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

[Sol]

I think it's pretty pathetic that we don't see the actual draft lottery selection. And we have to take their word for what the results were.

There's something off about how badly the Kings were knocked down.

 

[kingsboy11]

I just want someone/anyone who can ****ing score goals or create offense by himself.

 

[lumbergh]

I think it's pretty pathetic that we don't see the actual draft lottery selection. And we have to take their word for what the results were.

There's something off about how badly the Kings were knocked down.

There’s this thing called YouTube.

 

[Mats26]

I just want someone/anyone who can ****ing score goals or create offense by himself.

Dach, kid seems like a combo of Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler

 

[Sol]

There’s this thing called YouTube.

Sheesh the tude on this dude.

 

[SFKingshomer]

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.

Only 3 of those were 1st rounders. I don't mind taking a smaller player but not at 5.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

For some reason that reminds me of Columbus and their scouts during the 2005 Draft. That was the weird year coming out of the lockout, so the draft was in a hotel ballroom rather than an arena. So all the scouts were huddled back in the hotels. Columbus did a behind the scenes show on their draft efforts and had a camera on the scouts as the draft was unfolding.

When Minnesota went off the board for Benoit Pouliot at #4, the Columbus scouts erupted in cheers. I think one of them blurts out something like "We got Brule or Kopitar!" And then Montreal unexpectedly took Carey Price at #5 and Columbus had their choice of centers. Imagine a world where Montreal took Brule like everybody (including myself) thought they should and Columbus got defaulted to Kopitar?

It never gets old.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[King'sPawn]

My next article with John Hoven is about Byram which I expect to go out in a couple days.

Byram is on the verge of WHL history if he continues to lead the WHL in playoff scoring. It's never been done by a defenseman dating back to 1986, let alone a 17 year-old.

 

[Reaper45]

Elite company...

 

[KINGS17]

Sheesh the tude on this dude.

That "dude" has been everything the owners hoped and needed him to be for the NHL.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Seeing McNabb in that list with Byram puts his accomplishments in perspective.

 

[funky]

So am I missing something because Durzi has 3 goals and 22 assists so far these playoffs for 25 points as a Dman these playoffs too?

Think I answered my own question. Looks like WHL defenseman.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Caufield and Seider to LA.

 

[King'sPawn]

Seeing McNabb in that list with Byram puts his accomplishments in perspective.

Did you miss that no defenseman has ever led the WHL in playoff scoring? Currently he's tied for the lead.

When Brayden McNabb scored 25+ points, he did it as a 19 year-old. Byram is doing this at the age of 17.

Just for additional perspective, before this decade, you'd have to go back to the 90s to find a defenseman put up 25+ points in the playoffs. Again, older than Byram.

No matter how Byram pans out and where he goes, what he's doing now is extremely impressive.

 

[AzKing]

Byram and Turcotte are probably the top 2 for the Kings and if they are both gone then it will get interesting. If we are to believe Rosen and others who cover the team, they are going to emphasize skating and skill over everything else including size so it's going to be who has the best combo of those two traits.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Did you miss that no defenseman has ever led the WHL in playoff scoring? Currently he's tied for the lead.

When Brayden McNabb scored 25+ points, he did it as a 19 year-old. Byram is doing this at the age of 17.

Just for additional perspective, before this decade, you'd have to go back to the 90s to find a defenseman put up 25+ points in the playoffs. Again, older than Byram.

No matter how Byram pans out and where he goes, what he's doing now is extremely impressive.

For sure, I’d be happy with Byram and think he would be better than McNub. I’m just surprised McNabb ever scored that much, even in juniors.

 

[King'sPawn]

For sure, I’d be happy with Byram and think he would be better than McNub. I’m just surprised McNabb ever scored that much, even in juniors.

Ah, my apologies. I instinctively read it as "oh yay we're getting McNabb, this draft sucks" and misunderstood the context you were providing. I'm sorry

 

[jfont]

After the top 2, I think the best players are Byram and Dach.. I think those two are who the Kings are targeting at 5

 

[Herby]

I think everyone would be content with Byram, but it just seems unlikely he falls beyond either Colorado or Chicago.

So the great debate on this board is going to be what forward to take, should be a good debate because it's a major point in team history. What they end up with out of these likely top 8 picks the next two years are going to likely decide whether Kopitar and Doughty contend over the life of their contracts.

 

[Rekingsfan17]

I am sure this has already been discussed (as we rehash everything). Depending on who is available at 5 what do you think about dropping down a few picks? Wheeler (of The Athletic) has Cozens in his 3rd talent tier but if the Kings don't agree and have him in their fourth tier (maybe like 5-12 range). Rosen has said the Kings will value skating and skill and not be as concerned with size. Maybe they feel comfortable that the player they value will be available at pick 8 or pick 10. Do you think a trade down with Edmonton for picks 8 and 38 or with Vancouver for picks 10 and 40 would work? If either team values the player available at pick 5 enough I feel like they might (although I might be undervaluing their 2 round picks).

The same scenario with pick 22..... would trade down with Carolina work for picks 29 and 36 (or if that's too much picks 36 and 37). Wheeler has pick 22 in the 5th tier (13-25 range). So would trading one pick in tier 5 be worth it for us to have 2 picks in tier 6 (26-50 range)? Actually, with our own pick 33, it would give us three picks in the 26-50 range instead of one pick in tier 5 and one pick in tier 6?

I also had another thought on pick 5 depending on who is available. I feel like Aleksi Heponiemi has been on the rise and he already has chemistry with Kupari. Would a trade down with Florida for pick 13 and Heponiemi work? That drops our pick from Wheelers 4th tier to the 5th tier but Heponieni would be a nice add (and almost NHL ready). Am I undervaluing Heponiemi?

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Not if their guy is available at 5. If their player is gone and their tiers line up then yes. I hope they have a formula and don't let emotion get in the way.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

If u can get a guy u want and add assets I would fully support moving down

 

[kings11]

I am sure this has already been discussed (as we rehash everything). Depending on who is available at 5 what do you think about dropping down a few picks? Wheeler (of The Athletic) has Cozens in his 3rd talent tier but if the Kings don't agree and have him in their fourth tier (maybe like 5-12 range). Rosen has said the Kings will value skating and skill and not be as concerned with size. Maybe they feel comfortable that the player they value will be available at pick 8 or pick 10. Do you think a trade down with Edmonton for picks 8 and 38 or with Vancouver for picks 10 and 40 would work? If either team values the player available at pick 5 enough I feel like they might (although I might be undervaluing their 2 round picks).

The same scenario with pick 22..... would trade down with Carolina work for picks 29 and 36 (or if that's too much picks 36 and 37). Wheeler has pick 22 in the 5th tier (13-25 range). So would trading one pick in tier 5 be worth it for us to have 2 picks in tier 6 (26-50 range)? Actually, with our own pick 33, it would give us three picks in the 26-50 range instead of one pick in tier 5 and one pick in tier 6?

I also had another thought on pick 5 depending on who is available. I feel like Aleksi Heponiemi has been on the rise and he already has chemistry with Kupari. Would a trade down with Florida for pick 13 and Heponiemi work? That drops our pick from Wheelers 4th tier to the 5th tier but Heponieni would be a nice add (and almost NHL ready). Am I undervaluing Heponiemi?

I like the write up but no.. the Kings will not be trading back at all. The talent level drops another tier after the 5th pick, so why settle for a lesser prospect just to add a 2nd rounder? We have 10 picks in this draft if anything we probably use the extra 3rd and 4th to move up if we see anything we really like...