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

[damacles1156]

TSN compared Kupari to Filip Forsberg.

Speed wise I would say that is fair. Creating offense wise.... ehhh No.

 

[kovacro]

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.

The crew on Sportsnet were saying he has a solid wrist shot. I think it was Sam Cosentino who mentioned it. He covers junior hockey for them and does a real good job of it.

 

[KINGS17]

St. Louis moving up to take Veleno?

 

[KopitarFAN]

Let me recognize that I know I have a bias against European players that play over there and aren't elite (I don't mean in-tems of production, but in regards to status going into a draft) as they are impossible to read without watching a ton of video and I just find it easier to take the player playing in Juniors or NCAA (from a fan perspective) because we know the competition, we can see the games if we want, thus judging the players by more than a box score.

 

[damacles1156]

The crew on Sportsnet were saying he has a solid wrist shot. I think it was Sam Cosentino who mentioned it. He covers junior hockey for them and does a real good job of it.

It's weak and has poor accuracy. It's not NHL caliber. Hence his lower goal production numbers. You can develop a better wrist shot. You can't coach Kupari's speed and puck skills, which is what the Kings are sorely lacking at all levels.

When you're picking 20th overall, a prospect like Kupari is just fine.

 

[SlimCharles]

There goes Bokk.

 

[kovacro]

I honestly wonder if some people on here actually get a chance to watch these kids play up close or atleast watch them regularly on tv/over the internet/etc.

Just find it hard to believe we are really dialled in enough to comment on most of these kids and have a solid idea on their strengths/weaknesses unless we are cobbling information from various publications/media outlets.

I freely admit my knowledge is limited, especially regarding the Euro prospects.

Now if we draft a Hamilton Bulldog, I can certainly chime in. Interested to see where Issac Nurse goes.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Kupari is the Tukonen pick all over again. Talented young European forward with several interesting tools but no real tool box.

These specific kinds of European players rarely make it to the NHL because they’re incapable of developing a bottom six skill set.

Veleno has a much greater chance at making it to the NHL as a bottom sixer at the very least.

Unless the Kings scouting staff are clued in on some secret that no one else knows, this was not a great pick.

Also, “no Kings draftee from 2015-present has played in the NHL.”

And yet we still get “in Futa we trust”

 

[kingsfan28]

Seriously, I went back just to make sure I heard Pierre say "If the Kings don't get their defense better, there will be problems" WTF?!

 

[Bandit]

Kupari is the Tukonen pick all over again. Talented young European forward with several interesting tools but no real tool box.

These specific kinds of European players rarely make it to the NHL because they’re incapable of developing a bottom six skill set.

Veleno has a much greater chance at making it to the NHL as a bottom sixer at the very least.

Unless the Kings scouting staff are clued in on some secret that no one else knows, this was not a great pick.

Also, “no Kings draftee from 2015-present has played in the NHL.”

And yet we still get “in Futa we trust”

It's been TWO seasons.

 

[kingsfan28]

Kupari is the Tukonen pick all over again. Talented young European forward with several interesting tools but no real tool box.

These specific kinds of European players rarely make it to the NHL because they’re incapable of developing a bottom six skill set.

Veleno has a much greater chance at making it to the NHL as a bottom sixer at the very least.

Unless the Kings scouting staff are clued in on some secret that no one else knows, this was not a great pick.

Also, “no Kings draftee from 2015-present has played in the NHL.”

And yet we still get “in Futa we trust”

You actually need draft picks to make that happen. Thanks Dean!

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I’m not saying the Kupari pick is off the board whatsoever. I’m simply saying he’s a boom/bust pick. Considering the Kings alarming lack of NHL ready prospects, I’d much rather they take the safe BPA, which Kupari was most certainly NOT at #20.

 

[damacles1156]

Kupari is the Tukonen pick all over again. Talented young European forward with several interesting tools but no real tool box.

These specific kinds of European players rarely make it to the NHL because they’re incapable of developing a bottom six skill set.

Veleno has a much greater chance at making it to the NHL as a bottom sixer at the very least.

Unless the Kings scouting staff are clued in on some secret that no one else knows, this was not a great pick.

Also, “no Kings draftee from 2015-present has played in the NHL.”

And yet we still get “in Futa we trust”

A lot will depend on if Kupari can transform his speed and puck skills to attacking as a winger. He needs to create offense then he can be highly successful.

He is a top six prospect or bust(in my opinion), doubt he will ever be successful playing 9-12 minutes a night on lines designed for grinding.

Blake/Futa swung for the fences. We shall see if they made out in a couple years.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

It's been TWO seasons.

The Kings have drafted abysmally since 2008. This is not a controversial opinion.

 

[Reaper45]

I tend to agree. I'd have been more ok with a true safe pick of a guy like Miller or Sameulsson or Wilde hell even Veleno. Not a big fan of boom or bust picks since the Kings usually bust on those kinds of picks.

 

[Bandit]

The Kings have drafted abysmally since 2008. This is not a controversial opinion.

I don't care to argue about it, but you said 2015. Now you're saying 2008. If you really want to be unhappy about this draft pick, be my guest.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

A lot will depend on if Kupari can transform his speed and puck skills to attacking as a winger. He needs to create offense then he can be highly successful.

He is a top six prospect or bust(in my opinion), doubt he will ever be successful playing 9-12 minutes a night on lines designed for grinding.

Blake/Futa swung for the fences. We shall see if they made out in a couple years.

That’s precisely my problem with the pick. The Kings should be bunting in safe runs, not swinging for the fences, IMO.

 

[LAKings88]

Kupari is playing against men. He is shifty and fast as hell. Not a bad pick at all. I'm ok with LA taking a bit of a chance.

 

[KINGS17]

I honestly wonder if some people on here actually get a chance to watch these kids play up close or atleast watch them regularly on tv/over the internet/etc.

Just find it hard to believe we are really dialled in enough to comment on most of these kids and have a solid idea on their strengths/weaknesses unless we are cobbling information from various publications/media outlets.

I freely admit my knowledge is limited, especially regarding the Euro prospects.

Now if we draft a Hamilton Bulldog, I can certainly chime in. Interested to see where Issac Nurse goes.

I thought Hamilton's team name was Mustangs.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This draft really hasn't been predictable and an indicator of just how everyone's list differs. I'm not going to be up in arms for what happens today. Now if they don't show results for a long stretch as they have done so for some time now, something will have to change.

 

[kingsfan28]

Button and MacGuire still think they're the smarted guys at the draft the way they talk about these picks.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I don't care to argue about it, but you said 2015. Now you're saying 2008. If you really want to be unhappy about this draft pick, be my guest.

Thanks for the permission, Dad.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

The Kings have drafted abysmally since 2008. This is not a controversial opinion.

That's asinine.

2009 - Schenn, Clifford, Nolan, Deslauriers, all NHL players
2010 - 5 picks....Forbort, Toffoli, Weal, Gravel, 4 NHL players
2011 - Andreof, Shore - NHL players, will give you this one though, wasn't a "great" draft but didn't have a #1
2012 - Pearson, Ladue, Miller - NHL players
2013 - Zykov, Brodzinkski, possible NHL players,
2014 - Kempe, Amadio, McKeown, NHL players or possiblity, not sure if McKeown can stick with Carolina
2015 - 6 picks, too soon too tell
2016 - Clague, the next Doughty apparently, 4 picks total
2017 - Vilardi, next Kopitar, JAD etc,

To say it's been absymal is just ignoring the facts.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

That’s precisely my problem with the pick. The Kings should be bunting in safe runs, not swinging for the fences, IMO.

I remember when Derek Forbort and Colten Teubert were safe picks. Erik Karlsson would have been swing for the fences...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I’m not saying the Kupari pick is off the board whatsoever. I’m simply saying he’s a boom/bust pick. Considering the Kings alarming lack of NHL ready prospects, I’d much rather they take the safe BPA, which Kupari was most certainly NOT at #20.

Most rankings and scouting services had him ranked above #20.