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Prospect Info: 2015 Draft Thread

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I'm interested whether they will go for broke with a high upside high risk pick. I imagine they'd have interest in Pavel Zacha, if he falls a bit could be a realistic trade-up scenario. His shot is Jeff Carter level potentially even better as he also has a ridiculous one-timer/slapper. He is also more physical, similarly fast and of similar size and has great hands. His hockey IQ is a bit questionable, though I don't know how much of that is just acclimating himself to the smaller ice. He is more similar to Carter in the sense that he creates more off-the-rush with speed than a guy like Kopitar that dictates the play in 3 zones, but I think Zacha could end up a hybrid of those styles if developed properly, right now I have a couple of issues with his puck-support but I think the Kings development staff could fix that. He can play both center and wing. I think he'd be a great pick for the Kings if they're looking for a cornerstone type of pick and he falls a bit (right now projected mostly in 5-10 spots).

The other high-upside high risk pick would be Jeremy Roy who reminds me stylistically a bit of Doughty, in the sense of how he wants to be a difference maker on the ice and in his puck-movement, but he doesn't quite have the same naturally high skill level as Doughty does. Very competitive kid and very high confidence as a puck-mover, also has those forays where he gets involved like Doughty does.

Mathew Barzal is a highly skilled C with elite vision, good skater. Mid-sized. If they're looking at a guy that might be a top 6 center, he's another high upside guy that might be available around there. He likes to pass A LOT, and even though he can score he sometimes passes up scoring chances or overhandles the puck. Really high skill level and vision though. Elusive.

Kyle Connor is a do-it-all wing/center. Mid sized, very skilled, good skating, two-way player, good shot, good playmaking, and competes well. Really a guy that excels at everything but maybe doesn't have one stand-out quality that would really blow your shoes off, that is aside from his hockey IQ and his ability to be involved in the play a lot.

Then you have some other guys who are in the Kings vein like Travis Konecny and Brandon Carlo. Konecny is slightly smallish but elite skater and competitor with good skill level and an elite shot. He might have one of the best skill-to-competitiveness ratios in the entire draft. He's been used at center and wing, but I think he's almost certainly a wing at the NHL level. And Carlo is a 6'5 mobile defenseman that is also competitive but quite raw overall, right now he looks like a primarily a defensive D with a huge reach and mobility but he does have some puck-skills so there might be a bit more there. Although I am a huge fan of those guys, I think I'd really like to see Kings go for a slam-dunk pick this year, something that would really sustain their window in the future. And for my money around where they pick, I'd REALLY try to go for Zacha who in my opinion has top 5 tools in the draft but perhaps isn't quite as a sure thing as some of the guys ranked ahead of him, they will still have to move up almost certainly a couple of spots to have a realistic shot at him though.
 
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If you asked what is the biggest area of need, it might be a Center. (Moving Carter to the wing.)
One of these guys + Rantanen + Konecny (C/RW) should go to the Kings:

1 McDavid, Connor Center Erie OHL (C)
2 Eichel, Jack Center Boston University H-EAST (C)
3 Hanifin, Noah Defenseman Boston College H-EAST
4 Crouse, Lawson Left Wing Kingston OHL
5 Strome, Dylan Center Erie OHL (C)
6 Werenski, Zachary Defenseman U Michigan BIG10
7 Marner, Mitchell Center London OHL (C)
8 Zacha, Pavel Center Sarnia OHL (C)
9 Barzal, Mathew Center Seattle WHL (C)
10 Provorov, Ivan Defenseman Brandon W

I like the write up on Konecny. He is compared to former NHLer Pat Verbeek (Jersey).

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2015/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Travis-Konecny
 
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apadilla said:
If you asked what is the biggest area of need, it might be a Center. (Moving Carter to the wing.)
One of these guys + Rantanen + Konecny (C/RW) should go to the Kings:

1 McDavid, Connor Center Erie OHL (C)
2 Eichel, Jack Center Boston University H-EAST (C)
3 Hanifin, Noah Defenseman Boston College H-EAST
4 Crouse, Lawson Left Wing Kingston OHL
5 Strome, Dylan Center Erie OHL (C)
6 Werenski, Zachary Defenseman U Michigan BIG10
7 Marner, Mitchell Center London OHL (C)
8 Zacha, Pavel Center Sarnia OHL (C)
9 Barzal, Mathew Center Seattle WHL (C)
10 Provorov, Ivan Defenseman Brandon W

I like the write up on Konecny. He is compared to former NHLer Pat Verbeek (Jersey).

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2015/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Travis-Konecny
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I really like Provorov. I think he is going to be a solid 3/4 guy if not a fringe 1/2 pairing guy. Toss up between him and Hanafin for me as the top deman on the board.

Bonus is he is already playing in NA in the WHL.
 
I hope somehow Hanifin falls like Fowler did and we get him. I don't share Mittens assessment that Hanifin won't be an offensive contributor, the kid is going to be really good. He looks like Doughty when he skates with the puck. At times he gets running around in his own zone, but that's normal for an 18-year-old. The intangibles and skill is off the charts for this kid, he's going to be an elite defenseman and has home run potential. If he falls out of the top five I hope DL looks at swinging a trade.
 
Preface - I do not watch a bunch of junior hockey and most of my knowledge on draft prospects is from reading the scouting reports -

That said, I want Timo Meier. 6'1" - 209 lbs as an 18-yr old. 44 goals and scouting reports say he is defensively responsible.

From http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=95921

A physically dominant winger with the ability to play in a skill or character role. In the offensive end, Meier is very aware and gets himself into spaces where he can easily make seeing eye passes or snap hard, accurate shots. Can impact the game in a number of different ways, and is very consistent in his efforts. All-in-all, the kind of versatile player that you can put on a skill line, and trust to create dangerous chances, or on a shutdown line, and trust to help stop pucks from going into your net. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)



That sounds like a Kings-type player to me.
 
I just hope DL/Futa roll the dice this draft. We have a lot of good all around types, Kempe likely will project into a skilled 2nd/3rd tweener, Maybe like a Michal Frolik (though likely at centre). Outside of Zykov and second tier guys like Prokhorkin and Weal, there's not much pure skill in the organization, and I for one think Zykov is vastly overrated on these boards. Same goes with the D, we have plenty of prospects but few project to be anything great offensively.

We need some skill to replace guys that are aging out over the next five years. Arguably the best offensive player we have taken in the last five years was Toffoli and he's just this season playing top two lines. Five years from now almost our entire top six forwards are north of 30 as things stand now, so I'd be fine with going for a skilled forward with a few question marks.
 
Who are some of the names for our 2nd round pick #43-44?

That Meier kid sounds interesting.

Konecny is 5'10, so he's out unfortunately.

I can see LA having interest in Jeremiah Addison at some point (not in the 1st round), same with Graham Knott
 
jimmy1100 said:
Preface - I do not watch a bunch of junior hockey and most of my knowledge on draft prospects is from reading the scouting reports -

That said, I want Timo Meier. 6'1" - 209 lbs as an 18-yr old. 44 goals and scouting reports say he is defensively responsible.

From http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=95921

A physically dominant winger with the ability to play in a skill or character role. In the offensive end, Meier is very aware and gets himself into spaces where he can easily make seeing eye passes or snap hard, accurate shots. Can impact the game in a number of different ways, and is very consistent in his efforts. All-in-all, the kind of versatile player that you can put on a skill line, and trust to create dangerous chances, or on a shutdown line, and trust to help stop pucks from going into your net. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)



That sounds like a Kings-type player to me.
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I like Meier. Powerful and slick moves.
 
Fat Elvis said:
Who are some of the names for our 2nd round pick #43-44?

That Meier kid sounds interesting.

Konecny is 5'10, so he's out unfortunately.

I can see LA having interest in Jeremiah Addison at some point (not in the 1st round), same with Graham Knott
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You are definitely correct in the thinking about Konecny, but hopefully, and I say hopefully, Kings brass will take the following into consideration: (dang, 150 lbs.)

Johnny Gaudreau
#13, LW, Calgary
Johnny Gaudreau

Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
G 23
A 39
Pts 62
+/- 9
PPP 21
 
kovacro said:
I really like Provorov. I think he is going to be a solid 3/4 guy if not a fringe 1/2 pairing guy. Toss up between him and Hanafin for me as the top deman on the board.

Bonus is he is already playing in NA in the WHL.
Click to expand...

Taking the BPA is the way to go. I just hope it is a forward.
 
apadilla said:
You are definitely correct in the thinking about Konecny, but hopefully, and I say hopefully, Kings brass will take the following into consideration: (dang, 150 lbs.)

Johnny Gaudreau
#13, LW, Calgary
Johnny Gaudreau

Height: 5-9
Weight: 150
G 23
A 39
Pts 62
+/- 9
PPP 21
Click to expand...

He said with LA's 2nd round pick at 43rd or 44th. Even Calgary didn't give Gaudreau that much consideration, the picked him in the 4th round, 104th overall.

There's also a reason why his production -and even being in the NHL- at his size is exceptionally rare. It'll likely be another decade before there is a Johnny Hockey Part 2.
 
kingsfan said:
He said with LA's 2nd round pick at 43rd or 44th. Even Calgary didn't give Gaudreau that much consideration, the picked him in the 4th round, 104th overall.

There's also a reason why his production -and even being in the NHL- at his size is exceptionally rare. It'll likely be another decade before there is a Johnny Hockey Part 2.
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I threw out his name because someone had mentioned him earlier in this thread. His numbers are impressive, but history suggests that LA picks a bigger player. I'm curious who some players are that project to the 2nd 3rd round.

Nicolas Roy at 6'4 C is interesting at #43, but his numbers didn't really change from last season to this. Cause for pause imo. Not at #43

John(Jack) Roslovic in the 3rd would be a good get.
 
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LA seems to either go with a guy who has fallen a bit in the second round (Toffoli, McKeown) or they go off the board (Simmonds, Clifford, Litenuemi).

Best bet is to look first and foremost at the guys character. LA doesn't seem to take a guy with question marks in work ethic very often and if they do it's usually the late round (Ebert for example).
 
Thank you!!! I was trial/erroring the hell out of it hoping to get it fixed before anyone could see it.

EDIT: Current ISS List for April has him at 15, McKeen's March rankings have him at 13 and Central Scouting final has him at 10.
 
I like Konecny. Very intriguing. Sounds like a young Mike Richards w/ all the talk of leadership and intensity. Unfortunately we have seen how Richards body broke down playing above his size. That breakdown accelerated playing Kings Hockey. If the Kings ever decide to go with an undersized forward, I'd rather them be finesse and pure skilled than a guy who plays bigger than his size. These guys though commendable, are not going to be doing well in the Kings system in the long run.
 
jimmy1100 said:
Preface - I do not watch a bunch of junior hockey and most of my knowledge on draft prospects is from reading the scouting reports -

That said, I want Timo Meier. 6'1" - 209 lbs as an 18-yr old. 44 goals and scouting reports say he is defensively responsible.

From http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=95921

A physically dominant winger with the ability to play in a skill or character role. In the offensive end, Meier is very aware and gets himself into spaces where he can easily make seeing eye passes or snap hard, accurate shots. Can impact the game in a number of different ways, and is very consistent in his efforts. All-in-all, the kind of versatile player that you can put on a skill line, and trust to create dangerous chances, or on a shutdown line, and trust to help stop pucks from going into your net. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)



That sounds like a Kings-type player to me.
Click to expand...

The Kings need to go away from our type of players for a bit. The Kings have too many "Kings-type" players and need some more skilled guys. Look at the guys that always light them up P. Kane/Johnny hockey/the Sedins...smaller quicker skilled guys! We need some of those guys to keep up with other team. Someone that can create chances on their own.
 
Meier - Looks like a younger Dustin Brown w/ better stickhandling and vision without the falling down part. Liked how he just bulls his way through defenses.
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
The Kings need to go away from our type of players for a bit. The Kings have too many "Kings-type" players and need some more skilled guys. Look at the guys that always light them up P. Kane/Johnny hockey/the Sedins...smaller quicker skilled guys! We need some of those guys to keep up with other team. Someone that can create chances on their own.
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I agree. We're too one-dimensional! A whole line-up of north-south power forwards would be strategically easy to defend against.
 
If you ask me, the Kings are too soft. How many hard fore checking games can you count this season..

You know, Kings hockey 2012 type games ? I can count them on one hand.

Not enough fast/young, North/South guys if you ask me.
 
damacles1156 said:
If you ask me, the Kings are too soft. How many hard fore checking games can you count this season..

You know, Kings hockey 2012 type games ? I can count them on one hand.

Not enough fast/young, North/South guys if you ask me.
Click to expand...

While I think the high number of playoff games comes into play here, I frankly question the heart of the team. We are fighting for our playoff lives and lose to Edmonton? That's not the same team that rallied from a 3-0 deficit against a much better Sharks team, yet it has mostly the same personnel. We lost 4-1 to Vancouver, 3-1 to Calgary and 4-2 to Edmonton, three games we really were the better team on paper yet got skated around.

I almost never question a teams heart (outside of Toronto this season anyway) so maybe heart isn't the answer, maybe it's hunger? Is there even a difference? I just watched to many shifts this season, especially down the stretch, where we were getting skated circles around and it was hard to identify any level of intensity. That game against Edmonton, they were as flat as three day old pop. They were as flat as a runway model. It just didn't seem like they had anything left in the tank, physically and emotionally.

May be time for an oil change, get some new faces in here. Same culture, but new faces that don't have cup rings or haven't won anything in a while.
 
kingsfan said:
While I think the high number of playoff games comes into play here, I frankly question the heart of the team. We are fighting for our playoff lives and lose to Edmonton? That's not the same team that rallied from a 3-0 deficit against a much better Sharks team, yet it has mostly the same personnel. We lost 4-1 to Vancouver, 3-1 to Calgary and 4-2 to Edmonton, three games we really were the better team on paper yet got skated around.

I almost never question a teams heart (outside of Toronto this season anyway) so maybe heart isn't the answer, maybe it's hunger? Is there even a difference? I just watched to many shifts this season, especially down the stretch, where we were getting skated circles around and it was hard to identify any level of intensity. That game against Edmonton, that were as flat as three day old pop. They were as flat as a runway model. It just didn't seem like they had anything left in the tank, physically and emotionally.

May be time for an oil change, get some new faces in here. Same culture, but new faces that don't have cup rings or haven't won anything in a while.
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It might just be semantics but fatigue sounds a lot different to me than 'a lack of heart.' I think this team's heart is beyond reproach after the run they just put together, imho. It's not like they forgot how to forecheck or get to the net, they just literally would not have any speed to get on the forecheck and were repeatedly caught from behind coming out of the zone.
 
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