2019 Draft Discussion

[Crownroyal21]

Who can play next year? Byram?

 

[Balthazar]

Who can play next year? Byram?

Nope.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Yup, the lack of a lottery pick pretty sunk any hope of a player who can step in next year right away. But I think we should still hope that some 2016 / 17 picks show up to camp and are given legitimate shots at making the team.

1. Vilardi - the only reason to hope about this guy is the Kings have mentioned him as a player for next year. Given how bad the Reign were, maybe there was some benefit to his development by not being around that situation. He basically missed his overage year in the CHL, so if you’re going to sit one out, I guess that’s the ok season to miss. If these back problems have been chronic, for a 19/20 yo, you understand the approach. I would play him at wing, but that’s probably not what happens.

2. Kupari - this kid needs to be in LA/ONT next year. I think it’s a failure for management if he’s still playing overseas when the season begins. Another guy I would work in at wing.

3. JAD - I worry about his size and durability, so I think he is a risk for returning to juniors if he gets hurt in camp. He got a few games this year, so if he stays on track, he should make the team out of camp as a wing.

4. Clague - maybe doesn’t make the team out of camp, but should be a regular by the all star break.

5. The Mikeys- Essiymont will get a look in camp, but I don’t know if he can beat out Walker or Roy. If the Kings are working in youth the way I hope, then I think Anderson is a regular at the All Star break.

With some luck, we could have this roster next year, post TDL.

Gone: Toffoli, Lewis, Leipsec, Brodzinski, LaDue, Forbort & Quick

Kovy / Kopitar / Brown
Grundstrom / Kempe / Kupari
Iafallo / Amadio / Vilardi
JAD / Lizotte / Wagner
Clifford / Carter / Luff

Anderson / Doughty
Walker / Martinez
Clague / MacD
Essiymont / Phaneuf

Peterson / Campbell

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Who can play next year? Byram?

Would not surprise me at all.

Now he probably wont be a next Doughty but Drew really showed his skill at training camp. He wasnt supposed to be this good when he got drafted. Than he went straight to the NHL. That spot was actually for Hickey.

Now if the Kings draft Byram, perhaps Clague is the new Hickey.

If you have such a killer season as defenseman, than there is still a lot to learn but not in juniors IMO.

 

[regulate]

1. Vilardi - the only reason to hope about this guy is the Kings have mentioned him as a player for next year. Given how bad the Reign were, maybe there was some benefit to his development by not being around that situation. He basically missed his overage year in the CHL, so if you’re going to sit one out, I guess that’s the ok season to miss. If these back problems have been chronic, for a 19/20 yo, you understand the approach. I would play him at wing, but that’s probably not what happens.

2. Kupari - this kid needs to be in LA/ONT next year. I think it’s a failure for management if he’s still playing overseas when the season begins. Another guy I would work in at wing.

3. JAD - I worry about his size and durability, so I think he is a risk for returning to juniors if he gets hurt in camp. He got a few games this year, so if he stays on track, he should make the team out of camp as a wing.

4. Clague - maybe doesn’t make the team out of camp, but should be a regular by the all star break.

5. The Mikeys- Essiymont will get a look in camp, but I don’t know if he can beat out Walker or Roy. If the Kings are working in youth the way I hope, then I think Anderson is a regular at the All Star break.

1. There has already been discussion by Kings staff to play Vilardi on RW to protect him defensively to start. The problem with Vilardi is his lack of speed. Can he play center defensively with his sub par skating? The issue is you lose a lot of his offensive skill set on the wing with his superb vision and passing skills. He was also dominate in the face off circle in his few pro games this season.

2. Ditto with Kupari as far as RW. Already been mentioned by staff, and the plan is to bring him over. Depends on his camp, but starting in ONT would not be surprising at all.

3. JAD likely plays C due to his compete level and skating ability. Fair chance depending on roster turnover he also starts in ONT.

4. Clague was making some strides the last couple months before he broke his foot, but he stills lacks strength and his defense is a work in progress. Really started looking more confident starting in February. Still only 21 next season, likely a call up, hard to say about the start of the season.

5. I have no idea why Eyssimont, a forward, would have anything to do with Roy or Walker and just so you know, IMHO watching him all year he will not be an NHL player. Anderson on the other hand could surprise in camp. Maybe we'll find the Forbort replacement here to work with Doughty.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[AzKing]

I posted it somewhere about a week ago when Dach was the current #2 ranked NA Skater but if you just went blind and drafted the #2 ranked guy on that list over the last 10 years, you had something like 9 out of 10 guys who have already or are in the process of becoming major impact players. With Byram vaulting all the way to #2 now, he is blowing up in terms of notoriety.

 

[crassbonanza]

I worry about his size

Isn't JAD 6 foot, 200 pounds?

 

[AzKing]

Some pretty significant jumps on the NA Skater list. Something impressive is Caufield jumping all the way to #8 from #15. This guy could be the biggest wildcard. It was also worth noting that Brayden Tracey moved from #73 to #21.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[kovacro]

I'd steer clear of Shane Pinto just based on the name alone.

 

[tny760]

oh shit he's bowen byram? i always thought it was byram bowen

 

[regulate]

Harley has really moved up since mid-year. I was hoping he would be around for that TOR pick, but looking less likely all the time.

 

[KopitarFAN]

There will be a poll here on who the Kings will pick #5 some time tonight. Looks as if #3 and 4 will be Byram and Cozens.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

There will be a poll here on who the Kings will pick #5 some time tonight. Looks as if #3 and 4 will be Byram and Cozens.

Surprised it was Cozens. Turcotte is my choice but should be a interesting poll for sure

 

[riznat]

Isn't JAD 6 foot, 200 pounds?

He either isn’t or nhl players just look a lot bigger. He looked a bit like Bambi out there to me in his Kings’ games.

 

[riznat]

Btw, what happened to captain Ron?

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Nah, 5’11” at best.

200 lbs not even close.

JAD

 

[kingsboy11]

Elite prospects lists JAD at 5'11, 196lbs

 

[BigKing]

My barely-a-week-long hopes for Byram have seemingly been dashed.

5th overall is still so ridiculous when you see Chicago sitting at #3. What a shit show this league is.

 

[regulate]

My barely-a-week-long hopes for Byram have seemingly been dashed.

5th overall is still so ridiculous when you see Chicago sitting at #3. What a **** show this league is.

Although I don't share your Byram dreams as much as a 1C replacement, when you blend those two lists together is hard to say who will be around at 5th.

 

[LAKings88]

What makes Podkolzin so much better than any other 4-10 possibility?

Honestly.

They all seem legit to me. I like what Turcotte did in less games. I like Cozens and Dach too.

Really don’t care all that much. Hope the scouts grab who is best for LA.

 

[KopitarFAN]

What makes Podkolzin so much better than any other 4-10 possibility?

Honestly.

They all seem legit to me. I like what Turcotte did in less games. I like Cozens and Dach too.

Really don’t care all that much. Hope the scouts grab who is best for LA.

If they don't like Podkolzin, and they feel 4-10 is a fairly flat group, the move might be to trade down a few spots.

 

[johnjm22]

My Prediction:
1. NJD Hughes
2. NYR Kakko
3. CHI Podkolzin/Dach/Turcotte*
4. COL Dach/Turcotte**
5. LAK Byram***

*Chicago has used all their top picks on Dmen in the last two drafts:
2018 1st: Adam Boqvist (Defenseman)
2018 1st: Nicolas Beaudin (Defenseman)
2017 1st: Henri Jokiharju (Defenseman)
2017 2nd: Ian Mitchell (Defenseman)
After all those picks used on defense I think they'll draft a forward.

**Colorado will most likely take a forward. They want someone who can get to the NHL quickly as they think they can contend now (all thier core players are entering their prime). Plus they already have Makar so Byram could be redundant. I don't think they take Podkolzin because his path to the NHL could be longer.

***That means Byram falls to the Kings. He's the #2 ranked N.A. skater so he'd be BPA. I think in recent drafts the Kings focused on forwards because they wanted players who could get to the NHL fast and help our aging core make one last run. It sounds like management has given up on that, so drafting a Dman makes more sense now. Plus Byram is one of the youngest of the top prospects and the Kings have favored some younger players in recent drafts.

 

[BigKing]

Avs have a real solid top line. I don't understand why Makar would make Byram redundant.

Like, two stud defenseman are better than just one.

Will be interesting if this is a BPA thing for these teams or they draft for need.