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

[damacles1156]

At this point I am fine with Blake/Futa taking a shot 20th overall. The Kings need a boom/bust pick to work out.

That can't happen if you don't ever try.

 

[kovacro]

I thought Hamilton's team name was Mustangs.

Well played!

It was actually shot in Hamilton. Solid flick.

 

[deaderhead28]

If these players are so great,why won't Blake trade back into the first?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

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.

Clague the next Doughty? Vilardi the next Kopitar?

Okay.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Veleno's sure popular tonight.

 

[johnjm22]

There is no "safe" pick at 20.

The Kings drafting since 2008 has been better than average.

The reason no Kings draftee from 2015 and 2016 is in the NHL is because they didn't have first round picks those years. They took defensemen in the 2nd round which take longer to develop.

 

[KINGS17]

Okay, I think the NHL GMs are starting to cream themselves over these smaller defensemen. There are still big forwards out there, and they will kick the crap out of defensemen that are too small.

 

[kovacro]

If these players are so great,why won't Blake trade back into the first?

Because there isn’t much difference between 15-45?

That’s what some ‘experts’ and scouts have said anyway.

 

[damacles1156]

There is no "safe" pick at 20.

The Kings drafting since 2008 has been better than average.

The reason no Kings draftee from 2015 and 2016 is in the NHL is because they didn't have first round picks those years. They took defensemen in the 2nd round which take longer to develop.

There really isn't.

Also with the roster the way it is, the Kings need to take some swings at boom or bust type guys.

 

[SlimCharles]

Hmm, sure looks like Veleno is pretty overrated.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

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.

You have to admit, you can compare that with other teams over that time and the results for the Kings aren't much better than other teams.

Listing names like Weal, Gravel, Shore, Andreoff, these guys are dime a dozen scraps.

Brodzinski, LaDue, Amadio, they still have done nothing yet. It's a very average drafting team for a while now, but part of that is because Deano was gung ho on trading high draft picks, or simply used them on duds.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I was hoping for Bokk but after doing some research and watching some video I really like Kupari.

 

[KopitarFAN]

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.

That is worth noting, and he didn't get much ice time. I don't hate the pick, just think their were better players (not just Veleno, though i'm thinking their is a bigger issue now) available. We'll find out in 2-3 years....

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Clague the next Doughty? Vilardi the next Kopitar?

Okay.

Haven't you been reading the boards? But agree that it's too soon to say, but to say the Kings have drafted absymally since 2008 is asinine and idiotic.

Veleno has dropped like a rock in this draft, and somewhere...there's a reason......but you know better...right?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

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

Cherry picking the once in a generation boom/bust Karlsson pick is not arguing in good faith, Chazz. There are plenty of examples of boom/bust picks busting, and the safe BPA proving to be the smarter pick.

 

[lexlavender]

Okay, I think the NHL GMs are starting to cream themselves over these smaller defensemen. There are still big forwards out there, and they will kick the crap out of defensemen that are too small.

They're afraid big d men can't skate in today's NHL.

 

[damacles1156]

Hmm, sure looks like Veleno is pretty overrated.

NHL teams all have different wants and needs. Look at how Toffoli ended up.

 

[kovacro]

Veleno's sure popular tonight.

Seems to happen every draft. People get fixated on one player. It’s got to be ‘player x’ or bust.

 

[Bandit]

There really isn't.

Also with the roster the way it is, the Kings need to take some swings at boom or bust type guys.

Why exactly are we calling the guy we picked "taking a swing"? He was ranked 20 and we picked him at 20...

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Cherry picking the once in a generation boom/bust Karlsson pick is not arguing in good faith, Chazz. There are plenty of examples of boom/bust picks busting, and the safe BPA proving to be the smarter pick.

Aren't "safe" and "BPA" somewhat mutually exclusive? If he's the best player available, then he may not be the safe pick.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Okay, I think the NHL GMs are starting to cream themselves over these smaller defensemen. There are still big forwards out there, and they will kick the crap out of defensemen that are too small.

Thought the league was moving to speed and skill??? You confuse me, you blast LA for not having speed and skill, then you blast NHL GMs, for drafting...speed and skill....holy christ man....

 

[damacles1156]

Okay, I think the NHL GMs are starting to cream themselves over these smaller defensemen. There are still big forwards out there, and they will kick the crap out of defensemen that are too small.

They have to actually make the NHL. Rasmus Dahlin is going to end up being 6'3"-6'4" 220+ when he fills out. Most of the D picked early are all over 6'0" and going to be 200+ pounds.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Haven't you been reading the boards? But agree that it's too soon to say, but to say the Kings have drafted absymally since 2008 is asinine and idiotic.

Veleno has dropped like a rock in this draft, and somewhere...there's a reason......but you know better...right?

Vilardi dropped like a rock last year, but you know better, right?

Kopitar dropped like a rock in 2005, but you know better, right?

The Kings have drafted three impact forwards in a decade, one of which they traded away. If you think that’s a stellar drafting record, congrats, your Kings homer glasses will arrive in the mail next week.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Why exactly are we calling the guy we picked "taking a swing"? He was ranked 20 and we picked him at 20...

Because apparently he wasn't Veleno...which might not get drafted in the 1st round now

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Cherry picking the once in a generation boom/bust Karlsson pick is not arguing in good faith, Chazz. There are plenty of examples of boom/bust picks busting, and the safe BPA proving to be the smarter pick.

And it's also true; where the Kings were picking, Karlsson was a reach in 2008. He was a tiny, European defenseman. Teubert was widely considered the better prospect. And Forbort was ranked higher than Tarasenko (though, there was not as much of a gap as there was between Teubert and Karlsson).

And last point on this post: of course there are plenty of examples one way or the other. This is trying to project 17-18 year olds. That's damn near impossible, even with as well-paid these scouts are.

 

[funky]

just went back and listed to Sportsnets panel talking about Kupari and they claimed he could score from the outside and he has a wicked shot contrary to what was posted on here earlier. Can anyone clarify ?