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

[Ziggy Stardust]

Size is not meaningless... Its definitely an attribute. That would be like someone saying speed was meaningless because of Kopitar, Mark Stone, Joe Thornton, Patrick Laine, etc...

Some people can overcome weaknesses in certain attributes by being really strong in other ones. Doesn't mean what they are weak in, is worthless...

Size is meaningless if you don’t know how to use it and can’t compete. What good is a big oaf if he can’t keep up? Look no further than Derek Forbort, or Dion Phaneuf.

It’s the same for small players who can’t compete against bigger players. Those who succeed are the ones who overcome that speed deficiency. I provided examples of players, some of whom are dmen, who have overcome that stigma.

 

[Herby]

Ideally you would want a player over 6', but if your a team like the Kings with very little goal-scoring ability at either the NHL level or in the pipeline and the best goal-scorer in the draft is 5'7 you have to strongly consider it.

 

[AzKing]

Caufield is ultra talented. That said, the Kings won't take him at #5. If they trade down to maybe 8-10 then they may pull the trigger there.

 

[Herby]

Caufield is ultra talented. That said, the Kings won't take him at #5. If they trade down to maybe 8-10 then they may pull the trigger there.

Unlikely he is there.

If the Kings really like him they are going to take him at 5, not going to risk out missing their guy to get an extra later round pick. Not saying they will take him, but if they like him it's to risky trading down.

 

[Bandit]

Just a little perspective here. The last 7 drafts under Dean Lombardi, from 2010 to 2016, the Kings average first overall pick was 36th, equivalent then the the 6th pick in the 2nd round! If that doesn't open people's eyes to why we are in the position we are now, I don't know what will. To be fair, 2 low picks were due to the Kings winning it all. But the rest is due to trading away the future with a vengeance. The picks were 15th, 49th, 30th, 37th, 29th, 43rd and 51st. Pretty hard to build a winner out of that as your players age and the CAP puts on the squeeze. First 3 under Blake will be 11th, 20th and 5th. It will take time, but the talent will improve.

Just a little perspective here. Teams don’t win the cup once, let alone 2 in three years, by hanging on to all their draft picks.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Cole Caulfield's 'knock' isn't size. It's that he's not the play-driving center that's going to drive possession, advance the puck, play defense, etc.

He's essentially a one trick pony, a Tyler Toffoli on steroids. You get him the puck anywhere in the offensive zone, it's a goal.

I don't think he's crazy at 5. The guy has 40 goal scorer written on him. But where do you draw the line on all-around skill? He's the best finisher since Laine, arguably since before--but do you take 2018 Laine over Schiefele? Totally loose comparisons, I'm not thinking hard about this one, just musing aloud, but I don't think it's wild to suggest Turcotte/Dach would be in the Schiefele class and Caulfield in the Laine class.

I'm not saying I'd do one or the other, only that it's a tough decision.

 

[Rusty Batch]

Cole Caulfield's 'knock' isn't size. It's that he's not the play-driving center that's going to drive possession, advance the puck, play defense, etc.

He's essentially a one trick pony, a Tyler Toffoli on steroids. You get him the puck anywhere in the offensive zone, it's a goal.

I don't think he's crazy at 5. The guy has 40 goal scorer written on him. But where do you draw the line on all-around skill? He's the best finisher since Laine, arguably since before--but do you take 2018 Laine over Schiefele? Totally loose comparisons, I'm not thinking hard about this one, just musing aloud, but I don't think it's wild to suggest Turcotte/Dach would be in the Schiefele class and Caulfield in the Laine class.

I'm not saying I'd do one or the other, only that it's a tough decision.

I agree with this. My opinion is that these other prospects we will have a chance at have plenty of flaws as well. Im not as confident in some of these guys like Dach, Cozens, or Turcotte to turn into high level two way 2Cs. As I am that CC turns into an elite goal scoring wing and I fully expect him to not be an effective two-way player. But I think the Kings are in a position here to grab a great 1-way goal scorer. Or gamble on a two-way 2C.

With the lack of goal scorers/game breakers this team has and the lack of a really obvious better option in the draft. I think Kings just go BPA and take CC.

Also I understand if Byram slips that he too would make sense.

 

[Docgonzo]

Admittedly I haven’t seen play of his, but just going by the sniper tag he gets, what worries me with Cole Caulfield is who will get him the puck? He’s not NHL ready enough to be available while Kopitar is still decent. Vilardi showed talent for puck possession and passing but he’s in limbo. Kupari is still debated if he’s a center or a wing. Kempe doesn’t seem to have the IQ for playmaker. So I’d rather pick somebody who will drive that play rather than be a passenger until the pucks on their stick.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Brad Marchand, Alex DeBrincat, Johnny Gaudreau, Viktor Arvidson, Jonathan Marchessault, Conor Sheary, Tyler Johnson, Cam Atkinson, Mats Zuccarello, Torey Krug, Frank Vatrano, Matt Grzelcyk, Vinnie Hinistroza, etc, are all under 5'8". Teuvo Teravainen and Jaden Schwartz, who are both tearing it up in the playoffs, are also small players.

If the guy can play, then I don't care what size he is.

Many of those are absolutely not 5’7” and inches bigger.

WTH ?!?

5’7” is a rarity and I say Caufield is not even 5’7”.

 

[Herby]

Admittedly I haven’t seen play of his, but just going by the sniper tag he gets, what worries me with Cole Caulfield is who will get him the puck? He’s not NHL ready enough to be available while Kopitar is still decent. Vilardi showed talent for puck possession and passing but he’s in limbo. Kupari is still debated if he’s a center or a wing. Kempe doesn’t seem to have the IQ for playmaker. So I’d rather pick somebody who will drive that play rather than be a passenger until the pucks on their stick.

This is a legit concern. It would be way easier to draft Caufield if we had Barzal or someone like that on the roster. But the Kings will likely be picking top 5 again next season so maybe grab the elite goal-scorer and hope that Vilardi or the guy you draft next year is the playmaking 1C.

And not that I disagree, but how depressing is it to think that Kopitar can't be that player two years from now when Caufield is likely NHL ready. If CC makes the NHL in the 20-21 season and Kopi can't be that player with 4 years and 40m owed (at that time) we are in deep trouble.

 

[redcard]

The last time we had the 5th overall pick I knew every potential pick's favorite breakfast cereal.

This time I'm not confident I could spell all their names correctly without looking it up first.

 

[Docgonzo]

This is a legit concern. It would be way easier to draft Caufield if we had Barzal or someone like that on the roster. But the Kings will likely be picking top 5 again next season so maybe grab the elite goal-scorer and hope that Vilardi or the guy you draft next year is the playmaking 1C.

And not that I disagree, but how depressing is it to think that Kopitar can't be that player two years from now when Caufield is likely NHL ready. If CC makes the NHL in the 20-21 season and Kopi can't be that player with 4 years and 40m owed (at that time) we are in deep trouble.

While I think Kopitar will still by fine by then, I think Caufield won’t make the NHL till 21-22, maybe sooner if he puts on some weight. But by that point I’d hope we’d be transitioning Kopitar to 2nd line center. And if we aren’t we are in a heap of trouble.

But yes if we had Barzal or if Vilardi could play. They could shelter them and Caufield on 2nd line until they were able to take over.

 

[KingsHockey24]

https://www.tsn.ca/podkolzin-plummets-in-tsn-hockey-s-mock-draft-3-0-1.1296254

I'm not sure if ya'll seen this yet but Byram looks to be solidified at 3rd.

Dach at 4th.

They have us drafting Caufield and goalie Spencer Knight in the first round.

Podkolzin out of top 10 ranking.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Admittedly I haven’t seen play of his, but just going by the sniper tag he gets, what worries me with Cole Caulfield is who will get him the puck? He’s not NHL ready enough to be available while Kopitar is still decent. Vilardi showed talent for puck possession and passing but he’s in limbo. Kupari is still debated if he’s a center or a wing. Kempe doesn’t seem to have the IQ for playmaker. So I’d rather pick somebody who will drive that play rather than be a passenger until the pucks on their stick.

Pretty much.

Kid doesn't have the puck on his stick for more than a split second unless he's on a breakaway.

 

[KingsCourt]

Caulfield is just so small

 

[KingsFan7824]

Admittedly I haven’t seen play of his, but just going by the sniper tag he gets, what worries me with Cole Caulfield is who will get him the puck? He’s not NHL ready enough to be available while Kopitar is still decent. Vilardi showed talent for puck possession and passing but he’s in limbo. Kupari is still debated if he’s a center or a wing. Kempe doesn’t seem to have the IQ for playmaker. So I’d rather pick somebody who will drive that play rather than be a passenger until the pucks on their stick.

They can't be thinking about that. If he's the BPA(and I have no idea if he would be, I know next to nothing about prospects in junior/college/Europe/Russia, and don't really pay attention to them until they get to at least the AHL), they have to take him. If he's not NHL ready yet, who cares who will get him the puck years from now. Cross that bridge when it gets here. Kopitar's era is done. It can't be about him anymore. He's got the contract, he's overpaid, etc, whatever. They have to start building the team that will be here in 24-25. They've likely missed on Vilardi, they can't miss on this pick. Whoever they get this year will be 23/24 by the time Kopitar is finally gone. Whoever the best one left at 5 is, get him. Regardless of position, or what his best talent is, just get him. How he fits on the team 5 years from now isn't a question that needs to be asked yet. Nobody over the age of 25, if not younger, should be taken into account when choosing who to take.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

They can't be thinking about that. If he's the BPA(and I have no idea if he would be, I know next to nothing about prospects in junior/college/Europe/Russia, and don't really pay attention to them until they get to at least the AHL), they have to take him. If he's not NHL ready yet, who cares who will get him the puck years from now. Cross that bridge when it gets here. Kopitar's era is done. It can't be about him anymore. He's got the contract, he's overpaid, etc, whatever. They have to start building the team that will be here in 24-25. They've likely missed on Vilardi, they can't miss on this pick. Whoever they get this year will be 23/24 by the time Kopitar is finally gone. Whoever the best one left at 5 is, get him. Regardless of position, or what his best talent is, just get him. How he fits on the team 5 years from now isn't a question that needs to be asked yet. Nobody over the age of 25, if not younger, should be taken into account when choosing who to take.

Yeah, we can't really get into the exercise of 'fits' and 'positional needs' anywhere in the first or second rounds. The organization needs talent everywhere.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The last time we had the 5th overall pick I knew every potential pick's favorite breakfast cereal.

This time I'm not confident I could spell all their names correctly without looking it up first.

It’s okay. Many still don’t know how to spell Cal Petersen’s name correctly.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Unpopular opinion: In the event that all (or most) of those mid-to-late 1st defensemen are gone (Soderstrom, Broberg, York, Harley, Seider, Robertson and Heinola) you take the forward who falls unexpectedly.

 

[kings11]

Unpopular opinion: In the event that all (or most) of those mid-to-late 1st defensemen are gone (Soderstrom, Broberg, York, Harley, Seider, Robertson and Heinola) you take the forward who falls unexpectedly.

I think we see a run of Dmen early in the draft.. Byram likely doesnt get past us, after that everyone is in the same boat value wise IMHO...
Harley, Seider, Soderstrom, Broberg, York, Robertson, Heinola, Bjornfot, Kolyachonok could all be gone by 22... So with some luck we could have a shot at Podzolkin, Boldy, Newhook, Lavoie, Poulin, Kaliyev

 

[KopitarFAN]

I think we see a run of Dmen early in the draft.. Byram likely doesnt get past us, after that everyone is in the same boat value wise IMHO...
Harley, Seider, Soderstrom, Broberg, York, Robertson, Heinola, Bjornfot, Kolyachonok could all be gone by 22... So with some luck we could have a shot at Podzolkin, Boldy, Newhook, Lavoie, Poulin, Kaliyev

I knew I forgot a couple.

 

[Mats26]

I think we see a run of Dmen early in the draft.. Byram likely doesnt get past us, after that everyone is in the same boat value wise IMHO...
Harley, Seider, Soderstrom, Broberg, York, Robertson, Heinola, Bjornfot, Kolyachonok could all be gone by 22... So with some luck we could have a shot at Podzolkin, Boldy, Newhook, Lavoie, Poulin, Kaliyev

Highly unlikely they will fall that low.

At 22 we could see:
F: Suzuki, Tomasino, Leason, Lavoie , Hoglander
D: Bjornfot, Thomson, Robertson

We should have a good mix of forwards and D-men to pick from.

 

[kings11]

Highly unlikely they will fall that low.

At 22 we could see:
F: Suzuki, Tomasino, Leason, Lavoie , Hoglander
D: Bjornfot, Thomson, Robertson

We should have a good mix of forwards and D-men to pick from.

I agree, but it also depends on when the run for Dmen happens.. Buffalo could take a Dman as could 13-17

 

[johnjm22]

I like Caufield, and have defended the idea of picking him high, but I think people are overrating his recent performance in the U18's. He was an older player on a stacked team.

 

[johnjm22]

I'm not sure if ya'll seen this yet but Byram looks to be solidified at 3rd.

I've said all along that Chicago probably won't take Byram at 3rd OA if there's a comparable forward available. But Byram's recent playoff performance has been so good that there may not be a comparable forward anymore. He's pretty much the clear BPA.