2019 Draft Discussion

[verbalkint47]

I still think there's good talent, and some have size.

Dach, for example, reminds me of Kopitar, not just his size, but how he opts to pass more despite his great shot. He is a better skater than he gets credit.

But I am really high on Turcotte, as has been stated. Boldy also has high upside as a two-way playmaking winger. He's 6'2, which is pretty big.

I understand the concern of the Kings being obsessed with size, but there is a lot of potential even for bigger players.

If Turcotte and Byram are gone I'm hoping for Dach. People talk about his skating but Draisaitl and Scheifele both had skating concerns and have been great. If Villardi could get healthy that would be awesome center depth.
With our 2nd pick I'd like to get Tobias Bjornfot, or 1 of Ville Heinola or Vladislav Kolyachonok.
It would be ideal to land a top 6 forward and top 4 d-man in this draft.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Some interesting thoughts on the draft from Steve Yzerman on Caufield and Podkolzin, from the Athletic.

A guy like Cole Caufield has been amazing but at 5-foot-7, there’s the question about his size. What are your impressions of him?

I’ve watched him all year. Every game he goes to, he just scores. He’s a phenomenal scorer. He’s fast. He’s really good. I just continue to see him score. He has great hands. He has the ability to change his angle, shoot the puck. Gets open for breakaways. He’s a really good scorer. He’s very similar to Alex DeBrincat in the way he plays. Alex’s skating, it really looks like he’s really increased his speed as he’s gotten older. He’s developed. They’re similar. Really good shooters, they know where to go and they know how to get their shot off.

I’m fishing here a bit in your draft range but watching Podkolzin advance — he’s a wild card. You don’t know when you’re going to get him to the NHL (since he’s under contract in the KHL). How do you weigh the risk?

What’s the risk?

Having to wait for him an unknown amount of time versus some of these kids you can bring in immediately.

He’s a really good player. He’s a really good player. He’s a good one.

His status doesn’t scare you off?

It hasn’t in the past. The really good Russian players all come over. Maybe they wait a year, two years, but eventually you get them. (Evgeny) Kuznetsov, (Vladimir) Tarasenko, Vasilevskiy. (Nikita) Kucherov waited a year. The really good ones are coming over. You have to be prepared, potentially, to wait. I don’t really know what his contract status is.

I think it’s two years.

I don’t know if they can get out, I don’t really know.

 

[johnjm22]

If you were offered Getzlaf/Thornton (Dach), Zetterberg/Toews (Turcotte), Point/Toews (Krebs), etc for #5 would you turn it down Herby? Difference all three of those (and just 3 in that range) are WAY WAY WAY safer, bring a lot more to the game, and hold similar or quite bit higher potential too. That couldn't have been a serious argument?

Most of the guys we're talking about potentially picking at 5 are probably going to turn out to be mediocre NHLers.

The comparisons of Dach/Turcotte/Krebs to Zetterberg/Toews/Getzlaf/Thornton/Point are unrealistic.

For every Jagr picked at 5OA, there's a Strome and a Luke Schenn. Caufield doesn't look as risky when you look at the hard reality of that.

 

[lumbergh]

Most of the guys we're talking about potentially picking at 5 are probably going to turn out to be mediocre NHLers.

The comparisons of Dach/Turcotte/Krebs to Zetterberg/Toews/Getzlaf/Thornton/Point are unrealistic.

For every Jagr picked at 5OA, there's a Strome and a Luke Schenn. Caufield doesn't look as risky when you look at the hard reality of that.

From 2001 to 2015, the players drafted at 5OA have almost all turned out to be better than mediocre. Outside of Stanislav Chistov (2001) and Michael Dal Colle (2014), everyone has played over 300 games. You have Thomas Vanek, Carey Price, Phil Kessel, and Blake Wheeler on that list, all much better than "mediocre" players. Brayden Schenn, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Morgan Reilly are all hits at that position, top line players.

Chistov, Ryan Whitney, Luke Schenn, Ryan Strome, and Michael Dal Colle, that's 5 mediocre ones out of 15. Ryan Whitney was pretty good for a few years.

Historically, there's a better than 50-50 chance you end up with a very good player at that position.

 

[YP44]

Why does everyone suddenly say speed and skill are dead and it's back to grind it out. Because of one round? Really?

The last four Stanley Cup champs were all skill based teams.

This decade the cup champs have been 3rd, 8th, 29th, 2nd, 25th, 14th, 3rd, 1st, 9th in GF.
The runners-up have been 2nd, 1st, 11th, 11th, 18th, 1st, 4th, 11th, 4th

I don't think Barry Melrose style hockey is returning based on 1 round.

same people were also saying that you need to get into the playoffs where everyone has a shot. However in order to get in you need to win the regular season. What wins in the regualr season? Skill!

Point is need both. You need to be able to excel in the regular season and not disappear in tough playoff matches where coaches match lines and focus on shutting the opposition down as much or more than improving their own game.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If you end up with a mediocre player at 5th overall in this draft class, then something is clearly wrong with the scouts and development staff.

 

[KopitarFAN]

If you end up with a mediocre player at 5th overall in this draft class, then something is clearly wrong with the scouts and development staff.

This. Obviously they aren't all going to turn out to be stars but you should get an above-average player, even if its not right away.

 

[kings11]

Alex Turcotee is without a doubt the 3rd best prospect in tis class and will fall because of his hip injury which is a boon for us. As expect Podzolkin to slip in this draft as teams in the top 10 dont want to wait 2+ years for the kid..
NJ- Hughes
NYR- Kakko
CBH- Byram
COL- Dach
LA- Turcotte
DET- Cozens
BUF- Zegras
EDM- Boldy
ANA- Caufield
VAN- Kaliyev

If i get this right, im headed straight to Vegas!! lol

 

[johnjm22]

From 2001 to 2015, the players drafted at 5OA have almost all turned out to be better than mediocre. Outside of Stanislav Chistov (2001) and Michael Dal Colle (2014), everyone has played over 300 games. You have Thomas Vanek, Carey Price, Phil Kessel, and Blake Wheeler on that list, all much better than "mediocre" players. Brayden Schenn, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, and Morgan Reilly are all hits at that position, top line players.

Chistov, Ryan Whitney, Luke Schenn, Ryan Strome, and Michael Dal Colle, that's 5 mediocre ones out of 15. Ryan Whitney was pretty good for a few years.

Historically, there's a better than 50-50 chance you end up with a very good player at that position.

Point taken, but I think we have a different definition of mediocre here. I see a guy like Nino Niederreiter as the caliber of player you're probably getting at 5OA. Nothing against Nino, he's had some 20 goals seasons, but he's just a 2nd line winger. He's in the same category as Tyler Toffoli.

If people think we're going to get a great player at 5OA, they're probably going to be disappointed.

And that's why I don't really mind the Kings taking a riskier pick with high upside. That was my original point.

 

[YP44]

Alex Turcotee is without a doubt the 3rd best prospect in tis class and will fall because of his hip injury which is a boon for us. As expect Podzolkin to slip in this draft as teams in the top 10 dont want to wait 2+ years for the kid..
NJ- Hughes
NYR- Kakko
CBH- Byram
COL- Dach
LA- Turcotte
DET- Cozens
BUF- Zegras
EDM- Boldy
ANA- Caufield
VAN- Kaliyev

If i get this right, im headed straight to Vegas!! lol

I think Detroit takes Podz.

 

[kings11]

I think Detroit takes Podz.

I thought either CBH or DET, but the uncertainty of when he wants to come over might make teams leery of taking him in the top 10. Especially with so much talent on the board that could be ready after a college season or two... College is much easier to leave than the KHL money..

 

[YP44]

I thought either CBH or DET, but the uncertainty of when he wants to come over might make teams leery of taking him in the top 10. Especially with so much talent on the board that could be ready after a college season or two... College is much easier to leave than the KHL money..

I have never seen Chicago abbreviated as CBH...took me a while haha.

I could see the hawks taking him too. I imagine there is the same fear of KHL players as there is of College players going the UFA route.

 

[kings11]

I have never seen Chicago abbreviated as CBH...took me a while haha.

I could see the hawks taking him too. I imagine there is the same fear of KHL players as there is of College players going the UFA route.

I think the college players that have forgone signing with their teams is all about playing time moreso than being signed to a KHL contact and actually having to wait 2 years if not more if he doesnt get guarantees.
Turcotte, Boldy, Zegras, Caufield, York, and Newhook are all college bound kids that'll likely play in teh NHL before Podzolkin does.. they all also figure to be go-to players in their respective college teams.

 

[johnjm22]

If you end up with a mediocre player at 5th overall in this draft class, then something is clearly wrong with the scouts and development staff.

What's so special about this draft?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

What's so special about this draft?

It’s considered a deep draft.
NHL Draft big board: Latest rankings of top 31 prospects in 2019 class

The good news for teams losing out on the Hughes-Kakko derby comes in the form of the deepest group of forward prospects since the vaunted 2015 draft that produced Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Sebastian Aho, Mitch Marner, Mathew Barzal and Mikko Rantanen. But as is the case with every draft in every major sport, the top players to come out of any draft are never selected in sequential order. Barzal was taken 16th overall, and Aho wasn't even a first rounder.

 

[funky]

So just before the Stanley Cup we won in 2012, Our GM drafted at fifth overall and took a kid from the Saskatoon Blades name Brayden Schenn

Schenn was then traded to Philadelphia with one of our fan favorites in Simmonds for Mike Richard’s. Sniper Jeff Carter was then traded for as he did not wish to play in Columbus. The rest is history.

Fast forward to this year.

We have another Saskatoon Blade expected to go in the range of fifth overall. Could we see history repeating itself. Personally I am not sold on Dach. But then again he does look like he will be a solid second pairing center for a long time.

I am all over the place with who I want to Kings to draft. I would really love either Turcotte or Byram but Caufield intrigues me. We know that number one and number two are locked in stone and the draft really begins at number three.

Unfortunately looking at everyone passed the three mentioned above nothing really has me jumping for joy. A lot of them will be great NHL players which is still a win,

In my eyes the perfect draft would have Byram falling to us at five and then Blake trading up to grab a skilled forward that slips down the board on draft day. There always seems to be one or two players like this in every draft.

 

[LAKings88]

It’s considered a deep draft.
NHL Draft big board: Latest rankings of top 31 prospects in 2019 class

I think next year is even better to be honest.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I think next year is even better to be honest.

Especially in elite talent, that's where this class is really lacking, lots of very good players but only a few elite talents.

 

[KINGS17]

Why does everyone suddenly say speed and skill are dead and it's back to grind it out. Because of one round? Really?

The last four Stanley Cup champs were all skill based teams.

This decade the cup champs have been 3rd, 8th, 29th, 2nd, 25th, 14th, 3rd, 1st, 9th in GF.
The runners-up have been 2nd, 1st, 11th, 11th, 18th, 1st, 4th, 11th, 4th

I don't think Barry Melrose style hockey is returning based on 1 round.

I don't think anyone is winning with Barry Melrose-style hockey, and I don't think that was the style employed by the Kings in the Sutter era. I just see the playoffs as much more physical than last year's playoffs. The teams playing a tight checking, counter attacking game with speed and toughness are the ones advancing so far in these playoffs. I see the systems and styles being employed as being very similar to the one the Kings used in the playoffs during 2012-2014 run, except I don't think any of these teams are quite matching the physical play of those Kings teams. It's close, but I would still give the Kings the edge in physical play, and some of these teams a slight edge in skill.

 

[kingsboy11]

I do think next years class is better, I don't think this year is bad at all. We'll still get a good player regardless of who it is.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

It's becoming more and more common to see Turcotte mocked way after the Kings. I think the tournament has raised the attention of the site scouts towards other players. I really will be disappointed it he or Byram is not available.

 

[LAKings88]

Honestly it’s wildly unpredictable. Most of these guys are a couple years away too.

Kings should get three good pieces for the future with the top three picks alone.

Should be a fun draft.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Most of the guys we're talking about potentially picking at 5 are probably going to turn out to be mediocre NHLers.

The comparisons of Dach/Turcotte/Krebs to Zetterberg/Toews/Getzlaf/Thornton/Point are unrealistic.

For every Jagr picked at 5OA, there's a Strome and a Luke Schenn. Caufield doesn't look as risky when you look at the hard reality of that.

Low quality posting

 

[Herby]

Well, whatever happens it's going to generate a lot of discussion. I think the only scenario that almost all fans would be cool with is taking Byram if he falls to 5. Even someone like me who wants to add more skill up front would be fine with that because the value is to much to pass up. But at this point it seems unlikely he falls to #5.

Blake's success as Kings GM is going to come down to what he does in the 2019 and 2020 drafts. He needs to find a franchise forward in one of these drafts.

 

[kilowatt]

Why does everyone suddenly say speed and skill are dead and it's back to grind it out. Because of one round? Really?

The last four Stanley Cup champs were all skill based teams.

This decade the cup champs have been 3rd, 8th, 29th, 2nd, 25th, 14th, 3rd, 1st, 9th in GF.
The runners-up have been 2nd, 1st, 11th, 11th, 18th, 1st, 4th, 11th, 4th

I don't think Barry Melrose style hockey is returning based on 1 round.

ooh i wanna play “guess which ones were the kings”

let me guess... 29th and 25th in goals scored?!?!