Prospect Info: 2015 Draft Thread

[kingsfan]

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.

So are you saying they were fatigued as to why they lost those games? I'm unclear what you are implying.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I like that Meier attacks the net with the puck and isn't afraid of getting hit to get there. That's what this team needs more of. He's definitely not a perimeter player who will stick to the boards. He also plays with a chip on his shoulder, hounding opposing players until he retrieves the puck.

The kid has qualities that could lead to a successful NHL career. You can tell that this is a player who wants the puck on his stick. Whereas on the Kings you have a bunch of players who want to quickly get rid of the puck.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

So are you saying they were fatigued as to why they lost those games? I'm unclear what you are implying.

I'm saying fatigue affected their games, not a lack of heart/passion. It's not that they forgot how to play or execute, or stopped caring.

Regardless, we know whatever prospects are brought in will be new blood and fresh legs being molded by an experienced environment.

 

[MynameisKing]

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.

The hard checking that was lacking I'd chalk up to fatigue. They just couldn't sustain it throughout the year much less through 60 minutes of a game. Fast North/South guys are a good start but fast helps with line rush attacks and forechecking. Once the puck is in the O-zone that "fast" no longer applies. You're just North/South now. What I'm referring to "undersized/pure skill" forwards are ones who are "quick/sneaky/darting" kind of players. These guys can wiggle & slide through giants and don't really need much space and room to operate unlike our power forwards now who are such big bodies that there is no room at all to do anything. We only need just one or even two at the most. It's not gonna change Kings Hockey.

 

[damacles1156]

The hard checking that was lacking I'd chalk up to fatigue. They just couldn't sustain it throughout the year much less through 60 minutes of a game. Fast North/South guys are a good start but fast helps with line rush attacks and forechecking. Once the puck is in the O-zone that "fast" no longer applies. You're just North/South now. What I'm referring to "undersized/pure skill" forwards are ones who are "quick/sneaky/darting" kind of players. These guys can wiggle & slide through giants and don't really need much space and room to operate unlike our power forwards now who are such big bodies that there is no room at all to do anything. We only need just one or even two at the most. It's not gonna change Kings Hockey.

There are literally like nine of those guys in the Entire league you just described(That play at a High level).

Undersized skill guys remain career AHLers(or play in Euro) for a reason. so unless you know of a world class one going in this draft, the Kings will still continue to draft Size.

I know what people are thinking "Hey just pick a Johnny Hockey type Guy". Yeah their is only one Johnny hockey in the league, Their is only one Marty St lou. Their is only one Patrik Kane.

How many Dwight King type guys are in the league ? Tanner Pearson type players ? A lot, really a lot.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

There are literally like nine of those guys in the Entire league you just described(That play at a High level).

Undersized skill guys remain career AHLers(or play in Euro) for a reason. so unless you know of a world class one going in this draft, the Kings will still continue to draft Size.

I know what people are thinking "Hey just pick a Johnny Hockey type Guy". Yeah their is only one Johnny hockey in the league, Their is only one Marty St lou. Their is only one Patrik Kane.

How many Dwight King type guys are in the league ? Tanner Pearson type players ? A lot, really a lot.

And it's not like DL hasn't taken a swing. Look at Azevedo, Moller, Weal even, Watson.

 

[damacles1156]

And it's not like DL hasn't taken a swing. Look at Azevedo, Moller, Weal even, Watson.

Kozun/ O'Neill as well.

It's just the odds of you landing a Mike Cammy/Johnny Hockey type guy..Are awful.

You are better off trying to mold the guys that have size to play in the NHL.

You need roster players out of your top picks 1-3. Unless that undersized guy is a sure fire (Johnny Hockey was a hobey Baker winner) stud. The draft staff is not going to spend a prime pick on the undersized guy.

 

[KINGS17]

I expect Dean and his staff to follow their standard formula. If the best player available is a defenseman, that is the player that will be drafted. If the best player available is a big, mobile center, that is the player that will be drafted. Big wingers come next on their list.

A goalie will likely be taken by the 4th round.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I expect Dean and his staff to follow their standard formula. If the best player available is a defenseman, that is the player that will be drafted. If the best player available is a big, mobile center, that is the player that will be drafted. Big wingers come next on their list.

A goalie will likely be taken by the 4th round.

Painful to see that formula resulted in the selections of Hickey and Forbort over Voracek and Tarasenko. Me thinks they overthought on those picks, similarly as others did in passing on Toffoli in 2010.

 

[KINGS17]

Painful to see that formula resulted in the selections of Hickey and Forbort over Voracek and Tarasenko. Me thinks they overthought on those picks, similarly as others did in passing on Toffoli in 2010.

You make a good point, but I think the organization feels that a good young defenseman can always net you the forward you need in a trade.

We'll see. Remember they have also drafted kids like Zykov.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

And it's not like DL hasn't taken a swing. Look at Azevedo, Moller, Weal even, Watson.

did any of them get a opportunity to play in the nhl? A real shot no because dean doesn't want to have a small player. Big and strong over small and skilled is something that will happen good or bad 10 /10 times. Just face it Sutter and dean prefer big players

 

[SFKingshomer]

The Forbort and Teubert picks still don't bother me to this day. They went right where many scouts projected them. The Hickey pick was a reach and even Lombardi knew he should have traded down.

 

[kingsfan]

And it's not like DL hasn't taken a swing. Look at Azevedo, Moller, Weal even, Watson.

Only Moller was a top two pick. The others I wouldn't call a swing. Maybe a bunt.

A swing is someone like Ennis, P-M Bouchard, Briere, etc., someone taken high. LA goes big and thick-bodied early most of the time and saves the small and skilled for the end. Big stunner they didn't pan out.

I'm be fine with LA going after a guy like Anthony Beauviller in round one or Andrew Mangiapane if he falls to them in round two.

Painful to see that formula resulted in the selections of Hickey and Forbort over Voracek and Tarasenko. Me thinks they overthought on those picks, similarly as others did in passing on Toffoli in 2010.

Mehh, it sucks but all teams miss out. We miss out less than most other teams. Hickey for example, the logical pick at that time would have been Alzner. Is Alzner better? Yeah, likely, but is he someone we're missing out on? No. We took a swing on Hickey amount to something and maybe he would have if not for the knee injury. No loss though because the strategy pans out over the length of the draft and over the years. We didn't get Tarasenko, but we got Toffoli. I quite like the strategy we've been using, but we need to show we are flexible this draft I think and step out of the box a bit, go for a big swing in round one.

 

[417th]

I am happy that we are likely to see Forbort in the NHL next season with us. He is going to be a solid NHLer.

 

[William H Bonney]

I hope Dean picks Conor Garland in the 2nd/3rd round. He was passed over in last year's draft (mostly due to his size but he's gotten bigger since) but I think he's going to be player. He led the QMJHL in scoring this year and was also named MVP. He reminds me (and Craig Button) of Tyler Johnson, although I think Garland has better hands and not the same top end speed.

 

[Jericho111091]

Think Meloche will still be there for our second rounder? We obviously have a lot of D prospects, but could use a righty.

 

[kingsfan]

I hope Dean picks Conor Garland in the 2nd/3rd round. He was passed over in last year's draft (mostly due to his size but he's gotten bigger since) but I think he's going to be player. He led the QMJHL in scoring this year and was also named MVP. He reminds me (and Craig Button) of Tyler Johnson, although I think Garland has better hands and not the same top end speed.

I agree

 

[MynameisKing]

did any of them get a opportunity to play in the nhl? A real shot no because dean doesn't want to have a small player. Big and strong over small and skilled is something that will happen good or bad 10 /10 times. Just face it Sutter and dean prefer big players

Exactly. Would DL give Tyler Johnson a shot if we had him? Brendan Gallagher? Nyquist?

 

[MynameisKing]

There are literally like nine of those guys in the Entire league you just described(That play at a High level).

Undersized skill guys remain career AHLers(or play in Euro) for a reason. so unless you know of a world class one going in this draft, the Kings will still continue to draft Size.

I know what people are thinking "Hey just pick a Johnny Hockey type Guy". Yeah their is only one Johnny hockey in the league, Their is only one Marty St lou. Their is only one Patrik Kane.

How many Dwight King type guys are in the league ? Tanner Pearson type players ? A lot, really a lot.

The kings don't need that elite small guy. A Nathan Gerbe would probably suffice.

 

[kingsfan]

Exactly. Would DL give Tyler Johnson a shot if we had him? Brendan Gallagher? Nyquist?

Hard to say. While the Kings haven't given those small guys much of a chance, have those small earned one? Several have left the Kings organization and went elsewhere and have done very little there too.

 

[MynameisKing]

Hard to say. While the Kings haven't given those small guys much of a chance, have those small earned one? Several have left the Kings organization and went elsewhere and have done very little there too.

Like you said earlier. The Kings didn't focus too much on the smallish top end talent. The bigger bodied guys were preferred in early rounds. No wonder they never panned out.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

did any of them get a opportunity to play in the nhl? A real shot no because dean doesn't want to have a small player. Big and strong over small and skilled is something that will happen good or bad 10 /10 times. Just face it Sutter and dean prefer big players

Did any of them earn one? Kozun did and got traded and can't stick with the Leafs. Weal got blocked by cap but will be up tomorrow. Azevedo did nothing. Moller played and got murdered. Watson TBA. O'Neill MAYBE TBA. So yes, some have gotten a crack. I agree, all things being equal, the big dude will get the ice, and I don't have a problem with the organizations philosophy in that regard because 1. none of them have gone elsewhere to burn us and 2. really how many of those guys are really out there? We're talking about Gaudreaus (4th round), St. Louis (picked up on waivers), T. Johnson (undrafted). That's not some sort of failure by our organization, these guys are a needle in a haystack and it's not like we're not trying.

Only Moller was a top two pick. The others I wouldn't call a swing. Maybe a bunt.

A swing is someone like Ennis, P-M Bouchard, Briere, etc., someone taken high. LA goes big and thick-bodied early most of the time and saves the small and skilled for the end. Big stunner they didn't pan out.

I'm be fine with LA going after a guy like Anthony Beauviller in round one or Andrew Mangiapane if he falls to them in round two.
.

That's probably fair but I'd have to go back and see who was actually available at those times, i.e. were there actually smaller skilled forwards that would have been better picks. I don't really recall us really passing on someone.

Exactly. Would DL give Tyler Johnson a shot if we had him? Brendan Gallagher? Nyquist?

I'd say so. Jordan Weal has had comparable junior and AHL numbers to TJ and we tried to give him a shot earlier and will tomorrow. Same with Nyquist who went the college route that some of our prospects are taking. Brendan Gallagher just forced his way onto the Canadiens roster; we may not have given him a chance if he couldn't bull his way in, similar to Shore and Weal, but whose spot would he realistically take as of the beginning of this year?

This isn't some systematic failure of the Kings org is the point i'm trying to make. These guys are few and far between, EVERY org has more misses than hits on them, and you can't populate an entire lineup with them anyway or big teams run you over (i.e. Canadiens). Many of our draftees/invitees fail to distinguish themselves here and move on, there isn't some size-ist prejudice keeping them out of our system.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Like you said earlier. The Kings didn't focus too much on the smallish top end talent. The bigger bodied guys were preferred in early rounds. No wonder they never panned out.

Who was the smallish top-end talent available that we missed on? If anyone can answer that I'll happily concede. Just seems to be a growing meme in this thread.

 

[MynameisKing]

Well, let's hope Weal or O'Neill can show us something. Again, just one or two of these guys in the lineup (if they are able to hang) can make a difference. They bring a different element to the Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Well, let's hope Weal or O'Neill can show us something. Again, just one or two of these guys in the lineup (if they are able to hang) can make a difference. They bring a different element to the Kings.

Agreed, just a total change of pace. Would love to see O'Neill get a crack.