesting shots were of the focus and By: Jon Rosen preparedness at ice level before a game, or the Quick Coaching Search Update subtle images of teaching and communicating between a player and a coach during practice. Some Hi! Many, many thanks for clicking on this article of these photos were shared on the site or social even though the gist of it was shared in the media; several of them are Instagram screenshots headline. There’s nothing major to report on the and have been filtered. All were taken by me, other Kings’ search for their next head coach, and brief than the odd photo I appear in. My apologies that correspondence with hockey operations indicates many of these photos are blurry and terrible, but that at this time it hasn’t widened beyond John hopefully there’s an interesting view of the 2016-17 Stevens, who is still at “the center of discussions,” season as chronologically viewed from ice level, the according to a team source. press box, and from 33,000 feet. PREVIOUSLY: 2014-15 photo This represents no public change from six days ago, archive | 2015-16 photo archive when Vice President / General Manager Rob Blake prioritized a thorough evaluation of Stevens and his styles and philosophies before deciding whether the April 18, 2017 search would expand to other candidates. It appears By: Jon Rosen that thorough process of vetting and interviews is Scouting Reports On Iafallo, Reddekopp, Who still taking place. Signed ELCS John Hoven also noted that management is taking a While the main focus of the Los Angeles Kings look at Jim Montgomery, who interviewed in remains its attempt to find a head coach, the club Calgary last season, according to Elliotte Friedman, did sign a pair of players during the Easter LAKI and just won a national title with Denver Hiatus, including one who the club had recruited University. I checked in briefly on that this and become closely acquainted with during his morning, and while his name was also mentioned 2016-17 senior NCAA season. off-hand, it appears any link between him and Los Angeles still appears to be more gossamer than Those two players are defenseman Chaz concrete at this time. I would imagine the Kings Reddekopp, a 2015 seventh rounder whose 19-year- may have kicked tires in that direction – is that even old season with the Victoria Royals ended two a saying? Can you kick tires in a direction? I weeks ago, and Alex Iafallo, a University of suppose you can – but at this point nothing appears Minnesota-Duluth senior free agent who led all to be be settled or imminent. Friedman previously NCHC skaters with 51 points. The former received reported that the Kings’ next coach would have a three-year ELC, the latter a two-year ELC (and NHL head coaching experience. the valuable encouragement from fellow Bulldog and Amateur Scout – United States Tony Gasparini More to come later in the week… for matriculating at what he described as our nation’s top public university). April 19, 2017 RELATED: How Do ELCs Work? By: Jon Rosen Updating The Archives: 2016-17 In LAKI The team’s efforts to sign Iaffalo took shape over Photos the second half of the 2016-17 season and was described by Gasparini as a group effort consisting In a hockey season nearly free of snow and Munters of a consortium of himself, Director of Amateur units, there were still some vaguely worthwhile Scouting Mark Yannetti and Amateur Scout-United States Ted Belisle. They watched Iafallo so to development camp with Tampa Bay in 2015 and consistently that there was always one Kings 2016 and with Boston in 2015. representative present from his NCHC playoffs through the NCAA title game. The efforts to The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Reddekopp has always educate him on the Los Angeles organization began been known as a player capable of providing snarl earlier in the year, and the team remained close with and hard minutes in less glamorous areas of his his family, his family advisor and the UMD defensive zone, but beyond the rough veneer there coaching staff, who were all said to be receptive. appears to be a player with some additional skill Gasparini made the trip to Duluth to meet him and being peeled away. The 19-year-old recently returned with a good sense of Iafallo’s focus and completed a 10-goal, 43-point, 51-game season with character. the WHL’s Victoria Royals, where his heavier attributes meshed well with an ability to move the “He fits the mold of the type of young man that the puck crisply and confidently. Kings have had success developing into NHL players,” he said. “He’s a very driven young man, It’s too early to say whether Reddekopp, who got and he’s very passionate about his game and very into two games with AHL-Ontario last week, will detail-oriented. I thought his attention to detail was be able to transfer the attributes he showed at the outstanding this year and during his maturation junior level to the professional game, but according process throughout college.” to Brent McEwen, Los Angeles’ Amateur Scout – Western Canada, the team liked the way the In terms of his actual skill package, it begins with defenseman moved the puck and displayed strong his legs. Described as a “speed-based left wing with vision. very good touch around the net,” Iafallo’s game began to mature with added responsibilities and a “When he got it, he knew what he wanted to do widened workload over his final two years at with it,” McEwen said, noting the defender’s ability Duluth, where he appeared in all situations. This to make reads quickly and be aware of plays that season, he potted 21 goals as part of a 51-point, 42- had to be made. As his junior career began to game senior campaign. unfold, so did his ability to read the ice well and make that transition pass. “They don’t advance to the Final game and win the NCHC championship without his efforts,” said Of course, Reddekopp was a seventh round draft Gasparini, who noted Iafallo’s effectiveness on both pick, so there are caveats. His skating, though it has the forecheck and in back-pressuring situations. His improved during his time in Victoria and with the biggest asset is clearly his speed, which allows him Kings’ development team, is what separates him to attack open ice quickly and take away ice while from someone who could theoretically make a checking and was one of the main reasons Los quick impact at the professional level. As someone Angeles was attracted to his game. who turns 20 in one month, he will be eligible to be returned to the Royals for his overage season or Iafallo, voted to the NCAA Frozen Four All- play professionally for the Kings, and that decision Tournament Team, was also named to NCAA West won’t be made until training camp. Regional and North Star Cup All-Tournament Teams and was chosen the MVP at the NCHC But Reddekopp has always had a good base of Frozen Faceoff as part of a senior season that ended being hard to play against deep in his own zone – with a 15-game point streak. His collegiate career “he makes players uncomfortable playing against comes to a close with 48 goals and 121 points in him,” McEwen said – that has combined well with 152 career games over four seasons with UMD. some interesting ability when the puck is on his stick. The six-foot, 190-pound forward does not turn 24 until December 21 and was a teammate with Jonny “Not just outlet plays, but he passes the puck hard Brodzinski with the 2011-12 Fargo Force. He went up into the neutral zone and makes long, penetrative passes,” McEwen said, noting the advantages of being multi-faceted and not just a “hammer-down- April 18, 2017 low guy.” By: Jon Rosen A Few Quick Prospect Notes The team liked the way he moved the puck and the vision he displayed while scouting him in his draft A fine Tuesday morning to you, Insiders, and thank year, and since then, his feet had become quicker you for your patience as we resume regular blog and his confidence grew as he progressed year over duties following an extended holiday weekend. year. This is also a player credited with 11 WHL Some of the news from this post has already been fights, according to HockeyFights.com. shared in commenting or elsewhere over the World Wide Web, but as we transition back to the work Named Victoria’s best defenseman in season-end week, it’s time to recap what has recently taken awards, Reddekopp played through injury late in the place. Several stories here will be expanded on later year, as the Victoria Times-Colonist noted. today. Reddekopp broke his foot blocking a shot KINGS SIGN IAFALLO: I’ll have a more Feb. 15 in Medicine Hat and missed the rest informative post coming up later, but the Kings, as of the Western Hockey League regular first noted by the Buffalo News, added to their season before almost willing himself back for prospect pool over the weekend in signing Buffalo- the playoffs.