Joined: Mar. 2019
Posts: 2,316
Likes: 2,214
As a Kings fan, Turcotte's development has been nothing but speed bump after speed bump, which is extremely concerning. Not the latest of which is a concussion that happened about a week ago after a MONSTER cheap shot from a Colorado Eagles player. This is his second concussion in his career (both happened this season).
Turcotte's health will come first before the Kings decide to do anything with him. That being said, I'd still take my chances on Turc over Casey, who I'm just not impressed with. At least when Turcotte is on the ice, I am always impressed with his play (even if it is AHL). And the fact that he was in the AHL was more due to 1) roster limitations/blocks in bottom-6 players with NHL contracts and 2) the desire to give him more time to put on muscle/grow into his body more. I don't think it's ever been a question of NHL skill needing more development for Turc.
Grans for Johnson is fine. It might even be another way for the Kings to ensure Brock Faber does sign with LA instead of going the 4-year college loop-hole route after next year. Faber is going to be a junior this year after just BARELY missing out on winning a Frozen Four championship, so I won't worry about that possibility unless he says at the end of next season that he's going to stay in college for his senior year.