On the Rise: Gabriel Vilardi
A fresh start for the former Kings first-rounder
The Los Angeles Kings shipped 2017 11th overall pick Gabriel Vilardi to Winnipeg in the offseason—not because they’d grown tired of waiting on him but rather because he turned a corner last year.
L.A. could thus offer a much stronger package to the Jets in exchange for Pierre-Lub Dubois’ services.
Though Vilardi’s raw tools don’t measure up to those of his trade counterpart, his arrival in Winnipeg does create intriguing lineup possibilities. He can play center or wing, feed his linemates or finish their dishes, and a heavier scoring burden should unlock the best version of him yet.
Here’s how he can boost his new club’s attack.
OZ Spacing
For a shooter, availability is king. Vilardi’s body hasn’t always cooperated, but when he is on the ice, he displays an innate feel for getting open.
The 24-year-old tendered his linemates attractive targets on a nightly basis in 2022-23. Whereas modern offenses encourage forwards to float to the point in order to ensure touches and sow confusion (e.g. Nathan MacKinnon), he sneaks away from traffic and into the high slot.
After all, he isn’t a play-driver at heart. He’s (LAK 13) a trigger man:
Vilardi thrives on the cycle. Since he understands when to lurk in the tall grass vs. when to flare out for a one-timer, you can’t puck-watch against him. He’ll drift into the action and fire a bullet before the defense can register the threat.
The fifth-year pro also claims smart routes on the rush. His average skating may actually benefit him in this respect, as he never finds himself playing too fast. He quietly susses out whether he should take a wide berth to stretch the defense, squeeze the lane to prolong the life of a shrinking window or trail the passer for a safe exchange. In short, his linemates enjoy a wealth of options.
Better yet, Vilardi appears to be healthy at long last. He looks confident in his 6’3”, 216-pound frame and is casting a larger shadow down low.
Here’s an example of his off-puck savvy in the trenches:
As the point pass slides toward him, he senses that he’s already below Arizona’s back line. Therefore, he lets the play come to him instead of meeting it halfway and choking off the good ice. Once Juuso Valimaki (ARI 4) reveals his intention of guarding the right circle, Vilardi sees the green light and cuts across the goaltender’s face for a glorious chance.
Thanks to his IQ and L.A.’s decision to plug him in front of the net on the power play, Vilardi’s average shot distance went from 25.8 feet to 21.0 feet a year ago. Naturally, the expected and actual goals followed:
He ended 2022-23 with a career-high 23 goals in 63 games. Oh, and his numbers were hampered by a center (Blake Lizotte) who brings both outstanding energy and extreme tunnel vision. The Kings’ buzz saw was so fixated on his own hustle that he often failed to capitalize on Vilardi’s knack for freeing himself up.
Suffice to say Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor won’t waste that talent.
Playmaking
Vilardi’s newfound comfort level is evident in his distribution as well. He now hangs on for that extra beat required to scope out his surroundings and choose the smartest path forward.
With his frame and puck control, he can extend plays until his team sets up shop below the dots. That’s where his offensive arsenal shines.
Although he isn’t a world-class passer, he boasts the processor to manipulate his club’s offensive pace, slowing the tempo to gain a numbers advantage or striking while the iron is hot. No matter the speed, he keeps his eyes on the teeth of the defense, probing for any gaps that might materialize:
In terms of his build and playmaking style, Vilardi bears a resemblance to—gasp—Corey Perry. His game is more smooth than fast-twitch. He’s quite crafty in tight too, leveraging his reach to work deceptive angles (sometimes in back-to-the-basket fashion) and exploit his opponent’s defensive triangle.
Perhaps most notably, he’s judicious in possession. As an offense-first player, he commits very few giveaways. He’s poised. Polished.
Watch how calmly he dissects Vancouver’s defense in transition:
Fresh off a Canucks turnover, he has Quinn Hughes (VAN 43) and Noah Juulsen (VAN 47) in his sights. However, the latter’s sharp track to the middle of the ice means he can’t properly defend a cut to the right side. Clean entry. Vilardi’s still ahead of his teammates, though, so he slams on the brakes and aims to pull in a backchecker, rolling out the red carpet for a straggler in the process.
Jack Studnicka (VAN 18) bites, and in a matter of seconds, the Kings upgrade their solo rush to a goal from prime real estate.
That’s the type of connection Vilardi can draw. It isn’t fancy. It won’t land him on SportsCenter. Yet he enables his line to govern the lion’s share of the puck (Kings-best 57.6 xGF% last season). His scintillating debut with the Jets on Wednesday night (92.9 xGF%) suggests even bigger and better things.
With his assist rate trending up, he’s starting to realize the dual-threat potential that compelled L.A. to select him 11th overall in the first place.
From a team perspective, Vilardi’s outlook may have dampened. Individually, however, this a dream scenario. He’s healthy, entering his prime and riding shotgun next to two established stars.
The promise is palpable, and he’s finally in position to fulfill it.