Prospect Watch: Jordan Weal
RinkRoyalty will be reviewing the progress of Los Angeles Kings prospects every Wednesday as the season continues into full swing.
This week’s edition of Prospect Watch takes a look at forward Jordan Weal.
Weal is a 22-year-old center for the Los Angeles Kings American Hockey League affiliate the Manchester Monarchs.
Jordan Weal is a 5’10, 179 pound native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Weal was drafted by the Kings in the 3rd round, 70th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Weal played his junior hockey for the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats. Weal’s first full season with Regina was 2008-2009. During that season Weal played in 65 games, registering 16 goals and an impressive 70 points, giving Weal the distinction of being a point-per-game player. That same year Weal played with Canada’s 17-and-Under team, winning a gold medal at the Ivan Hilnka tournament. Weal had 1 goal and 6 points in 6 games for Canada.
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Weal’s play made him a finalist for the 2009 WHL Rookie of the Year.
In 2009-2010 Weal became the first 17-year-old player to exceed 100 points in the WHL in more than a decade. Weal was the fifth player in the last ten years of Canadian Hockey League play to score 100 points in his second year of junior eligibility; the other four, just happen to be a list of superstars, were John Tavares – selected 1st overall in 2009, Steven Stamkos – selected 1st overall in 2008, Sam Gagner – selected 6th overall in 2007, and Tyler Seguin – selected 2nd overall in 2010.
Weal scored 35 goals and 102 points in 72 games. Weal finished 3rd overall for scoring in the WHL; only behind Brandon Kozun – a fellow Kings draft pick – drafted 179th overall in 2009, and Jordan Eberle – drafted 22nd overall in 2008.
After two more impressive seasons with Regina, in which Weal scored more than 40 goals and 95 points per season, Weal made the move to Manchester.
Weal had signed an entry-level contract with the Kings in 2011, before he started his last season with Regina. The announcement that Weal was signed by Los Angeles came on the same day as the announcement that the Kings signed forward Tyler Toffoli to an entry-level contract.
Weal’s first full season with Manchester in 2012-2013 he scored 15 goals and 33 points in 63 games. After getting adjusted to professional hockey, Weal has settled in. Last season, 2013-2014, Weal nearly attained his previous distinction of a point-per-game player. In 76 games he scored 23 goals and 70 points, that included a +28 plus/minus rating.
To start this year Weal attended the Kings training camp this season, and played four preseason games with the Kings before being sent down to Manchester. In 4 games Weal recorded 1 assist, 1 point, and a +2 plus/minus rating.
The criticism of Weal has been the same since he played Bantam hockey, he’s too small for the NHL. They said he was too small for the WHL, and he put up 100 points.
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Sep 25, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Jordan Weal (60) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin (23) battle for the puck in the second period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Kings don’t seem to be bothered by his size, but his lack of productive two-way play. Weal is certainly an offensive asset, but in the defensive zone he’s a liability. That’s why Weal’s in the AHL instead of a player like Andy Andreoff. Andreoff gets L.A.’s style of hard work at both ends of the ice.
That’s not to say Weal isn’t hard working, on the contrary he’s certainly improving. When playing for Regina in 2009-2010 Weal scored 102 points, but was just a +3. By 2011-2012 Weal had 112 points with the Pats, and his plus/minus improved to an impressive +31. Noted above, last season Weal was a +28. The fact that the Kings currently have a full roster is good for the young forward, he can keep improving and get to a point where he can be an effective two-way NHL player.
In 8 games so far, Weal leads the Monarchs with 8 points. He’s scored 2 goals and has a plus/minus of -1. The Kings have not called Weal up to the NHL yet, but he’s not far down the depth chart. With consistent improvement and his level of production Weal may suit up for his first NHL game before the 2014-2015 season ends.
We’ll continue to watch throughout the season. Hopefully Weal’s points will increase along with his plus/minus and defensive awareness.