Forget Schenn, Could Toffoli be Joining Kings Soon?

Truth be told, you can't forget about Brayden Schenn - he's omnipresent.

Prior to the WHL Playoffs staring this past weekend, Schenn stopped by MayorsManor and shared his biggest fear heading into his opening round series with the Price Albert Raiders. Forget the fact that the Saskatoon Blades finished the regular season as the best team in the 'Dub. He was concerned with the Raiders barn - saying "when it's small and it's not a very big rink size, that could be a scary part."

Adding fuel to his worries, the Blades lost last night - game three of the series, but the first in Price Albert's tiny building.

With the recent injuries to Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams, Kings fans everywhere have began asking about the possibility of Schenn's return to LA.  However, as reported, he (basically) can't come back until the Blades are eliminated from the playoffs.

It remains to be seen exactly when that will be. Game four of that series is later tonight. [updated at the end of this article]

But, but, but...

Interview with Hockey's #1 Prospect - Brayden Schenn

Schenn (photo by Steve Hiscock)

If there was a Justin Bieber of hockey, it most certainly would be Brayden Schenn.

Rarely does a pro prospect garner as much interest as Schenn has over the last year.

Like Bieber, he's everywhere. Schenn's world tour this season has seen him make stops in Los Angeles, Manchester, Buffalo, Brandon and now Saskatoon.

All the girls have crushes on him, all the guys want to be like him. He's uber cool and an unstoppable force...and he's yet to score his first NHL goal.

Plus, if you hit up the local newsstand (do people still do that?), you'll see his face plastered on a magazine cover too! Schenn was just announced as the overall number one NHL prospect by The Hockey News.

Earlier this week I spoke with WHL scoring champion Linden Vey and OHL scoring champion Tyler Toffoli. Today, our 'prospect playoff preview' continues - it's a conversation with Brayden Schenn...

Interview with WHL Scoring Champion Linden Vey

If you've been following along all season - of even half way paying attention - you know that many of the Kings prospects are having exceptional years.

Linden Vey, a fourth round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, would have to rank right up at the top of the list, having just won the WHL scoring race on Sunday.

His 116 points (46 goals, 70 assists) helped lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a third place finish in the WHL's Eastern Conference and they'll begin their 2011 playoffs this Friday night against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Here's a bit of a season recap and playoff preview with the newly crowned scoring champ...

MM: So - Linden Vey, WHL scoring champion - how does that sound?

LV: Obviously it's been a long year and I wouldn't have thought at the start of the year that this is something that would be happening right now. But, it's been a good season and I have to give credit to my team. I don't think I could have done it without my team. We have a good group and we've had a good year. We reached 100 points and we've all had a good year this year.

MM: You had 24 goals in each of the last two seasons and then nearly doubled that with 46 goals this season, why the big jump? What do you attribute that to?

Special Seasons Continue for LA Kings Prospects

Over the past few seasons the Kings have been blessed with stellar performances from several of their prospects playing junior hockey.

Andrei Loktionov won a Memorial Cup in 2009, Thomas Hickey captained Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, Brandon Kozun was the CHL's Top Scorer and Martin Jones the WHL's Top Goaltender - just to name a few.

This year, the club has already had a representative on all three medal winning teams at the World Junior Championships (Maxim Kitsyn/Russia gold, Brayden Schenn/Canada silver and Derek Forbort/USA bronze).

And things are heating up in all three of the CHL circuits, the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.

In fact, it's not inconceivable that the Kings will have representatives on all four teams that make the Memorial Cup Tournament (comprised of the three league champions and the host city).

Kitsyn is now playing for the OHL's Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. They're hosting the tournament, so he's in.

Here's an update on three of the other leading candidates:

No Hollywood Script for Brayden Schenn's Return

Five different teams and over 100 different teammates, yet when it was all said and done Brayden Schenn found himself back home again - in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The former NHL first round draft pick started the year in Los Angeles with the Kings. Since then, as has been well documented here on MayorsManor, he's played in the AHL, at the World Junior Championships and ultimately was traded.

On that day he was shipped from the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) to his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

As luck or scheduling would have it, the two teams were set to meet the very next day. However, due to a should injury, destiny would have to wait...until last night, when Schenn's new team traveled to Brandon to take on his former club.

The Blades were riding high, winners of 11 straight and undefeated with Schenn in the line-up. Meanwhile, the Wheat Kings were rebuilding after hosting the Memorial Cup last season.

Prospect Showdown - Schenn vs Weal

Over the past few weeks several of the Kings top prospects have been facing off in junior hockey.

First, it was Maxim Kitsyn vs. Tyler Toffoli in the OHL (recap here) and more recently Jordan Weal took on Linden Vey (recap here).

Now, it's time for the big dog. Brayden Schenn, the Kings first round draft pick in 2009, will meet Weal and his Regina Pats tonight in Saskatoon.

Schenn, who has only played six games with the Blades since being traded there a few weeks ago, is coming off his best game of the season.

Last night he was hit hard in the first period by Brett Ferguson of the Red Deer Rebels. After laying on the ice motionless for a few minutes he eventually shook off the cob webs and ended up scoring two goals and added an assist - the first multi-goal game with his new team.

The second one was also his 100th WHL goal.  That's not even close to a record though.  In fact, former King Ray Ferraro scored 108 in one season back in 1983-84 for Schenn's old team, the Brandon Wheat Kings. 

Kings Junior Prospects Square Off, plus Schenn

Over the last few years there has been a steady stream of encouraging news coming from the Kings prospects playing in junior hockey. They've had players win medals for their national teams at the World Junior Championships - including gold, silver and bronze this year - as well as made waves in the CHL.

Right now, they're sitting pretty with the leading goal scorers in the WHL (Linden Vey) and OHL (Tyler Toffoli), two of the three circuits making up the Canadian junior league.

A few weeks ago their top two prospects in the OHL, Toffoli and Russian sensation Maxim Kitsyn, faced off (recap here).

Last night it was time for two of their WHL prospects to do the same - plus Brayden Schenn had a memorable game.

Vey (4th round, 2009) and his Medicine Hat Tigers traveled to Regina to take on Jordan Weal (3rd rd, 2010) and the Pats. Weal finished last season with the third most points in the WHL, trailing only fellow Kings prospect Brandon Kozun and Jordan Eberle.

He's having another strong season and added a goal and two assists (and was a plus-2) in this game. However, the Tigers won 4-3. Vey increased his totals with another goal and assist as well. That gives him a league-best 81 points (32g, 49a) in 45 games.

Meanwhile, it wouldn't be a WHL report without some news on Schenn...

OFFICIAL: Brayden Schenn Traded by WHL Team

Finally!

The longest running question this season - Where will Brayden Schenn be playing his next game? - has been answered.

As reported here yesterday, the Brandon Wheat Kings have officially traded him to the Saskatoon Blades.

Having already played with four different teams this season (the Kings, Manchester Monarchs, the Wheat Kings and Team Canada), Schenn now joins the top club in the WHL standings.

The Blades gave up two first round draft picks, one second rounder and a first round selection in the Import Draft to acquire Schenn, MVP of the recent World Junior Tournament. As if that wasn't enough, Brandon also received two top prospects (Ayrton Nikkel and Tim McGauley) as part of the deal.

Blades GM and head coach Lorne Molleken said "The Saskatoon Blades are extremely pleased to be able to acquire a player of Brayden Schenn’s caliber. It has been a long process. When you are making a deal of this magnitude there is a lot of time and deliberation put into it."

It has to be a somewhat bittersweet moment though, as Schenn was the captain of the Wheat Kings - yet, now gets to finish his junior career with his hometown team and a club in first place overall in the WHL.

This move also gives him a strong chance to play for the WHL Championship and perhaps the CHL's Memorial Cup.

REPORTS: Brayden Schenn Traded by His Junior Team

It's been talked about for weeks and it looks like it may have finally happened...

Unlike most NHL trade rumors - which usually don't end up coming to fruition- this speculation appears like it's about to see the light of day...

Reports say Brayden Schenn has just been traded by the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) to his hometown Saskatoon Blades.

The Kings first round draft pick in 2009 will be playing for his fifth team in the last six months. After starting the year in LA, he saw time in Manchester (AHL), with Brandon and then finally Team Canada at the World Junior Championship - where he just won the silver medal and came home with a separated shoulder that will sideline him for the next two weeks.

Brief notes at the center of the trade: