Prospect Info: 2019 Draft Discussion: LA Kings pick 5th, 22nd overall

[kingsboy11]

Here's what I think the Kings plans could be:

Plan A- Hope one of Turcotte/Byram drop to us
Plan B- Trade down and draft Caulfield
Plan C-Trade not available, draft one of Cozens, Dach, Zegras or Caulfield

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Speaking of centers, the Kings have stated they see Kupari as a center. Maybe he is 2C in a year and JAD is 3C by next year...but JAD makes the team and plays 4th line this year?

Leason (rw) could be a good pick at 33, if he's available. Could he play AHL this coming season? Looks like 3 WHL seasons, but turned 20 in April. I would not pick him at 22, but
possibly at 33. 20 yrs old or not, he's 6'4" 200 and had 89 pts and plus 55! and then 25 playoff pts in 22 games. Had 5 pts for Team Canada at WJC. I saw some of his games and he was a factor in them. #5 Turcotte, Byram, Cozens, Zegras #22 Tomasino, Hoglander, Seider #33 Leason, Grewe, Afanasyev, or possibly Vlasic if he is there.

 

[King'sPawn]

Cammalleri in his prime would have been a 90 point player in today's more open league. As far as not driving the play, plenty of great goal-scorers throughout history fit that bill, people compare his arsenal of shots to Brett Hull, Hull was one of the best players in the league by playing very similar to how Caufield projects to play.

I'm just of the belief that a top 5 pick should be a swing for the fence, the Kings need stars, and I think, assuming the top 4 goes as expected he gives the Kings the best chance at drafting a game-changing type player. Just doesn't seem like there is the upside with anyone else assuming Turcotte and Byram go right before him.

The problem is Cammalleri in his prime would still be counting on Kopitar, Carter, etc to feed him the puck. Do you think he would have even outscored Kopitar? If you do, I just disagree.

I also respectfully disagree with the belief that a top 5 pick should be a swing for the fence. I always find that philosophy to be situational. Can the Kings afford to strike out on a top 5 pick at the moment? With the uncertainty of Vilardi and the Kings' need to restock the cupboard with top end talent all over, they just aren't in a position to take a chance. If they were, we are just as likely to see them draft Podkolzin.

I like Caufield. Just not with the 5th overall pick.

 

[YP44]

I may as well go down the line in Pronman's article and include the next two tiers for our # 22 pick:

High-End / Very Good Bubble
13. Peyton Krebs, C
14. Arthur Kaliyev, LW
15. Ryan Suzuki, C
16. Cam York, D

Very Good NHL Prospect / First-Round Pick
17. Philip Tomasino, C
18. Nils Hoglander, LW
19. Patrik Puistola, LW
20. Thomas Harley, D
21. Raphael Lavoie, RW
22. Moritz Seider, D
23. Bobby Brink, RW

Definitions:

• High-end prospect: Projects as a top-line forward who can play on your PP1/top pairing defenseman. This is an upper half of the first round quality prospect.
• Very good prospect: Projects as a top-six forward/top-four defenseman/starting goaltender. A prospect I would endorse using a first-round pick on.

I think I good D could be available with 22 if LA drafts a forward at 5

 

[Mats26]

Here's what I think the Kings plans could be:

Plan A- Hope one of Turcotte/Byram drop to us
Plan B- Trade down and draft Caulfield
Plan C-Trade not available, draft one of Cozens, Dach, Zegras or Caulfield

Plan C is Plan A

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[fsanford]

The problem is Cammalleri in his prime would still be counting on Kopitar, Carter, etc to feed him the puck. Do you think he would have even outscored Kopitar? If you do, I just disagree.

I also respectfully disagree with the belief that a top 5 pick should be a swing for the fence. I always find that philosophy to be situational. Can the Kings afford to strike out on a top 5 pick at the moment? With the uncertainty of Vilardi and the Kings' need to restock the cupboard with top end talent all over, they just aren't in a position to take a chance. If they were, we are just as likely to see them draft Podkolzin.

I like Caufield. Just not with the 5th overall pick.

Well the Kings cannot afford to draft Luke Schenn either.. Dach could be really good, or could be Luke Schenn.
Schenn has been serviceable but you can sign serviceable in free agency.

Like it or not Kopitar is gonna be the Joe Thorton of the LA Kings so he is gonna be passing to players on the kings for the next 7 years.
Might as well get him somebody who can actually shoot the puck . The name of the game is put the puck in the net.

I have read Kirby Dach has the tools to be a playmaker, if they draft a guy like this, I expect that Sweet Georgia Brown will be playing at Staples, passing the puck around, and confounding the Washington Generals with the LA Kings version of a hockey weave play. Followed by the climatic ending of Tyler Toffoli shooting it over the net ( notice this is where the comparison to the Globetrotters ends )

Maybe Caufield is a reach, and assume the 2 guys people talk about are not there, then trade back

Be cautious, but please Kings do settle for safe.

 

[King'sPawn]

Well the Kings cannot afford to draft Luke Schenn either.. Dach could be really good, or could be Luke Schenn.
Schenn has been serviceable but you can sign serviceable in free agency.

Like it or not Kopitar is gonna be the Joe Thorton of the LA Kings so he is gonna be passing to players on the kings for the next 7 years.
Might as well get him somebody who can actually shoot the puck . The name of the game is put the puck in the net.

I have read Kirby Dach has the tools to be a playmaker, if they draft a guy like this, I expect that Sweet Georgia Brown will be playing at Staples, passing the puck around, and confounding the Washington Generals with the LA Kings version of a hockey weave play. Followed by the climatic ending of Tyler Toffoli shooting it over the net ( notice this is where the comparison to the Globetrotters ends )

Maybe Caufield is a reach, and assume the 2 guys people talk about are not there, then trade back

Be cautious, but please Kings do settle for safe.

I don't entirely disagree. I'm not advocating the Kings draft the safest player (of which I feel that is Cozens). I think there are players who make things happen as opposed to opportunists who would be better picks. Of those players I think the Kings should look at (in no particular order):
- Byram
- Dach
- Boldy
- Krebs
- Turcotte

 

[King'sPawn]

Matt Boldy article is up: 2019 NHL Draft Preview: Matthew Boldy, USA Forward

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think Caulfield is going to be an insanely productive raw goal scorer.

I'm also not convinced he's the BPA at 5, nor do we have the play drivers to make him LOOK like the BPA at 5.

In theory he's the perfect winger for Kopitar, and it's no surprise Toffoli had such a great season with him too since Kopitar can do all the carrying/entry/puck work. I wouldn't be straight against him at that spot, but it's fair to see he has more question marks than the other available forwards there, too.

 

[kings11]

Well the Kings cannot afford to draft Luke Schenn either.. Dach could be really good, or could be Luke Schenn.
Schenn has been serviceable but you can sign serviceable in free agency.

Like it or not Kopitar is gonna be the Joe Thorton of the LA Kings so he is gonna be passing to players on the kings for the next 7 years.
Might as well get him somebody who can actually shoot the puck . The name of the game is put the puck in the net.

I have read Kirby Dach has the tools to be a playmaker, if they draft a guy like this, I expect that Sweet Georgia Brown will be playing at Staples, passing the puck around, and confounding the Washington Generals with the LA Kings version of a hockey weave play. Followed by the climatic ending of Tyler Toffoli shooting it over the net ( notice this is where the comparison to the Globetrotters ends )

Maybe Caufield is a reach, and assume the 2 guys people talk about are not there, then trade back

Be cautious, but please Kings do settle for safe.

Well Brayden Schwann whom we actually drafted isn’t a bad player and was key to two SC runs...
He’s also more than serviceable! Not sure you’re talking about the right guy but Brayden would be our 3rd best player.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

They have needs everywhere, and if the best available player is a goaltender like another Carter Hart, it would be foolish to pass on a great goaltemder of that quality. Keep in mind how many years left before Petersen will become a UFA and how many potential franchise goalies they have in the pipeline signed to an ELC.

If Petersen is as good as he looks the Kings need to sign him well past his UFA years. Franchise goaltenders...where? Not sure what you mean by that...Spencer Knight is a franchise goalie? If he is he'll be gobbled up well before the 22nd pick you'd think!

 

[Jungle Boy]

If Byram is not there we could swap our top pick for Buffalo’s two firsts. We should try to be creative and get Edmonton 1st too (there was a great trade proposal involving Lucic, salary share and a buy out). And then trade Quick to Calgary for their first. We end up choosing 6 times in the top 33!

Ok, its time to stop drinking and go to bed

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If Petersen is as good as he looks the Kings need to sign him well past his UFA years. Franchise goaltenders...where? Not sure what you mean by that...Spencer Knight is a franchise goalie? If he is he'll be gobbled up well before the 22nd pick you'd think!

You just never know. Look at where Carter Hart wound up being selected. All I'm saying is if a goalie is the best prospect around when the Kings pick at #33, I wouldn't be against that decision. It's just that with goaltenders, you better be right when you're taking them that early. That is one of the tougher positions to pinpoint with how their development goes.

Seeing how Martin Jones was an undrafted prospect and Jonathan Quick and Ben Bishop were both third round selections, I'd be comfortable waiting until the third round to make the first goalie selection as well. We've seen a number of goalies in the past touted as definite first rounders wind up as being nothing more than backup goalies, like Jonathan Bernier, or Al Montoya.

The highest goalie the Kings have selected since Bernier was Christopher Gibson in 2011 at 49th overall (nine picks later, the Lightning selected Nikita Kucherov). The best goalie taken in that draft went 39th overall to the Ducks, and he's the better Gibson.

 

[Brodeur]

Leason (rw) could be a good pick at 33, if he's available. Could he play AHL this coming season? Looks like 3 WHL seasons, but turned 20 in April. I would not pick him at 22, but
possibly at 33. 20 yrs old or not, he's 6'4" 200 and had 89 pts and plus 55! and then 25 playoff pts in 22 games. Had 5 pts for Team Canada at WJC. I saw some of his games and he was a factor in them.

Yup, Leason could turn pro right away a la Tanner Pearson in 2012. I'll be curious if Washington (#25) and Calgary (#26) would have interest in Leason. Washington's head amateur scout Ross Mahoney is based in Regina and the Regina Pats are in the same division as Leason's Prince Albert Raiders. So he's probably seen his progression over the last couple seasons if only because of proximity. Washington's window is still open, so they might value Leason's ability to turn pro right away and maybe replace Brett Connolly if they lose him to free agency. Could be like the Kings drafting Pearson in 2012 and having him take a regular shift in the 2013-14 squad.

Leason's a local Calgary guy, so maybe bonus points for him with the Flames. Flames might have an open RW slot in the near future, especially if Neal continues to struggle.

 

[LAKings88]

I think Caulfield is going to be an insanely productive raw goal scorer.

I'm also not convinced he's the BPA at 5, nor do we have the play drivers to make him LOOK like the BPA at 5.

In theory he's the perfect winger for Kopitar, and it's no surprise Toffoli had such a great season with him too since Kopitar can do all the carrying/entry/puck work. I wouldn't be straight against him at that spot, but it's fair to see he has more question marks than the other available forwards there, too.

Put him with McDavid or Pettersson(Van).

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Put him with McDavid or Pettersson(Van).

pls no

besides Van already has Boeser

 

[LAKings88]

pls no

besides Van already has Boeser

Some is good, more is better.

Hope it doesn’t happen tho for all our sakes.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Some is good, more is better.

Hope it doesn’t happen tho for all our sakes.

They draft at 8 and 10...so it's a very real possibility and the perfect situation for both player and team.

I'd take him as high as maybe 4-5 if I already have McDavid or Pettersson.

 

[LAKings88]

Im thinking LA gets a solid player at 33 too.

This could be a fun draft. Just the variables alone make it intriguing.

 

[Sol]

No goalie at second round either pls.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

You just never know. Look at where Carter Hart wound up being selected. All I'm saying is if a goalie is the best prospect around when the Kings pick at #33, I wouldn't be against that decision. It's just that with goaltenders, you better be right when you're taking them that early. That is one of the tougher positions to pinpoint with how their development goes.

Seeing how Martin Jones was an undrafted prospect and Jonathan Quick and Ben Bishop were both third round selections, I'd be comfortable waiting until the third round to make the first goalie selection as well. We've seen a number of goalies in the past touted as definite first rounders wind up as being nothing more than backup goalies, like Jonathan Bernier, or Al Montoya.

The highest goalie the Kings have selected since Bernier was Christopher Gibson in 2011 at 49th overall (nine picks later, the Lightning selected Nikita Kucherov). The best goalie taken in that draft went 39th overall to the Ducks, and he's the better Gibson.

I know all about LA's drafting of 'tenders all the way back to Steve Rexe and Billy Smith,then Mario Lessard...Storr...The Kings have had some hits and a whole lot of misses but don't need a 'tender as desperately as when they lost Bernier,Jones for basically nothing! The Kings are in decent shape between the pipes and once they offload Quick's huge contract via trade...they will be in a better place!

 

[Brodeur]

Since I'm a weirdo draft junky, I booked a flight to Vancouver yesterday. Tickets for the draft went on sale today. I got lower bowl for day #2, but trying to get day #1 tickets on Ticketmaster was a disaster. Every time I tried to click on a seat it prompted me with a message that the seat was gone. Currently ridiculous prices on StubHub, but hopefully that goes down closer to the event.

 

[Herby]

This would be a good time for the Kings to have the type that yields a couple of impactful players, like the Blues 2010 draft.

Looked it up to see how previous teams who had 3 picks in top 35 did over the last decade. Kind of mixed results.

Isles 2009 - Tavares (1), De Haan (12), Koskinen (31)
Panthers 2010 - Gubranson (6), Bjugstad (19, Howden (25)
Oilers 2011 - Nugent-Hopkins (1), Klefbom (19), Musil (31)
Senators 2011 - Zibanajad (6), Noesen (21), Puempel (24)
Sabres 2013- Ristolainen (8), Zadorov (16), Compher (35)
Flames 2013 - Monahan (6), Poirier (22), Klimchuk (28)
Bruins 2015 - Zboril (13), DeBrusk (14), Senyshyn (15)
Flyers 2017 - Patrick (2), Frost (27), Ratcliffe (25)
Wings 2018 - Zadina (6), Veleno (30), Berggren (33)
Rangers 2018 - Kravstov (9), Miller (22), Lundkvist (28)

Would a 2011 Oilers type draft make us happy as Kings fans?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This would be a good time for the Kings to have the type that yields a couple of impactful players, like the Blues 2010 draft.

Looked it up to see how previous teams who had 3 picks in top 35 did over the last decade. Kind of mixed results.

Isles 2009 - Tavares (1), De Haan (12), Koskinen (31)
Panthers 2010 - Gubranson (6), Bjugstad (19, Howden (25)
Oilers 2011 - Nugent-Hopkins (1), Klefbom (19), Musil (31)
Senators 2011 - Zibanajad (6), Noesen (21), Puempel (24)
Sabres 2013- Ristolainen (8), Zadorov (16), Compher (35)
Flames 2013 - Monahan (6), Poirier (22), Klimchuk (28)
Bruins 2015 - Zboril (13), DeBrusk (14), Senyshyn (15)
Flyers 2017 - Patrick (2), Frost (27), Ratcliffe (25)
Wings 2018 - Zadina (6), Veleno (30), Berggren (33)
Rangers 2018 - Kravstov (9), Miller (22), Lundkvist (28)

Would a 2011 Oilers type draft make us happy as Kings fans?