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

[ibleedkings]

Like what I see, but have a feeling a lot of those passes won't work in the NHL.

 

[Jungle Boy]

I’m fine with most of those picks. Blake needs to find a way to get another one or two 1st round pick. We have a number of players that could be traded:

1/3 goalies
4/9 dman (including Voynov)
And a bunch of fowards that we could send to other teams to get back a 1st (even with some salary back)

 

[LAKings88]

I’m fine with most of those picks. Blake needs to find a way to get another one or two 1st round pick. We have a number of players that could be traded:

1/3 goalies
4/9 dman (including Voynov)
And a bunch of fowards that we could send to other teams to get back a 1st (even with some salary back)

Hoping they can grab another 2020 pick. Seems pretty deep.

 

[Herby]

I’m fine with most of those picks. Blake needs to find a way to get another one or two 1st round pick. We have a number of players that could be traded:

1/3 goalies
4/9 dman (including Voynov)
And a bunch of fowards that we could send to other teams to get back a 1st (even with some salary back)

A bunch?

 

[kilowatt]

A bunch?

A bunch, meaning one, maybe two if we add other pieces.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Lol bunch. No one wants our garbage. No way we get another 1st, unless Kopitar or Doughty get traded, which isn’t happening.

 

[Herby]

A bunch, meaning one, maybe two if we add other pieces.

Kempe and maybe people think Toffoli?

I'm not sure trading Kempe in a package for a late 1st is an optimal move for the Kings. The two best players on the team will be 32 and 30 this year, an asset like Kempe who will be 23 this year is valuable because he can play in the final years of AK and DD's prime years and he's young enough to develop into more.

Toffoli, well only way I see the Kings getting a 1st for TT is if he comes back and has a huge bounce back year and Blake sells high at the deadline. Just don't see how anyone is giving up a 1st after the way TT has played the last season and a half.

 

[KINGS17]

I think another reason to like Cozens over Zegras slightly is that Cozens seems to play more of a north-south game. In the NHL straight ahead is what works best.

 

[Herby]

I think another reason to like Cozens over Zegras slightly is that Cozens seems to play more of a north-south game. In the NHL straight ahead is what works best.

I worry about how many goals Zegras is going to score at the NHL level. If the Kings did decide on Zegras I think it then becomes a pretty big priority to get a finisher at #22. The Kings farm system is fast improving and could easily be the best in the league a little over a year from now after this draft and next years draft. But there is still a lack of goalscorers at all 3 levels of the franchise (NHL, AHL, Reserve List).

 

[Steve Zissou]

I think another reason to like Cozens over Zegras slightly is that Cozens seems to play more of a north-south game. In the NHL straight ahead is what works best.

Try telling that to Dustin Brown.

 

[kovacro]

Latest Rotoworld mock draft.

5. Los Angeles Kings - Cole Caufield, C, USNTDP (USHL)
I think the Kings would have been silently praying that the Avalanche would pass on Byram, but they would not be upset to pick up the record-breaking goal scoring from the US U18 team. Caufield is small (but strong), pushing the Kings further away from the Darryl Sutter brand they had been identified with for so long, but he brings something extra special to the table. Something not so identified with the Sutter remnants. A little thing called “goals”.

22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto Maple Leafs, in the Jake Muzzin trade) – Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)
The Kings have two primary haunting grounds when it comes to amateur player procurement. One is NCHC powerhouse St. Cloud State. There are no likely draft picks from the Huskies this year. The other is the OHL. Last year alone the Kings held the rights to seven players in the OHL ranks. They will also draft Swedish and Russian players regularly but I like this connection better. Harley is a tall and mobile defender with an NHL future as a puck rusher. He could stand to be more aggressive off the puck, but he has first pairing upside.

https://www.rotoworld.com/article/mock-draft/mock-draft-20-3

 

[KingCanadain1976]

Latest Rotoworld mock draft.

5. Los Angeles Kings - Cole Caufield, C, USNTDP (USHL)
I think the Kings would have been silently praying that the Avalanche would pass on Byram, but they would not be upset to pick up the record-breaking goal scoring from the US U18 team. Caufield is small (but strong), pushing the Kings further away from the Darryl Sutter brand they had been identified with for so long, but he brings something extra special to the table. Something not so identified with the Sutter remnants. A little thing called “goals”.

22. Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto Maple Leafs, in the Jake Muzzin trade) – Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga (OHL)
The Kings have two primary haunting grounds when it comes to amateur player procurement. One is NCHC powerhouse St. Cloud State. There are no likely draft picks from the Huskies this year. The other is the OHL. Last year alone the Kings held the rights to seven players in the OHL ranks. They will also draft Swedish and Russian players regularly but I like this connection better. Harley is a tall and mobile defender with an NHL future as a puck rusher. He could stand to be more aggressive off the puck, but he has first pairing upside.

https://www.rotoworld.com/article/mock-draft/mock-draft-20-3

Sold as far as i am concerned that would be a good draft

 

[KingCanadain1976]

 

[raswilliam]

NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman, Mike G. Morreale and Guillaume Lepage

Mock draft: Turcotte, Cozens predicted to be picked at No. 3

 

[KINGS17]

This is what happened to the Kings tank last season at the draft lottery. The fuel dump is the number 1 overall pick. The Americans are the Devils, Rangers, Blackhawks, and Avs. Rob Blake is Hessler.

 

[raswilliam]

"we’re told the Kings are high on Saskatoon centre Kirby Dach "

 

[AzKing]

I worry about how many goals Zegras is going to score at the NHL level. If the Kings did decide on Zegras I think it then becomes a pretty big priority to get a finisher at #22. The Kings farm system is fast improving and could easily be the best in the league a little over a year from now after this draft and next years draft. But there is still a lack of goalscorers at all 3 levels of the franchise (NHL, AHL, Reserve List).

I agree regarding the scoring. He is considered an elite playmaker but our biggest problem is that we don't have enough finishers as it is. I think the same can be said for taking Dach. You are getting guys who are great at setting up snipers but if we have hands of stone on the other end of the pass, it will be worthless.

Pronman's analysis seems to sum up what you are getting with Zegras:

You are drafting Zegras with the intention of finding your first power play unit QB for the next decade. He is going to be the player who will get the puck to his team’s goal-scorers.
He may not have had the most elite production this season (although he produced very well), but he looked so good so consistently. He showed very often why his playmaking ability is elite and attributes that will translate to the higher levels.

 

[BigKing]

While it wasn't at the cost of using a very high draft pick and was only a college UFA signing, Management did sign Lizotte who is in the Caufield size range. They also haven't been afraid to do so under DL in the later rounds.

Have to nail this pick, however. Will be interesting to see if they go with someone that small. Blake has been pretty paint-by-numbers so far though so that would have me lean towards taking a big center or Byram if he falls to #5.

 

[KINGS17]

While it wasn't at the cost of using a very high draft pick and was only a college UFA signing, Management did sign Lizotte who is in the Caufield size range. They also haven't been afraid to do so under DL in the later rounds.

Have to nail this pick, however. Will be interesting to see if they go with someone that small. Blake has been pretty paint-by-numbers so far though so that would have me lean towards taking a big center or Byram if he falls to #5.

I think Blake better color inside the lines with the #5 pick.

 

[KINGS17]

The Kings brain trust. Caption this photo:

 

[AzKing]

While it wasn't at the cost of using a very high draft pick and was only a college UFA signing, Management did sign Lizotte who is in the Caufield size range. They also haven't been afraid to do so under DL in the later rounds.

Have to nail this pick, however. Will be interesting to see if they go with someone that small. Blake has been pretty paint-by-numbers so far though so that would have me lean towards taking a big center or Byram if he falls to #5.

I tend to agree on Blake being a chalk type of guy. If Byram is there, he takes Byram. Otherwise, this just feels like Blake will go with Cozens or Dach because he doesn't know how to think out of the box.

I don't see Blake taking Caufield at all at #5 with Byram, Cozens, Dach or Turcotte as options. I barely even give the option life. If they trade down to #7 or #8 and those guys are gone, then maybe but Blake loves guys with size.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Mike Chambers, who covers the Avalanche for the Denver Post, indicates that the Avalanche will be looking to draft a center and may opt with Dylan Cozens at #4, or if Chicago takes him, they'll go with Turcotte.

If Chicago takes Turcotte and the Avalanche select Cozens, then Byram will most likely be a King.

 

[AzKing]

The Kings brain trust. Caption this photo:

How long until they figure out that combined, our IQ is still under 70?

 

[AzKing]

Mike Chambers, who covers the Avalanche for the Denver Post, indicates that the Avalanche will be looking to draft a center and may opt with Dylan Cozens at #4, or if Chicago takes him, they'll go with Turcotte.

If Chicago takes Turcotte and the Avalanche select Cozens, then Byram will most likely be a King.

That's one way to idiot-proof the draft for us. I have read more and more about Cozens and Dach being looked at by COL if Turcotte is gone. It would be a nice consolation prize for such a bad series of events this past season and the lottery.

 

[KINGS17]

How long until they figure out that combined, our IQ is still under 70?

"Luc, I don't speak French."