Comments on: Wayne Simmonds Turns Heads Again, But Size Could Be A Problem

By: AzKing

AzKing — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:34:51 +0000

Gann, as usual, you are doing more work and should be getting more credit than people who do it for a living. My hope is the more exposure you get, the more recognition will come with it.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:35:05 +0000

Based on what I hear on the radio and read (since pre-season games aren’t televised so I haven’t actually seen him play), Simmonds has the grit, attitude, and skills to be an asset to the Kings now. Those of you who have seen him play, help me out here: Is it too much of a reach to say that his game in some ways resembles O’Sullivan’s and as such, could fill that slot while Sully’s situation plays out? I tell you what, if I’m an opponent watching Simmonds and Brown coming at me, I know this will only end painfully for me… The Kings may not post many wins this season but they sure will be fun to watch.

By: BigBoi88

BigBoi88 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:27:13 +0000

Wayne IS the real deal, went to high school with him and have followed him since his start in owen sound. At first glance everyone notices the weight and yes it is an issue, but he has all the tools in place to be an excellent NHL’er and i hope only the best for him.

also, anyone thinking that his slim build means hes a pushover, you thought wrong.

good luck simmer

By: Dippy

Dippy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:26:23 +0000

If he can get up to 185, this kid is going to be dynamite. Caught a couple Owen Sound games when I was up North last year, he is the real deal. Great intensity and a pretty fluid game, it’s no wonder he impressed the Hockey Canada folks and made the team.

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:40:31 +0000

Yes. During the Development Camp and throughout the summer, they work with the Kings’ strength and conditioning staff. In fact, many of the prospects were supposed to stay in LA to work with them through early August before going home for a few weeks before training camp back here next month.

By: cristobal

cristobal — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:14:05 +0000

Do these young guys have access to good trainers and strength coaches, or are they left to their own devices outside of LA?

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:40:19 +0000

One thing to keep in mind…hockey players tend to lose weight during the season because they have little time to hit the weight room between practice and games. And during practice and games, they lose weight.

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:38:54 +0000

That stat is the most recent available from the Kings and from the Owen Sound Attack, but is probably what he weighed to start last season. That said, his legs still make me think “toothpicks” right off the bat, so he still needs to bulk up…big time.

Thanks for the kind words…now go tell every Kings and hockey fan you know about it! :-)

By: triplcrown

triplcrown — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:23:53 +0000

You’ve got an excellent website, by the way.

Good job!

–triplcrown

By: triplcrown

triplcrown — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:23:10 +0000

Wow, is that 162 lbs for SIMMONDS right NOW?

I saw that weight listed for him LAST season.

I figured he would add a few lbs onto that by now.

He hasn’t gained ANY weight this past year?

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:37:53 +0000

No…it means that, although he’ll be 20 years old when the 2008-09 season begins, making him eligible to play in the AHL (or ECHL, for that matter), he has a year of junior eligibility left.

I doubt very highly the Kings will want him to return to the OHL.

By: triplcrown

triplcrown — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:29:49 +0000

I’m a little confused by this part:

“ext season, Simmonds is likely to wind up with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate. However, even though he is twenty years old, he could find himself back in the OHL.

“I have an over-age year in the OHL, but next year, I’m eligible to play in Manchester,” said Simmonds.”
===========================================
That doesn’t mean he ISN’T eligible to play in the AHL this coming season, does it?

I’m not 100% clear on that.

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:33:31 +0000

That’ll have to wait until training camp.

By: cristobal

cristobal — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:30:02 +0000

gann, other guys i’d like to know about where their heads are: handzus and calder. It would be great to know their attitude with the new coach and a new season in which the kings will need them to improve.

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:24:42 +0000

ericd: You’re referring to Teubert, right?

By: ericd

ericd — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:12:53 +0000

185-190… but he’s 6’4″…

By: Gann Matsuda

Gann Matsuda — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:56:42 +0000

You want info on Teubert? I’ll have a story on him eventually, probably later this week or the following week. Gotta spread around the interviews I have to keep things going over the summer. :-)

By: cristobal

cristobal — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:27:20 +0000

Gann, any idea what weight Teubert is currently hovering around?

By: cristobal

cristobal — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:26:31 +0000

Get this guy some meat and potatoes because he needs the great size to go with his great attitude. I love to hope for a guy like this because, from the little i’ve heard, he sounds like a good kid that respects his abilities. At 6′-1″ he should be able to get up to around 210 eventually. His metabolism is probably going like gangbusters and I would even guess he has trouble sleeping after a full day of work, like I used to be. Good luck kid and get on the exercycle and pull ups.

By: Bob Bobson

Bob Bobson — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:00:26 +0000

Great article Gann. The height is there but the weight is something he will really need to work on. He seems to be a hard-enough worker and has really come a long way since being drafted in 2007 so hopefully he can continue working on his size. I really like this pick and he has the potential to be a diamond in the rough for Dean Lombardi.