GDT: 2018 NHL Entry Draft--Round 1 | Fri, June 22, 4:30pm; Rounds 2-7 | Sat, June 23, 8:00am

[ScoreZeGoals]

Taking a headcase in the first round is a massive gamble

 

[Bandit]

Just showed a blurb from a website that he could end up being one of the top offensive players to come out of this draft.

Yeah it's just funny to listen to these knobs. "Kings need defense!!!!" I mean, they're not wrong, we need a top 4 d that can move the puck so we don't spend the whole game in our end, but a team that scores what? 3 goals in 4 games? kinda needs some offense...

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Kupari will be lucky to ever set foot in the NHL. He either becomes a legit top six scorer, or stays in the Finnish league forever. What a terrible pick with Veleno on the board.

 

[KingsHockey24]

We just drafted Leonardo DiCaprio.

 

[KINGS17]

That's a trade the Kings probably could have made with the Rangers and still picked a player like Kupari.

 

[Bandit]

Kupari will be lucky to ever set foot in the NHL. He either becomes a legit top six scorer, or stays in the Finnish league forever. What a terrible pick with Veleno on the board.

You can say that about 60-70% of these kids. Don't stress about it too much.

 

[kingsfan28]

Pierre saying the Kings need defense, watch the games nerd!

Both him and Button said it. They had the top defense in the league. The other point, they allowed Vegas only 7 goals in the series, that was not all on Quick, because you know the defense.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Pronman's take on Kupari:

"20. Los Angeles Kings: Rasmus Kupari

Center, Karpat-Liiga

March 15, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 183 pounds

There are a lot of tools to like in Kupari’s game. He’s a very strong skater who explodes out of his first few strides and puts pressure on defenders using his speed. His stride is incredibly smooth, with so much power coming from every push off. Kupari also has high-end puck skills, and can make skilled plays in tight and off the rush. I’ve seen flashes of good playmaking from him, but I don’t think he’s a high-end passer. Rather, I see Kupari more often as a very good north-south attacker who can make crafty plays with the puck or use his above-average shot. He needs time to round out his game, and to learn when to play quick and when to slow plays down. But his potential is among the very best in this draft class.

Pronman’s take: Kupari joins Gabriel Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan as three high-end center prospects in the Kings system, with my suspicion one or more of them will be moved to the wing. Kupari didn’t get much playing time this season, so he might need a bit of time to develop, but he has massive upside between his speed and puck skills."

Pronman: Pick-by-pick breakdown of the NHL draft first round...

 

[kovacro]

I only get the opportunity to watch the OHL up close so I tend to stay away from commenting unless it’s someone I have seen in person a couple times.

I leave it up to publications or those ‘experts’ that have seen these kids play regularly.

Hoping this kid turns out. Some positive stuff mentioned about him. The one negative I did hear is that he can tend to be selfish with the puck.

As mentioned earlier, he’s years away so hopefully he keeps trending upwards and will contribute one day.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

You can say that about 60-70% of these kids. Don't stress about it too much.

Fair enough that picks 20 and beyond are all pretty much crapshoots, but drafting Kupari with Veleno and Bokk still on the board is utterly bizarre to me.

 

[Reaper45]

Not thrilled with the pick but not hating it completely either.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

https://www.tsn.ca/rasmus-kupari-centre-1.1085918

Rasmus Kupari at eliteprospects.com

He turned 18 just three months ago and was playing against men with Karpat. He has tremendous potential, and he has a great set of hands and feet. Might be similar to Kempe in terms of his skill set, so it'll be TBD as far as seeing just how high his window is in terms of creating offense, but to be disappointed with the pick now? Come on guys.

 

[Statto]

Prospect Of Interest: The 411 on Rasmus Kupari - Sportsnet.ca

Kid moves well and has a nice release. There’s a nice highlight reel on sportsnet.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Fair enough that picks 20 and beyond are all pretty much crapshoots, but drafting Kupari with Veleno and Bokk still on the board is utterly bizarre to me.

Why? Most "experts" have a pretty fluid tier right in that area where any of the players were pretty much equivalent. Kupari was ranked as high as 12 on some publications I saw. Bokk is obviously talented, too, but I don't see how picking Kupari is a big swing or terrible pick or anything like that.

 

[CowMix]

Seems like a lot of teams are passing on the players people wanted instead of Kupari

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

And it should be noted that Veleno has fallen waaaaaaay off the map since last summer. I'm not sure I understand why people think he was the guy the Kings should have taken there.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Fair enough that picks 20 and beyond are all pretty much crapshoots, but drafting Kupari with Veleno and Bokk still on the board is utterly bizarre to me.

They still continue to drop. It happens. Look at Toffoli in 2010. Thankfully in that case the Kings became the beneficiaries of that one. The one solace I take out of that draft

 

[LAKings88]

Kupari is pretty shifty in highlight films.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Kupari is two years away from being two years away

 

[funky]

Veleno still falling for some reason. Ranked 10 in Hockey News and 11 by ISS

The Hockey News ranks Kupari 25th. ISS had him ranked 15.

I haven't followed prospects to much this year. All I have is the guides and websites to rate these guys.

Bokk rated 28th by both Hockey News and ISS

 

[damacles1156]

Rated to go around 20th overall. It's a fine pick that meets an area the Kings are lacking even in the AHL. Speed and puck skills.

Kupari will most likely be transitioned to a winger and the Kings will work on his wrist shot (it's sub-par). He is a three year project at the minimum.

 

[SlimCharles]

Veleno is obviously overrated.

 

[johnjm22]

Fair enough that picks 20 and beyond are all pretty much crapshoots, but drafting Kupari with Veleno and Bokk still on the board is utterly bizarre to me.

There's nothing really impressive about Veleno.

Kupari is playing against men and can be brought over to the AHL sooner.

The pick is not off the board at all.

 

[damacles1156]

Veleno is obviously overrated.

Meh people said the same about Toffoli and Voynov.

 

[KingsHockey24]

TSN compared Kupari to Filip Forsberg.