In the previous post, Dean Lombardi referenced minor-league players who could fill Moller’s roster spot when Moller plays in the World Juniors. I asked Lombardi which players he had in mind, and he said Brian Boyle and Trevor Lewis, both of whom are now in Manchester. Boyle has two goals, three assists and a minus-1 rating in six games since being sent down, and Lewis is tied for the team lead with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) and has a minus-3 rating.

LOMBARDI: “With Brian being down here now, you hope it’s a similar situation to the way O’Sullivan improved after he went down. That step backward can be a critical part of the learning process. Trevor Lewis has been one of the most dependable players down here. He has really grasped a lot of the little things he will need to do in order to succeed. He’s been one of the key guys down there in terms of doing things right. He’s close to deserving a shot. He’s young and he’s got a lot to learn, but he’s like a sponge. Anything he’s told, he tries to improve on.”

To follow up, just to clarify, I asked Lombardi if he was intending for Moller to return to the Kings after the World Juniors.

LOMBARDI: “That’s the game plan. He still could go back to junior, but that’s not something that’s a plan. He’s being evaluated day to day, regardless of where he is.”