Prospect Info: 2020 Los Angeles Kings Prospect Rankings No 1

[King'sPawn]

Back by popular (Rorschach's) request! It's been over a year since we took a look at the prospects and ranked them.

Only players who are eligible for the 2021 Calder trophy. Calder eligibility is defined as:
- No older than 26 years old as of September 15th, 2020
- Has not played in more than 25 games in one season or more than 6 games in two consecutive seasons (making Cal Petersen, Carl Grundstrom, Sean Walker, and Matt Roy exempt)

We'll do this for as long as you all want, either you want to stop or we run out of options.

I'm kinda using my own judgment for the first ten options, listed alphabetically (not necessarily my own list, but the ones most likely to have recognition/votes until people start nominating).

I sometimes get busy with work and other projects, so if someone else wants to take reigns/take over, feel free to! I'm setting the poll at 1 day. Please say if this is too short for a poll.

Edit: Don't forget to nominate who goes on next!

Click to read more...

 

[DAkings20]

Gotta be QB

 

[KingsOfCali25]

I voted Vilardi. Can't knock him off the top spot until QB does something worthwhile and Vilardi already showed (in the NHL) that he still is the best.

 

[Docgonzo]

I predict the list will be center, center and center as 1,2&3.

 

[kilowatt]

1. Byfield
2. Vilardi
3. Turcotte

 

[Telos]

1. Byfield
2. Turcotte
3. Vilardi

Add Madden.

 

[Rooks]

Byfield. Easiest pick of the exercise.

 

[kingsfan28]

I voted Vilardi. Can't knock him off the top spot until QB does something worthwhile and Vilardi already showed (in the NHL) that he still is the best.

Same here. Until Byfield plays a few games and shows me what he's got at the pro level, then I'll rethink my ranking.

 

[kilowatt]

I went with Byfield because I honestly think he has the potential to be the best player in the entire league. No other prospect on this list can say that. Will he become that? Probably not, who knows, but the potential is there, so I'm choosing him.

 

[Kingfan1967]

I like shiny new toys - QB gets my vote

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

 

[kingsboy11]

It has to be Byfield. I'm actually more excited once we get past #3 to see how the list shapes up after last year because I expect it to look a lot different, not just because of the new prospects, but because so many players improved their stock.

 

[kilowatt]

It should also be noted that I'm Vilardi's number one fan on these boards and still went with Byfield.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

1. Byfield
2. Vilardi
3. Turcotte

This is where I'm at, I think the debate starts at 4. Madden is a top 10 Kings prospect, and he needs to be added going forward

 

[kilowatt]

This is where I'm at, I think the debate starts at 4. Madden is a top 10 Kings prospect, and he needs to be added going forward

100% agree on adding Madden. I think Akil Thomas should be added as well, I think he falls in around #10.

 

[The Lukeman]

This is where I'm at, I think the debate starts at 4. Madden is a top 10 Kings prospect, and he needs to be added going forward

I agree. Madden is a MACHINE!

My Top 10:
1) Byfield
2) Vilardi (I foresee a calder caliber season on the horizon)
3) Turcotte
4) Kaliyev
5) Madden (There are probably about 10 teams where their best prospect would start under Madden)
6) Bjornfot
7) Fagemo
8) Grans
9) Kupari (If this was fully skill based, he would be higher. Injury has him down)
10) Thomas/Faber (im flip flopping on them)

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The prospect depth after three years is simply ridiculous. Look at what the prospect pool looked like in 2017.

LA Kings 2017 Mid-Season Prospect Rankings: Top Two Players Revealed

2017 Organizational Prospects Rankings

They started to finally restock with the 2017 draft and have made some valuable prospect signings that became full fledged NHLers.

Right now, they could be a wild card team or a lottery team, but in two years, this team will be playoff contenders.

 

[bland]

1. Byfield
2. Turcotte
3. Vilardi

Add Madden.

I have Turcotte over Vilardi as well.

Byfield
Turcotte
Vilardi
Bjornfot
Mikey Anderson
Fagemo
Kaliyev
Madden
Grans
Thomas

 

[kilowatt]

The prospect depth after three years is simply ridiculous. Look at what the prospect pool looked like in 2017.

LA Kings 2017 Mid-Season Prospect Rankings: Top Two Players Revealed

2017 Organizational Prospects Rankings

They started to finally restock with the 2017 draft and have made some valuable prospect signings that became full fledged NHLers.

Right now, they could be a wild card team or a lottery team, but in two years, this team will be playoff contenders.

Sheesh!

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]2017[/TD]
[TD]2020[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]1. Adrian Kempe[/TD]
[TD]1. Quinton Byfield[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]2. Paul LaDue[/TD]
[TD]2. Gabe Vilardi[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]3. Jonny Brodzinski[/TD]
[TD]3. Alex Turcotte[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]4. Kale Clague[/TD]
[TD]4. Arthur Kaliyev[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]5. Michael Amadio[/TD]
[TD]5. Tobias Bjornfot[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]6. Michael Mersch[/TD]
[TD]6. Samuel Fagemo[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]7. Austin Wagner[/TD]
[TD]7. Helge Grans[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]8. Justin Auger[/TD]
[TD]8. Tyler Madden[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]9. Kurtis MacDermid[/TD]
[TD]9. Akil Thomas[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]10. Jacob Moverare[/TD]
[TD]10. Rasmus Kupari[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Copying and pasting last year's for reference below. A few of those are definitely graduated. Obviously people have already caught Madden, but beyond him, this year's adds--

2020 Draftees:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Quinton Byfield[/TD]
[TD]Helge Grans[/TD]
[TD]Brock Faber[/TD]
[TD]Kasper Simontaival[/TD]
[TD]Alex Laferriere[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Juho Markkanen[/TD]
[TD]Martin Chromiak[/TD]
[TD]Ben Meehan[/TD]
[TD]Aatu Jamsen[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

2019-2020 trades/signings:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Tyler Madden[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

2019 Results:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]#1 - Alex Turcotte, F
[/TD]
[TD]#2 - Gabriel Vilardi, F
[/TD]
[TD]#3 - Rasmus Kupari, F
[/TD]
[TD]#4 - Cal Petersen, G
[/TD]
[TD]#5 - Arthur Kaliyev, F
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#6 - Jaret Anderson-Dolan, F
[/TD]
[TD]#7 - Mikey Anderson, D
[/TD]
[TD]#8 - Tobias Bjornfot, D
[/TD]
[TD]#9 - Carl Grundstrom, F
[/TD]
[TD]#10 - Kale Clague, D
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#11 - Akil, Thomas, F
[/TD]
[TD]#12 - Samuel Fagemo, F
[/TD]
[TD]#13 - Sean Durzi, D
[/TD]
[TD]#14 - Nikolai Prokhorkin, F
[/TD]
[TD]#15 - Johan Sodergran, F
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#16 - Markus Phillips, D
[/TD]
[TD]#17 - Matt Roy, D
[/TD]
[TD]#18 - Daniel Brickley, D
[/TD]
[TD]#19 - Kim Nousiainen, D
[/TD]
[TD]#20 - Jacob Moverare, D
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#21 - David Hrenak, G
[/TD]
[TD]#22 - Lukas Parik, G
[/TD]
[TD]#23 - Aidan Dudas, F
[/TD]
[TD]#24 - Jordan Spence, D
[/TD]
[TD]#25 - Blake Lizotte, F
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#26 - Austin Strand, D
[/TD]
[TD]#27 - Cole Hults, D
[/TD]
[TD]#28 - Sheldon Rempal, F
[/TD]
[TD]#29 - Bulat Shafigullin, F
[/TD]
[TD]#30 - Matthew Villalta, G
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#31 - Mikey Eyssimont, F
[/TD]
[TD]#32 - Andre Lee, F
[/TD]
[TD]#33 - Jacob Ingham, G
[/TD]
[TD]#34 - Braden Doyle, D
[/TD]
[TD]#35 - Alexander Dergachyev, F
[/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
#36 - Chaz Reddekopp, D[/TD]
[TD]
#37 - Drake Rymsha, F[/TD]
[TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

 

[kilowatt]

Copying and pasting last year's for reference below. A few of those are definitely graduated. Obviously people have already caught Madden, but beyond him, this year's adds--

2020 Draftees:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Quinton Byfield[/TD][TD]Helge Grans[/TD][TD]Brock Faber[/TD][TD]Kasper Simontaival[/TD][TD]Alex Laferriere[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]Juho Markkanen[/TD][TD]Martin Chromiak[/TD][TD]Ben Meehan[/TD][TD]Aatu Jamsen[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
2019-2020 trades/signings:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]Tyler Madden[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
2019 Results:
[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD]#1 - Alex Turcotte, F[/TD][TD]#2 - Gabriel Vilardi, F[/TD][TD]#3 - Rasmus Kupari, F [/TD][TD]#4 - Cal Petersen, G[/TD][TD]#5 - Arthur Kaliyev, F[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#6 - Jaret Anderson-Dolan, F[/TD][TD]#7 - Mikey Anderson, D[/TD][TD]#8 - Tobias Bjornfot, D[/TD][TD]#9 - Carl Grundstrom, F[/TD][TD]#10 - Kale Clague, D[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#11 - Akil, Thomas, F[/TD][TD]#12 - Samuel Fagemo, F[/TD][TD]#13 - Sean Durzi, D[/TD][TD]#14 - Nikolai Prokhorkin, F[/TD][TD]#15 - Johan Sodergran, F[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#16 - Markus Phillips, D[/TD][TD]#17 - Matt Roy, D[/TD][TD]#18 - Daniel Brickley, D[/TD][TD]#19 - Kim Nousiainen, D[/TD][TD]#20 - Jacob Moverare, D[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#21 - David Hrenak, G[/TD][TD]#22 - Lukas Parik, G[/TD][TD]#23 - Aidan Dudas, F[/TD][TD]#24 - Jordan Spence, D[/TD][TD]#25 - Blake Lizotte, F[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#26 - Austin Strand, D[/TD][TD]#27 - Cole Hults, D[/TD][TD]#28 - Sheldon Rempal, F[/TD][TD]#29 - Bulat Shafigullin, F[/TD][TD]#30 - Matthew Villalta, G[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]#31 - Mikey Eyssimont, F[/TD][TD]#32 - Andre Lee, F[/TD][TD]#33 - Jacob Ingham, G[/TD][TD]#34 - Braden Doyle, D[/TD][TD]#35 - Alexander Dergachyev, F[/TD][TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
#36 - Chaz Reddekopp, D[/TD]
[TD]
#37 - Drake Rymsha, F[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

Pretty wild to see Kupari at three, he's barely scratching the top ten. I wonder what he ends up being? I think we're collectively down on him after his injury, but there's still a very real possibility he makes the Kings in a year or three. Guessing we'll have a couple big risers in Fagemo and Hults, and a couple fallers in Kupari, Anderson-Dolan, and Sodergran. Some of these guys are no longer even with the Kings.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I have Turcotte over Vilardi as well.

Byfield
Turcotte
Vilardi
Bjornfot
Mikey Anderson
Fagemo
Kaliyev
Madden
Grans
Thomas

Bjornfot should be above Turcotte. Bjornfot seems to be further along in terms of being meeting the potential of being a real good NHLer.

I’m not hating on Turcotte but he struggled last year at Wisconsin, took some time for his game to get in gear which is in contrast with Bjornfot who looked the part in Ontario right away and drew rave reviews from Doughty.

 

[Basilisk]

I agree. Madden is a MACHINE!

My Top 10:
1) Byfield
2) Vilardi (I foresee a calder caliber season on the horizon)
3) Turcotte
4) Kaliyev
5) Madden (There are probably about 10 teams where their best prospect would start under Madden)
6) Bjornfot
7) Fagemo
8) Grans
9) Kupari (If this was fully skill based, he would be higher. Injury has him down)
10) Thomas/Faber (im flip flopping on them)

Madden that high, eh? He'd be #11 on my list.

 

[Basilisk]

Pretty wild to see Kupari at three, he's barely scratching the top ten. I wonder what he ends up being?

Second line winger!!!!

 

[Basilisk]

I’m not hating on Turcotte but he struggled last year at Wisconsin, took some time for his game to get in gear which is in contrast with Bjornfot who looked the part in Ontario right away and drew rave reviews from Doughty.

I'm telling you, Turcotte is Craig Conroy 2.0 ......BOOK IT!!!