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

[johnjm22]

but not Dach

I won't be dissapointed if he's the pick, but I'm not as high on him as others.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'd be happy with any one of Turcotte/Bryram/Zegras/Cozens at 5.

What intrigues me about Zegras is that he seems to have that game sense and anticipation factor that you can't really teach.

That's why I'm high on him (assuming Turcotte and Byram are gone). It's evident the kid is a highly cerebral player, and from watching him interact with the press, he's a good communicator. I view him as a future leader. Not to mention the kid racked up 94 penalty minutes, must have some sandpaper to his game.

Here is a shift-by-shift video of Zegras from earlier in the season against Dartmouth, where he played RW on a line centered by Jack Hughes.


Zegras nets the game-tying goal at 3:40.
Go to the 7:10 mark, Zegras drives the net to give the USNTDP a 2-1 lead. Moments before that he came back and threw a check. He had taken a hit earlier as well but that didn't rattle him whatsoever.
At 15:05, he throws a check in a corner scrum, and moments later prevents a Darmouth player from pouncing on a loose puck in front of his own net.
15:48, takes a hit in the lower left corner after playing the puck, then comes back with a crosscheck after the whistle.
18:27, takes a hit at the blueline to connect with a pass that leads to an outnumbered attack and a goal, earning a secondary assist on the play.

It's not a sizzle reel like the other highlight packages, but gives some insight into his play when the puck isn't on his stick and how he reacts when his team is under pressure. For a then 17-year-old against older competition, he seemed to handle the physical stuff and didn't appear intimidated at all.

 

[fsanford]

Dach isnt a grinder. He's a lanky play making center. In fact, one of the knocks on him is he has some soft tendencies.

"At 6-foot-4 Dach has the size to be a powerful centre. Dach takes the puck to the net and is more likely to go through a defender than to try and make a deke to get around him. He is very tough to contain on the cycle, as he protects the puck well and this allows him to extend plays down low and wait for a teammate to get open or for an opposing defender to get out of position

Dach is also willing to use his body in his own end of the ice. He supports the defence with effective back pressure and works to win battles along the boards and keep the front of the net clear. While he is not a big hitter, he is willing to use his size to his advantage, leaning on opponents to win battles,

Dach is an impressive skater for his size but will never be known as a burner. He has good top-end speed but his first few steps and his acceleration can use some improvement."

Sounds like a grinder to me, albeit a talented one.

 

[SFKingshomer]

If the Hawks feel their left side D is good then they may pass on Byram but I still think he's their pick. The Avs will likely go center as they aren't great there now or the future. I think they will pick Cozens.

 

[KingsHockey24]

If the Hawks feel their left side D is good then they may pass on Byram but I still think he's their pick. The Avs will likely go center as they aren't great there now or the future. I think they will pick Cozens.

I also think Colorado would go for Cozens.

He's extremely fast and has great hands. Fits in with what they've got.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He actually did acknowledge some of those questions about him being able to pull off some of these passes against tougher competition, and his numbers against college opponents showed that he can still produce against slightly more experienced amateurs. That said, he just turned 18 and he stood out as the guy who was the setup man on a line with Jack Hughes. I could see Zegras being a Brayden Point/Mat Barzal type of playmaker.

I'd be happy with any one of Turcotte/Bryram/Zegras/Cozens at 5.

What intrigues me about Zegras is that he seems to have that game sense and anticipation factor that you can't really teach.

Probably fair and I definitely agree he has the IQ/brain, which often enables guys to succeed at the higher levels even if their physical skills aren't as elite as the #1 picks.

Like I said, the stuff that impresses me more is the non-highlight-reel stuff, which is usually more effective anyway. I wish I could explain it better, there's just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. Then again, I see a lot of Pettersson-esque game processing in him, so maybe I shouldn't be so nit-picky about some of those plays in ultimately meaningless mid-season games.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Those damned rigged balls falling 3 times to: Chicago, New York and New Jersey sure messed this up for the Kings! It was like...Hughes or Kakko? Now it's like, Dach, Zegras, Cozens, Caufield or trade down? After the past 3 drafts, I actually trust Yannetti and scouting staff. They've done well with the picks. Blake did good, getting the #1 for Muzz, plus 2 of the Leafs recent #2 picks in Grundstrom and
Durzi. By June 22, the Kings will - no matter what - have the best young talent they've had in over a decade. (even not counting Vilardi)

Go Kings! (geez, when was the last time you heard that? )

 

[King'sPawn]

Spencer Knight article: 2019 NHL Draft Preview: Spencer Knight, USA Goaltender

 

[Telos]

Those damned rigged balls falling 3 times to: Chicago, New York and New Jersey sure messed this up for the Kings! It was like...Hughes or Kakko? Now it's like, Dach, Zegras, Cozens, Caufield or trade down? After the past 3 drafts, I actually trust Yannetti and scouting staff. They've done well with the picks. Blake did good, getting the #1 for Muzz, plus 2 of the Leafs recent #2 picks in Grundstrom and
Durzi. By June 22, the Kings will - no matter what - have the best young talent they've had in over a decade. (even not counting Vilardi)

Go Kings! (geez, when was the last time you heard that? )

I love the optimism and agree. It's pretty clear that things are, at the very least, moving in the right direction. We've just had some shit luck.

Go Kings!

 

[King'sPawn]

"We'll do more fine-tuning work now, but in terms of our pick at five, we have it narrowed down to two players, barring someone falling," he said after four days of interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine.

An Inside Look at the LA Kings Draft Process

 

[AzKing]

An Inside Look at the LA Kings Draft Process

That quote seems to translate to:

“We have identified Cozens and Dach as our two choices unless Turcotte or Byram fall to us.”

 

[Peter James Bond II]

That quote seems to translate to:

“We have identified Cozens and Dach as our two choices unless Turcotte or Byram fall to us.”

Thanks...I wonder if it's 2 of these 3: Zegras, Dach, Cozens..

here is the scary Yannetti quote....

Jon Rosen‏Verified account @lakingsinsider
Jon Rosen Retweeted LA Kings
A story well told by @engelheather. “We'll do more fine-tuning work now, but in terms of our pick at five, we have it narrowed down to two players, barring someone falling.”

 

[Choralone]

That quote seems to translate to:

“We have identified Cozens and Dach as our two choices unless Turcotte or Byram fall to us.”

Works for me.

 

[AzKing]

A couple of notes out of the McKeen’s Draft Guide that came out. It’s huge and has a lot of great things besides just scouting reports.

They have an OFP(Overall Future Projection) score that is assigned by their Director of scouting Ryan Wagman. It does not factor in linemates, situational uses or points. It’s all talent characteristics. They measure Skating, Puck Skills, Shooting, Hockey IQ and Physicality using a 20/80 system. Getting 60+ overall is rare. Only 2 guys got it in 2017. There were 5 last season.

This year there are 7:

Hughes(64.50)
Kakko(64.00)
Byram(63.40)
Dach(63.20)
Cozens(61.25)
Zegras(61.25)
Turcotte(60.00)

Krebs just missed it(59.65).

Another note is that they like Zegras slightly over Turcotte because his skating is “Lightning,” he also played a full schedule and plays with more of a chip on his shoulder. Turcotte has a slight edge in Hockey IQ. They feel both have similar scoring prowess at the next level.

 

[palffytofrovlov]

That quote seems to translate to:

“We have identified Cozens and Dach as our two choices unless Turcotte or Byram fall to us.”

Honesty I think it’s Dach and Zegras....he really talks about one player from the USNT... i think the on falling is Byram

 

[King'sPawn]

Honesty I think it’s Dach and Zegras....he really talks about one player from the USNT... i think the on falling is Byram

Could be Caufield, too. HockeyProspect's Black Book has quotes from scouts saying he wasn't a good interview earlier in the year. The article suggested the meeting with a player cleared some things up.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I dunno, the Yanetti article has me thinking they may be the first team to go off the board and take Caufield. I’m ok with that. I know he’s NCAA bound, Wisconsin, I think? Is he an early UFA risk and would he attend training camp / be allowed to make the Nhl roster?

 

[King'sPawn]

I dunno, the Yanetti article has me thinking they may be the first team to go off the board and take Caufield. I’m ok with that. I know he’s NCAA bound, Wisconsin, I think? Is he an early UFA risk and would he attend training camp / be allowed to make the Nhl roster?

With NCAA players, the Kings would have until August of when they graduate, so it would be 2023.

He would not be attending training camp under NCAA rules. And he couldn't make the NHL roster unless he signed a professional contract; the moment he does that, though, he would lose NCAA eligibility.

So it's almost a foregone conclusion he'd be in the NCAA next season at the very least.

 

[AzKing]

I can buy the Zegras idea at #5 too. I don’t buy Caufield at all. I just don’t see it. The Kings aren’t gamblers. I expect them to be conservative with a pick this high and conservative is Zegras, Cozens, Dach, Turcotte, Byram. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Krebs higher but I see Caufield at #7-#10.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

"You always are surprised. It seems more positively than negatively. I can't think of the last instance where we were really surprised negatively," he said.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

True, but Blake shouldn't be drafting for the players the Kings have today. None of the players the Kings pick at #5 are going to hit the NHL ice for at least three years.

I doubt it.

It was the case when LA was a contender. With bottom dwellars its different.

 

[yankeeking]

We all believe this has to be a pick that hits , and I think the FO does too , a few of these guys are surefire NHL players according to most pro scouts just the ceilings are a little different , I just feel like they go with a higher rated player who has been top five for most of the year like Zegras, Dach or Cozens in that order ( obviously if Byram /Turcotte are gone )

 

[KingsHockey24]

I can buy the Zegras idea at #5 too. I don’t buy Caufield at all. I just don’t see it. The Kings aren’t gamblers. I expect them to be conservative with a pick this high and conservative is Zegras, Cozens, Dach, Turcotte, Byram. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Krebs higher but I see Caufield at #7-#10.

Thomas Hickey.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Anze Kopitar.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Kopitar was a no brainer as was Vilardi. Forbort also fell in their lap as he was projected higher. Teubert went right in line with where many had him but never worked out obviously.