2019 Draft Discussion

[kingsfan28]

Best odds are picking 4th through 6th. Assuming we take a forward. Podkolzin, Turcotte, Cozens and Dach. Who do you choose and why?

Any one by Podkolzin, just don't like the way they turn out in our org. He may stay in Russia for a few seasons which would be a waste of a pick. We need guys who can step in a play that don't have questions about their future.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Bobby Brink could go from 20 to 30 and will be going to Denver U. I live 5 miles from there and used to go see Nick Shore a few times each season. Get seats on the glass for $25.
I would always go see the St Cloud games and then get to see Nic Dowd and Kevin Gravel. If the Kings selected Brink, I will start going again.

34 goals in the USHL this season.

2018-2019

Sioux City Musketeers

USHL

41

34

31

65

20

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Bobby Brink | Bobby Brink Profile | Bobby Brink Scouting Report 2019

Cam Robinson - Dobber ProspectsFeb. 6th: "A deadly offensive player with quick hands, quick feet, and a nose for finishing plays. He’s been tearing the USHL apart at nearly a goal-per-game rate while adding a standout performance at the World Junior A Championships."

Will - Scouching.caJan. 7th: "Bobby Brink is a speedy winger who has exploded onto the map with little fanfare. A 50%INV in the USHL is unprecedented, and he's effective at both ends. He is an equally dangerous playmaker and goal scorer with great separation speed."

Derek Neumeier - Future Considerations - Dec. 7th: "With quick feet, quick hands and a quick mind, Brink has been a standout so far in his first full USHL season, currently leading the league in points with 33 in just 19 games. Despite his diminutive size, he is dangerous around the net, assertively finding open space and loose pucks."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - Nov. 6th: "He has made things happen on just about every shift of my last two viewings, his feet never stop moving and he plays so much faster than everyone else at his level through quick dashes and short passes that defenders can’t keep track of him. It has been a joy to watch and should quickly eliminate the size concerns of most scouts."

 

[Ghetty Green]

I'm starting to warm to the idea of LA drafting Byram if they draft 4th or lower. 26 goals by a dman is no joke and LA really doesn't have any "high end" dmen in the pipeline.

Like ive been saying; if you cant get hughes or kakko then get byram and pair him with doughty day 1. Use next year to break him in.

 

[TopT]

Why grumpy? Both Cozens and Dach are considered elite and top 3 material. They are both huge and skate very well. Just a preference or down on them? Just curious.

I think that the era of really big guys is over, their point production is nothing special and BTW Dach is not a good skater. From what I have seen I would much prefer Turcotte. I would even take Krebs over them

 

[TopT]

Any one by Podkolzin, just don't like the way they turn out in our org. He may stay in Russia for a few seasons which would be a waste of a pick. We need guys who can step in a play that don't have questions about their future.

Would it really ? You think others will jump right on the team
Outside of Kakko I dont see anybody playing in the NHL next year; even Hughes does not seem ready

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think that the era of really big guys is over, their point production is nothing special and BTW Dach is not a good skater. From what I have seen I would much prefer Turcotte. I would even take Krebs over them

I fully agree that the 'big for the sake of big' era is over, but these things are cyclical. The moment the entire league is filled with 5'10" moderate skill guys is the time a 6'4" monster just gets to manhandle anyone in his vicinity. Overexaggerating but you get what I'm saying, BPA is BPA.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Besides, Cozens is almost 6’5” and skates like the wind.

In hockey you always prefer big guys with similar skill over the smaller ones.

 

[Herby]

Besides, Cozens is almost 6’5” and skates like the wind.

In hockey you always prefer big guys with similar skill over the smaller ones.

Well much like RJ has nightmares about the Kings drafting Russians. I have nightmares about the Kings wasting picks on larger guys who never panned out. If you want to draft a guy who is 6'5 that is fine, but you have to ask yourself the question "Would I consider taking this guy here if he were 6'2" and if the answer is no, then we shouldn't consider him at that high a spot.

I think with this pick we should eventually be hoping for a guy who might be able to be a top 20 scorer in the NHL.

Of the top 20 scorers this season. Four are taller than 6'2 Barkov (10th), Wheeler (14th), Ovechkin (17th), Rantanen (18th)

 

[TopT]

Besides, Cozens is almost 6’5” and skates like the wind.

In hockey you always prefer big guys with similar skill over the smaller ones.

a smaller guy would most of the time be more agile with better edgework and this I believe is important in todays NHL, not straight line speed

 

[TopT]

Well much like RJ has nightmares about the Kings drafting Russians. I have nightmares about the Kings wasting picks on larger guys who never panned out. If you want to draft a guy who is 6'5 that is fine, but you have to ask yourself the question "Would I consider taking this guy here if he were 6'2" and if the answer is no, then we shouldn't consider him at that high a spot.

I think with this pick we should eventually be hoping for a guy who might be able to be a top 20 scorer in the NHL.

Of the top 20 scorers this season. Four are taller than 6'2 Barkov (10th), Wheeler (14th), Ovechkin (17th), Rantanen (18th)

This is what I was also looking at; I dont believe that a guy at 6'5" with average production in juniors will ever be a star.
So, no; I would not draft Cozens or Dach with our first pick

 

[Peter James Bond II]

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Me too.

Byram Doughty
Anderson Clague
Durzi Phillips

Not a lock but a nice thought for the future.

That does look good. Don't count out Brickley yet. He had a bit of a rough year, but still has the tools, size and upside. The minus 27 (or whatever it is now) he was minus 20 the first 2 months, so that didn't keep mushrooming. I didn't know he lost his father and cannot imagine what that must have been like for him, plus the injury he had. Read he was good when he came back. he's still an intriguing player and can put it together quickly. That grouping of 6, no one is like 6'3 210 and Brickley is.

I think Mikey Anderson is going to be awesome. Hope they sign him after NCAA Championship game next weekend.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Well much like RJ has nightmares about the Kings drafting Russians. I have nightmares about the Kings wasting picks on larger guys who never panned out. If you want to draft a guy who is 6'5 that is fine, but you have to ask yourself the question "Would I consider taking this guy here if he were 6'2" and if the answer is no, then we shouldn't consider him at that high a spot.

I think with this pick we should eventually be hoping for a guy who might be able to be a top 20 scorer in the NHL.

Of the top 20 scorers this season. Four are taller than 6'2 Barkov (10th), Wheeler (14th), Ovechkin (17th), Rantanen (18th)

Is there a reason you set the bar at 6’2” ?

Five more top 20 scorers of this season are 6’1”.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Is there a reason you set the bar at 6’2” ?

Five more top 20 scorers of this season are 6’1”.

Average NHL height this year was 6'1.2", so I take what Herby is saying as "are we simply drafting this guy because he's three inches taller" and x pounds bigger.

I'm with you on Cozens that's he's not 'just' that guy and his size is kind of a 'skill' when paired with his other assets so compared to the rest of the 3-10 crop he'll probably get picked at the higher end, and "should," I'm just saying that as much of a player as he may be, he would be a shitty consolation prize for finishing 2nd to last. I don't see him as a play-driving 1st-line talent that we need.

Dude can absolutely fly and has very nice tools though. I was trying to find a way to express my thought without bashing the 2nd tier guys and I obviously failed I was just thinking more we need 1st tier.

 

[TopT]

I think that Cozens and Dach are more in the "third tier" with guys like Krebs. Second tier for me are Turcotte, Byram and Podkolzin and I would be happy with any of them, after that not so much. Byram outscored Dach as a defender, this should not be even close

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Still have not seen much of anything here on Trevor Zegras. A few mention he will go between 3-5. When reading about him and watching some video, it seems like he may top out to be a #1 center and end up being a better NHL player than Cozens or Dach. I still think Turcotte would be a better choice over Zegras, but should read up on him. He just could end up being a King. Good article here and his ast coach and former NHL'er Dan Hinote has a lot to say about him here.

Trevor Zegras: Elite Center Lurking in the Shadow of Jack Hughes

he totaled 40 goals and 78 assists for 118 pts between the USHL games and US National Team and accumulated a whopping 126 PM. Does not equate to toughness, but he's seemingly no wilting flower. Only 6'0" and 168 lbs. Probably ends up playing around 6'1" 185.

As has been mentioned here (RJ) and I agree:::: "the prize for being 2nd worst should not be a good NHL player...but a franchise type player" I would rather go for a potential homerun, than a sure NHL player. As long as that player is a big risk. Don't think Zegras is a big risk, but perhaps a potential homerun, moreso than Cozens or Dach. I actually trust Yanetti, Futa and staff to know everything there is to know about each top tier player...and to make the best choice. Can say what you want about their 10ish year track record, but the last 3 years, they have done very well in first 2 rds.

Trevor Zegras at eliteprospects.com

Trevor Zegras is an elite two-way forward that can play both wing and center. His pro-level mobility is the foundation of his game, supplementing an in-transition speed that shifts the pace of play. He knows how to get under the skin of opponents and will actively seek out opportunities to lay the body and create separation, all the while staying attentive to the unfolding play. This unique aspect of his game makes him difficult and frustrating to play against. His ability to finish and create plays is undoubtedly the hallmark of his game, as he is one of the major dynamos of his draft class. He is a dangerous scoring threat anywhere below the blue line and his vision matched with his net-drive propels him into positions that create high percentage opportunities. Defensively astute and proactive, he sees the lanes that his opponents do and will do his best to force the puck along the wall where he is at his best. All-in-all, Zegras is one of those special buzzsaw-type players that can excel in key roles and perform under pressure. (Curtis Joe, EP 2019)

2018-19	USNTDP Juniors	USHL	27	14	26	40	34	18	|
	U.S. National U18 Team	USDP	54	26	52	78	92

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[AlphaBravo]

I am joining the Byram bandwagon as well. If we don’t win the lottery, might as well get the Jake Hughes of defense in this year’s draft. If Byram was a defensive defenseman, I might think otherwise but the dude can score. We can use our second 1st to get a skilled forward; hopefully a good one drops when we pick.

Blake should find a way to stock pile picks for the 2020 draft. Hopefully we win the lottery next year and get a franchise center.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Since about February, I have been 'conditioning' myself that the lotto gods have already weighed the Kings in the balance...and the Kings have come up short....
and been spending time 'getting used to this cold, harsh reality' and reading up on, watching videos of: Turcotte, Cozens, Dach, Byram, Zegras, Boldy....cuz it will
be one of them to be King....

Then suddenly out of nowhere, my mind warped violently, that in less then 100 hours, it WILL BE that Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko
will be a KING!! lotto gods...I come against you. you are powerless to stop the Kings from winning this thing...just like the 2014 cup...and your brethren 'cup gods'
failed, when cursing the Kings and the Kings were game 7 victors so many times....and went on and lifted Lord Stanley's Cup!

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Average NHL height this year was 6'1.2", so I take what Herby is saying as "are we simply drafting this guy because he's three inches taller" and x pounds bigger.

So when the average size is 6’1.2”....6’1” should count too.

Like I said.

On top of that, that number is inflated because defenders are mostly bigger guys and smaller guys just need to have skill and scoring ability otherwise most wouldnt be in the NHL.

Nightmares about the Kings wasting picks on larger guys who never panned out is a strange argument. Looks like Forbort and Teubert have done a lot of damage to some.

Cozens would be my 5th choice after Kakko, Hughes, Byram & Turcotte.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I’m not an expert on juniors, so someone tell me why the USNTDP players get rated so highly in comparison to say prospects coming out of the QMJHL?

From what I understand, the NTDP roster is a bunch of US ringers who don’t want to ride the bus in Canada and play a hand picked schedule against a smattering of USHL and div 1 ncaa teams. And what, they go to school at some Michigan school?

If any of that is true, I don’t get how most of these NTDP guys who aren’t at the Hughes level get ranked over kids playing regular juniors as 17/18 year olds or those playing in elite overseas men’s pro Leagues?

 

[King'sPawn]

The way I see them. Not necessarily a ranking, but a lazy summary of strengths and weaknesses (I wasn't at my computer :
Hughes - strengths: skating and playmaking. Weaknesses: size and shot

Kakko - strengths: stickhandling and shot. Weaknesses: defense, versatility (might not be a reliable option at center)

Podkolzin - strength: overall toolbox and putting it all together. Weakness: commitment to North America

Byram - strengths: three zone threat, composure. Weakness - not one particular elite skill

Cozens - strengths: size, skating, shot. Weaknesses: consistency, vision

Turcotte - strengths: elite two-way play, physical play. Weakness: durability

Krebs - strengths: effort/tenacity, utility. Weaknesses - size, less impressive numbers

Dach - strengths: offensive tools. Weakness: assertiveness

Zegras - strength: overall high offensive skill. Weakness: low defensive awareness

Boldy - strength: grit/effort. Weakness: lack of creativity/elite skill

 

[Fat Elvis]

Mind is basically made up.
After Hughes and Kakko my pick is Byrum.

Talk me out of it.

 

[Oof]

My order for who I'd like the kings to draft is:
Hughes
Kakko
Byram
Turcotte
Cozens/Zegras
Obviously we most likely won't pick first or second but if we wind up with the third I want Byram or Turcotte

 

[LAKings88]

I’m not an expert on juniors, so someone tell me why the USNTDP players get rated so highly in comparison to say prospects coming out of the QMJHL?

From what I understand, the NTDP roster is a bunch of US ringers who don’t want to ride the bus in Canada and play a hand picked schedule against a smattering of USHL and div 1 ncaa teams. And what, they go to school at some Michigan school?

If any of that is true, I don’t get how most of these NTDP guys who aren’t at the Hughes level get ranked over kids playing regular juniors as 17/18 year olds or those playing in elite overseas men’s pro Leagues?

This is why I’m also not high on Knight (G). How good does he really need to be to play behind that group?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Interesting take to say at least.

Depends on what Bobby thinks is “something special”.

Next Ovechkin ? No.

Though, I doubt a player who broke Aleksander Barkov’s SM-Liiga record for first-year draft eligibles wont be very good.

Yeah, Kakko will be every bit as good as Barkov if not better. He plays a more versatile game than Laine, too. One of the best prospects to come out of Finland in a long time.