Prospect Info: 2019 Draft Discussion: LA Kings pick 5th, 22nd overall
- Thread starter Ziggy Stardust
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Reaper45
Registered User
The Kings will not take a chance at Caufield at #5. It's just not going to happen. Nobody will argue that he has some immense talent but the Kings are going to take a guy that they view is safer and that will come from most likely a group of Turcotte, Byram, Dach or perhaps Cozens. Same reason why they won't touch Podkolzin. They can't afford to gamble and regardless of what Caufield is right now, he is a gamble at 5'7.
Caufield may end up being the greatest sniper in the draft but the Kings cannot afford to miss on this pick. If they trade down a few spots and get another pick, then they may look at him.
Caufield may end up being the greatest sniper in the draft but the Kings cannot afford to miss on this pick. If they trade down a few spots and get another pick, then they may look at him.
TruKingFan
Two-Time Cup Winner
I'm all for surprises this coming season! Just pointing out Grundstrom is probably ahead of him for top-6 duties.
TruKingFan
Two-Time Cup Winner
You lost me at Caufield. I agree with your top 4 picks though. If Dach is available at #5, Kings have to take him.
IF IF IF Vilardi is finally healthy for training camp, then MAYBE Kings gamble on Caufield. I know draft the BPA and not for need yada yada yada....
jfont
Registered User
This is how the first 5 picks are going to go:
1 Hughes
2. Kaako
3. Turcotte
4. Cozens
5. Byram
1 Hughes
2. Kaako
3. Turcotte
4. Cozens
5. Byram
I see the first part of the draft going something like this...
1st overall will be Kaako going to the Devils.
He has the size, skill and character to be a truly elite power/sniper and is exactly what the Devils need. I have spoken with both Kupari and his now former coach and they believe that he will be the best Finnish player to ever have played in the NHL. This coming from a people who don't like to boast or embellish by nature so the praise is legitimate.
2nd overall will be Hughes to the fing most b.s. move up scam team in this draft. Betteman has f'ed the entire league with this bit of crap but it is what it is.
Here is the thing that nobody is saying about Jack Hughes, He doesn't have an elite skillset. He is very good. He will be a solid NHL'er but as for him being an automatic all star well allot of people myself included don't see that as a realistic outcome. He fades against bigger players and gets a little too puck focused to the point of distraction. Not a bid deal for everyone but your 1st line center. He will be very good and a player that you will be happy to have in your top 6 but the comparisons to Crosby and other elite centers is wishful thinking.
3rd will be Byram to the Hawks.
So he projects without the draft hype to be a solid 1/2 defenceman when he settles in to the NHL game. He can do everything and is a very smart Dman down low but he too has his limitations. He can be pressured off the puck a bit too easily and rushes the pass around his own net. Nothing that can't be improved upon and surely he is a real talent but somethings are worth noting when discussing draft players.
4rth with be Turcotte to the Avs.
I could see them taking a shot at Podkolzin because the kid is that good no question but the risk is pretty high when it comes to Russian players right now so I see them going with the next best center in the draft.
5th is where everything changes. almost as if it where planned to do so...
Every other player in the draft from 5 down fall into less and less talented groups. Of course Kaako is a truly elite talent and stands alone in this draft as the one purely super star player. After that Hughes has allot of skill and should be a good 1/2 center so taking him at 2nd makes sense. Turcotte and Byram are special players that are just a step below Hughes in skill and ability at this point in their respective careers but then the next 5 players are pretty fungible.
So why do I see us taking Cozens at 5?
Because we are still a bunch of size queens when it comes determining which players we deem valuable as an org. Cozens is a great skating big tough center who has elite hands and given a season or two in the AHL will become our next Kopitar type player. He isn't as flashy as Hughes but he has a great break a way game and a rifle of a shot to boot. He could develop his passing skills more and needs to work on his overall demeanor (gets a bit too ruffled at times) but other then that he is as close to being a can't miss NHLer as there is at this point. My dark horse (or the player I would take at 5 is Zegras. I like his game allot more then the rest and think he and Cozens are very similar talents but the edge goes to Cozens because of his hands. Zegras will be a solid NHL'er and I see him as the perfect 2nd line center on any true contender but I think that Cozens is a little bit more of a difference maker.
I will do my bottom 5 later on, I am busy in the woods this afternoon and writing while I am eating lunch.
I agree with Frolov that Wagner is a hidden gem and given the chance I see him as an easy 20+ goal scorer for us. He has the speed and the hands, all he needs is a solid opp and he should be there.
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
^^^
And I agree Cozens will most likely be our pick as Byram and Turcotte are gone.
And I am fine with that. This is going to be a very solid player who gets a lot of flack because he plays like Carter.
Jeff has never won a popularity contest but has been a heck of a player during his career.
And I agree Cozens will most likely be our pick as Byram and Turcotte are gone.
And I am fine with that. This is going to be a very solid player who gets a lot of flack because he plays like Carter.
Jeff has never won a popularity contest but has been a heck of a player during his career.
KingsHockey24
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Reaper45
Registered User
And none save Vilardi have the size/potential to be a #1 center JAD will be Stoll like, Kupari and Thomas will both be a wing.
Reaper45
Registered User
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
Kopitar was not labeled to be this good either but I agree we have to set the bar low.
The Wild certainly did
... The honest truth is that without Gabriel Vilardi our prospect pool is shallow as shit.. And even then, Vilardi was going to start his career on the wing and Blake and Co have said as much so no Kopi replacement there.. i'd add JAD to the winger list as well, not that he cant be an effective center but i think his career would thrive more on the wingEDIT: We need to hit a Home Run with this pick!!
raswilliam
Registered User
Saw this posted in another thread. What it takes to move up in a draft.
what stood out to me was 2007 sharks moving up to #9 to take Couture. Cost them the 13, 44, 87 to move up 4 slots. It worked out for them but that is a solid haul
what stood out to me was 2007 sharks moving up to #9 to take Couture. Cost them the 13, 44, 87 to move up 4 slots. It worked out for them but that is a solid haul
raswilliam
Registered User
Grundstrom has done zip to earn top 6 duties, Wagner is a sleeper no doubt but both guys are 3rd line material
KingsHockey24
Registered User
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That would be extremely disappointing.
Unless you're referring to Stoll's younger days.
Saw this posted in another thread. What it takes to move up in a draft.
what stood out to me was 2007 sharks moving up to #9 to take Couture. Cost them the 13, 44, 87 to move up 4 slots. It worked out for them but that is a solid haul
View attachment 227685
2012 stands out to me, we have the 22nd and the 33rd which are more valuable than what Buffalo gave up to move up 7 spots from 21st to 14th.. Granted it all depends on how team(s) view the draft we could in theory move to 12th-14th should there be someone we really like that fell from our top 10 prospect draft chart
St. Louis had a fun video of their draft table that year and it was fun to have a peek behind the proverbial curtain. St. Louis was sitting at #9 and they really wanted Jakub Voracek. They had video of them offering #9 and #24 to Edmonton for #6, but Edmonton declined. The thought that year was that there were 6 or 7 top tier guys (depending on how you felt about Alexei Cherepanov [RIP]), so teams were a little hesitant to move out of that tier.
I'd be curious to know if the Blues made the same offer to the Kings at #4, although I seem to recall some folks saying Boston would have taken Hickey at #8.
The next guy on St. Louis' list was Lars Eller and they figured he was a little bit off the board, so they could safely trade down and still get him at #13. I remember one of the guys at their table saying something like "Carolina's all over [Brandon] Sutter at #11."
As much as #9 for #13, #44, and #87 feels like a good haul for St. Louis, it's a reminder that it's hard to hit on those extra picks. They used the extra two picks on Aaron Palushaj (68 NHL games) and Ian Schultz (0 NHL games). They were able to cash in Eller/Schultz into a few years of Jaroslav Halak.
2012 was a goofy draft year where a lot of the guys in the back half of the 1st round seemed to project more as potential depth guys. The Hockey News had a decent article from 2009 where a handful of scouts were noticing that the skill level was below average. Calgary knew it was reaching on Mark Jankowski; Most people had him as a 2nd rounder, I remember thinking he might be a consideration for the Devils at #29 since had a Providence College connection with Lou Lamoriello. Another oddity was that Craig Button seemed to be the only mainstream person who was touting Jankowski ahead of the draft, meanwhile his brother Tod Button was Calgary's head amateur scout.
I'd caution about having the expectation that #21+#42 got Buffalo to #14 in 2012, therefore #22+#33 should get the Kings even higher in 2019. The hard part about trading up is that there has to be a team looking to trade down.
Yeah, thats why i put that note about teams having individualistic views on the same draft... I think past the 12th pick everyone is on an even playing field and its just a team preference, so I expect some dealing to go on to capitalize on the guys that slip into the 2nd round. A team like the Avs could afford to trade back from 16 to 22, or any team looking to get an extra pick
DoktorJeep
Fair winds and following seas Nikolai.
Ken Campbell of THN was on their podcast and talking about Cozens. He touted his competitiveness and work ethic as a reason he might go as high as 3rd OA. Given the Kings issues with leadership and culture, if Cozens is there at 5, maybe the Kings take him based on intangibles.
I agree with Kakko going first I think the Devils will look at his potential and eventually take Kakko. He's played with grown men and did very well and is one of the leaders at the Worlds with 5 goals in three games and has looked great. But concerning our pick I'm really hoping we hit a home run with whomever we choose it can be a game changer for many years to come.
kilowatt
the vibes are not immaculate
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If our depth down the center is Vilardi - Turcotte/Cozens/Dach - JAD - Amadio, that bodes pretty well for our future, if they all hit.
KingsHockey24
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I don't quite understand the hype behind Kirby Dach. At first he was my #1 guy but after looking at some video I think they're much better options.
He's a big bodied playermaker, who's an average skater.
Cozens is a much better skater than Dach, and plays a more physical game while still having decent size at 6'3.
He's a big bodied playermaker, who's an average skater.
Cozens is a much better skater than Dach, and plays a more physical game while still having decent size at 6'3.
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