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Prospect Info: 2015 Draft Thread

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Brad Doty said:
Exactly. We've already lived through that era here, too, so you would think we'd already have that ingrained. For every Tanner Pearson, there's a Pavel Rosa. For every Tyler Toffoli, there's a Petr Kanko. And for all the d-prospects we have in the system, I guarantee no more than 4 have substantial enough NHL action to call it an NHL 'career'. That's no slight on their abilities, it's just a numbers game at some point, unless we have the best stable in the history of hockey.

It's okay to be hopeful and love their promise, but penciling three current prospects in onto our second line at ANY point is optimistic. It's the same issue I have with everyone handing Buffalo the 2018 Stanley Cup.
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We all know some to most prospects won't live up to their potential. But the line up I had with the young guys wasn't our team. It's where they would go in the lineup if the spots our open.

The Kings have guys signed long term like Gaborik, Carter, Brown and hopefully Kopitar soon that will be in some guys way. Adding those guys and prospects together will give us a better team. It doesn't mean Weal would be our 2nd line center because that Carter's spot. But saying that's where his potential should be. If he get blocked by Carter then he should be moved to get talent in a spot that is weak.
 
Brad Doty said:
Exactly. We've already lived through that era here, too, so you would think we'd already have that ingrained. For every Tanner Pearson, there's a Pavel Rosa. For every Tyler Toffoli, there's a Petr Kanko. And for all the d-prospects we have in the system, I guarantee no more than 4 have substantial enough NHL action to call it an NHL 'career'. That's no slight on their abilities, it's just a numbers game at some point, unless we have the best stable in the history of hockey.

It's okay to be hopeful and love their promise, but penciling three current prospects in onto our second line at ANY point is optimistic. It's the same issue I have with everyone handing Buffalo the 2018 Stanley Cup.
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Especially when two of the three hadn't played a pro game in North America until about a week ago.
 
kingsfan said:
Especially when two of the three hadn't played a pro game in North America until about a week ago.
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Holy ****! That wasn't supposed to be the Kings starting lineup. There's no Kopitar, Carter, Brown, Gaborik and others under contract! That's just a rough view of where there potential should spot them in the lineup if there are spots open for them. The lineup would most likely be like this if there's no roles (Depending on if they meet their potential)...

Top rated potential guys make the open spots...

Kempe--Kopitar--Gaborik
Pearson--Carter--Toffoli
Brown--Shore--Zykov
Mersch--Dowd--Brodzinski

That's just potential only and not counting how they fit into roles...like there's no way Brodzinski is a 4th line energy checker (spot should go to Auger). Or counting guys like Lewis, King, Clifford, Nolan that might still be around in the bottom 6.
 
Roy would be a great pick if he dropped to the 2nd round. 21 by CSS NA and 29 by ISS. I think he would be a great RH puck mover similar to Voynov.

Commentating in French seems hard.
 
Buzz Kyligton jokes would be sweet.


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Legionnaire said:
Would be thrilled if we took Roy. Doughty is who he patterns his game after.
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I say in my videos, never to make an assessment of a player based off of one game. That said, this was an ugly, ugly game for Roy. Both his play with and away from the puck were very sloppy, and he has a tendency to make long, unsafe passes (although I'm not sure if that's by direction from his coach). Nonetheless, he still has a good set of tools, and I would love to see more footage of him. Too bad when I'm watching hockey, most of this year it has been focusing on one game just to make these videos.

Jeff18 said:
Roy would be a great pick if he dropped to the 2nd round. 21 by CSS NA and 29 by ISS. I think he would be a great RH puck mover similar to Voynov.

Commentating in French seems hard.
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I had no idea what the announcers were saying, and I almost provided my own commentary for the reason that I didn't know how many people would understand the video. I decided against it, however, and figured the people watching were just focusing on the prospect anyway.

I should actually take some French classes. Don't know a lick of it.
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
Holy ****! That wasn't supposed to be the Kings starting lineup. There's no Kopitar, Carter, Brown, Gaborik and others under contract! That's just a rough view of where there potential should spot them in the lineup if there are spots open for them. The lineup would most likely be like this if there's no roles (Depending on if they meet their potential)...

Top rated potential guys make the open spots...

Kempe--Kopitar--Gaborik
Pearson--Carter--Toffoli
Brown--Shore--Zykov
Mersch--Dowd--Brodzinski

That's just potential only and not counting how they fit into roles...like there's no way Brodzinski is a 4th line energy checker (spot should go to Auger). Or counting guys like Lewis, King, Clifford, Nolan that might still be around in the bottom 6.
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Ok, so how about this then.

Not all of them will reach their potential and odds are only one or two will ever, EVER, be top two line material. Pencil them in wherever and however you want, odds are that groups is a bunch of Dwight Kings at best. That's not a bad thing but that's not a group you can bank on to fill a top two line void, which was the whole point of this discussion. That clear?
 
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People are seriously overrating Kempe and Zykov. Both guys have a long way to go.

Kempe is not even that offensively gifted. He is more of a project, than Tanner Pearson was. The Kings picked Kempe, due to his size and skating, not his hands.
 
damacles1156 said:
People are seriously overrating Kempe and Zykov. Both guys have a long way to go.

Kempe is not even that offensively gifted. He is more of a project, than Tanner Pearson was. The Kings picked Kempe, due to his size and skating, not his hands.
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True, nothing new here. Imaginations are pretty powerful things when watching other teams in the playoffs. This was the norm here 5-6 years ago. Doubt any of these kids have an impact in the next couple seasons. I hope they're better than 3rd line wings, but I'm realistic enough to know not to hope too much. Next season in Ontario, I can use my "eyeball" test to see where they really are.
 
The thing I really like about Kempe is his ceiling after hearing his comments after his first AHL practice about that being the hardest he's ever skated. If he'd been playing that well at 17 vs. men in a great hockey league, imagine what he's going to be like with some development with us. I think Pearson is a good comparable with shot and everything.
 
Just watched a big highlight package of Zacha. Holy moly, kid is going to be an absolute terror. I would not be upset if we moved up to pick him instead.
 
Zacha may go anywhere from 6-11, don't know if he'll sneak through below that.

What assets could the Kings dangle in addition to the 13th pick to move up? Their second round pick this year or another prospect?

If the Kings really want him, Lombardi would'nt be afraid of making an aggressive move to be in a position to get the player his scouts want.

A complete 180 from when Dave Taylor would sit on his hands and let the draft play out.
 
I hope that's what Dean does and explores aggressively trading up for Zacha. With the Kings development staff, I'm not worried about him fixing some of the issues in his game, plus he fits the Kings style like a glove. He is the one guy outside the obvious top of the draft that in my mind has potential to be a cornerstone piece. It's the kind of pick that would have a huge impact on extending the Kings window, if Zacha hits his upside fully. There's a lot of other guys who are going to be good players around that 13 spot like Connor, Konecny, Zboril, Chabot, Meier, Bittner etc. or someone out of the blue but I don't think any of them look like they have the potential to be a key piece, some good top 6 forwards and some good second pairing defensemen type of players, at least at this point in time. But Zacha is the guy that really jumps out as having that kind of key player potential, at least to me.
 
Pavel Zacha reading material:



http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=130786
Ranked #4 by Hockeyprospect.com
Ranked #10 by ISS Hockey
Ranked #13 by Future Considerations
Ranked #9 by McKeen's Hockey
Ranked #8 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
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http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=743383
"He's got high-end skill and is an excellent competitor; he plays an excellent two-way game," Central Scouting's Chris Edwards said. "In the game I saw him play he broke up a few rushes in his own end and transitioned up the ice really well. He's physical and solid on his skates and can separate guys from the puck."

...In addition to his offensive numbers, Zacha has helped linemate Nikita Korostelev join him as an A-ranked skater by Central Scouting. Korostelev leads Sarnia with 14 goals and 33 points in 29 games.

"His on-ice talent speaks for itself, but he has been just as valuable off the ice for our hockey club," Sinclair said of Zacha. "He's a natural leader with high character and has been a great fit for us."
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http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/stings-pavel-zacha-an-nhl-draft-wildcard/
As a top NHL prospect and Sarnia’s most dangerous player, he was no stranger to being targeted. He also knew that as a highly touted prospect playing outside Europe for the first time, he would face constant questions about whether he could acclimatize to the North American game’s physicality.

He knew he had to throw hits, had to prove he could make use of his massive frame, but he was suspended when he did. Letowski, sensing the frustration, sat Zacha down for a talk. “He’s got an edge to his game; he plays hard. And I really don’t want him to lose that,†Letowski says. “But it has to be controlled.â€
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http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/t...a-and-other-prospects-from-the-world-juniors/
“My dream was to play in Canada when I was growing up,†he said. “I want to learn the Canadian style of hockey because I want to play in the NHL and people said I should learn English, learn the culture over here.â€

He’s got the English nailed down pretty well and the culture is a work in progress. For a kid whose dad cooked him special meals for training days back home in the Czech Republic, Zacha has been forced to be careful in major junior.

“I cook a lot myself because some meals, I can’t eat,†he said. “There are a lot of hot dogs over here – it’s good, but unhealthy, so I can’t afford to eat that during the season. I just make meat and rice before games.â€

Playing at nearly a point-per-game pace for Sarnia, Zacha’s season has been interrupted twice due to suspensions. Once was for a slewfoot and the other for a charge, but he’s taking responsibility for his actions.

“The first one for the slewfoot, I was pissed off,†he said. “It was a stupid penalty and very bad – I watched it on video after. But it helped me; you learn from your mistakes and I will never do it again.â€
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http://www.mynhldraft.com/2015/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Pavel-Zacha
Zacha is perhaps the most NHL ready centre after McDavid and Eichel as he is physically ready to play at the pro level. Zacha plays somewhat of a power game using his size to drive to the net and hold off defenders. He plays a physically aggressive style as evident in his two suspensions.

Zacha is not afraid to go into the greasy areas and dig out pucks for himself, rather than rely on teammates to do the dirty work for him. He is an offensively dynamic player with a hard shot and a quick release. A high energy player with an equally high compete level that could graduate to the NHL next season.
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Brad Doty said:
Just watched a big highlight package of Zacha. Holy moly, kid is going to be an absolute terror. I would not be upset if we moved up to pick him instead.
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I forget where I heard/saw it but there was a story/write up on Zacha and they talked to some Kings scouts/management. The scouts/management thought he could make the Kings next year. :D
 
Jeff18 said:
Roy would be a great pick if he dropped to the 2nd round. 21 by CSS NA and 29 by ISS. I think he would be a great RH puck mover similar to Voynov.
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I could see Roy going mid-first round (albeit, Kings pick is a little high). At a certain point, Central and ISS are nice barometers but they aren't necessarily going to be accurate.

There was a good quote about Central from Gare Joyce's book where he got to ride shotgun with Columbus for their 2006/07 draft efforts. Went something like NHL teams generally respect the job that Central does, but basically disregard their rankings after the midseason report. Teams usually look at Central's list to see if they happen to have some guys highly ranked that the team hasn't gotten to see yet. Central does the best that it can, but they don't have the resources of an NHL team.
 
kingsfan said:
And my point is it shouldn't drop off at all. It should go up. Look at junior careers for offensive forwards. They consistently increase year after year and for those who don't see an increase, many never reach the NHL.

You think it's a good thing if Toffoli's numbers stayed about par with his rookie season this season? Same thing for Zykov. He should be well ahead of those rookie totals.
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Zykov got injured and missed most of the season. If not for that he has his best O output during his time in the Q or at least all stats point to him doing so.
 
The more I see of Zacha the more I think he would fit the Kings style, just as you guys are saying. We are definitely going to have to trade up to get him. I don't think there's any way he makes it out of the top-10. Probably in the 7-10 range.
 
Ziggy Stardust said:
Zacha may go anywhere from 6-11, don't know if he'll sneak through below that.

What assets could the Kings dangle in addition to the 13th pick to move up? Their second round pick this year or another prospect?

If the Kings really want him, Lombardi would'nt be afraid of making an aggressive move to be in a position to get the player his scouts want.

A complete 180 from when Dave Taylor would sit on his hands and let the draft play out.
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I'm not sure if its enough but Weal and our first could get us a move up imo Weal is ready for his cup of coffee and that would hold some value to a team looking for a nhl ready center on a elc
 
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