Player evaluation: Moller

i-b95ae5bf7e66e0007ce9d7617994f9d2-mollermug.jpg

OSCAR MOLLER
This season: 40 games, 7 goals, 8 assists, 16 penalty minutes, 13:22 average ice time.
The good: The Kings didn’t plan for Moller to make the team this season, but he forced their hand with an outstanding training camp. At times, he certainly displayed an NHL-caliber game, and a surprising amount of his offensive production came on the power play (five of seven goals, four of eight assists). Moller’s ability to play center and wing made him versatile, and he has the potential to fit on any of the Kings’ four lines.
The bad: He’s small. Really small. But he’s also young (20), with the potential to pack on some bulk, which he will need to do in order to make a big impact at the NHL level. Moller was doing pretty well until he left, in mid-December, to play for Sweden in the World Juniors. He hurt his shoulder, missed almost two months, and was never really the same after that. Moller often found himself as a healthy scratch in important March games.
Going forward: There’s little doubt that Moller is an NHL player, and that he has the potential to bulk up enough to earn a bigger role next season. Moller’s work ethic and competitiveness have been two of his biggest stengths since draft day, and wherever the Kings are headed, he’s going to be a big part of their future. The question in training camp might be, is Moller ready for a top-six forward role?

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email