Prospect Info: 2020 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[Telos]

If [Byfield] can do that more consistently, look out.”

The Kings would be insane to pass on Stutzle.

It can go either way. They are pretty even, there is no wrong answer here, so it may not be much of a reach to 'gamble' on Byfield's potential. However, if we get Stutzle I will be stoked either way. I salivate at the thought that the Kings may end up with a prospect with top speed, skating, and vision, but I also crave that the Kings get a similar package in a Kopitar/Malkin frame. As long as the Kings are picking one of these two, I am golden. I am very optimistic about the team's future now.

 

[LAKings88]

I want Stutzle over Byfield honestly.

Concerns with both but Stutzle is so creative. Brings you out of your seat and just fun to watch.

Byfield has all the tools to be exceptional.

Glad I’m not making the choice.

 

[Scottkmlps]

Hoping it's Stutzle, but won't be upset if they go with Byfield.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

I wonder what ottawa would add to 3 oa to get there choice?

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I hope FLA gets Laf. He’d be buried in a small hockey market and the league won’t be able to market him since no one watches their games.

 

[TwzKing]

So I read that QB potential if reached would be similar to Malkin.

But Stutzle is exciting and could be thrown in the ahl to build chemistry with the squad right away

 

[simon IC]

Congrats on the #2 pick, from the Blues board! I really don't think it matters if you choose Byfield or Stutzle. Both are going to be studs. Personally I give the slight edge to Byfield. Good luck going forward! (Until you run into the Blues. )

 

[BringTheReign]

I don't know. Most scouting services I've seen have Stuzle ranked ahead of Byfield now. I was kind of surprised to see that.

Mckenzie said:
"Of the 10 scouts I talked to, 5 had Stuzle at #2 and 5 had Byfield at #2. Stuzle was no lower than #3 on anybody's list. In the case of Byfield a couple guys had him at #6"

He goes on to say: "A razor thin difference between the two...For me it's the big three at the top of the draft"

McKenzie explains how his draft rankings were determined past the No. 1 spot

I've seen quite a few folks chalking this up to Byfield being in the spotlight longer, and being critiqued more as a result of being directly compared to LaF more often. Picking Stutzle is in vogue now that we've had months to overthink things.

 

[Telos]

The last time we picked 2nd overall...

 

[KopitarFAN]

I think most people would be upset.

 

[ru4reals]

Looks like it will be Stuzle or Byfield. Coin toss in my opinion. Just hope we get Draisaitl and not Reinhart.

 

[kingsfan28]

I think he got it wrong.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

We don't set the rules, we played by the same dumb ping pong ball rules that everyone else did, and we moved up when the odds favored us dropping. I have no idea why anyone would be disappointed

 

[BringTheReign]

Our poll a few weeks back had Byfield winning 75-25% over Stutzle. Now everyone is coming out of the woodwork trying to make Stutzle the sexy pick.

I think he'll be a great player, but playing on Olympic ice gives more time and space, and I'm concerned with how he gets knocked off the puck when players do make contact. NHL defensemen will be able to make contact much more often than DEL players will. I've also seen his shot compared to Jack Hughes in terms of its lack of stopping power, so that's not great either.

Part of me sees Panarin possibly, the other part of me see Gaudreau falling apart in the playoffs.

 

[Brodeur]

I wonder what ottawa would add to 3 oa to get there choice?

Ottawa certainly has a ton of picks to dangle. Last time there was a similar flip flop:

1998: San Jose traded #2 and #85 to Nashville for #3 and #29. It was the Preds first pick in franchise history, so they wanted a scoring forward to be the face of the franchise. Unfortunately for them, David Legwand's offense never quite took off. San Jose ended up with Brad Stuart and Jonathan Cheechoo.

1999: There was the overly complicated five team deal orchestrated by Brian Burke to secure both Sedins. Ended up being a bunch of swaps between picks for 3rd rounders, but everybody more or less ended up with their intended targets anyways.

2002: Interesting draft day swap as Columbus was paranoid that they would lose Rick Nash to Philadelphia who suddenly acquired the 4th overall pick (and apparently were talking with Atlanta for #2). Florida swapped #1 with Columbus for #3 and the right to swap 1st rounders in 2003. Florida then gave Atlanta a 3rd rounder to not pick Jay Bouwmeester (presumably matching what Philadelphia was offering).

2003: Florida had Nathan Horton at the top of their board, so they traded #1 and #73 to Pittsburgh for #3, #55, and Mikael Samuelsson.

2006: Boston offered #5 and #37 to Washington for #4, but the Capitals wouldn't do it after the Bruins rep told them they intended to take Nicklas Backstrom.

2012: Garth Snow channeled his inner Mike Dikta and offered his entire 2012 Draft (#4, #34, #65, #103, #125, #155, #185) to Columbus for #2. Columbus declined and took Ryan Murray.

---------

Realistically, might be too tough to trade down without the threat of somebody leapfrogging Ottawa (and the Kings willing to trade out of the top 3). Vancouver tried to get Vegas to swap #5 for #6 at the 2017 Draft, but Vegas was able to sniff out that Vancouver wasn't taking Cody Glass so they didn't make an offer.

 

[kilowatt]

If you have a chance of drafting a number one center, you take it

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

I think most people would be upset.

Raymond at 2 would make me furious

 

[kingsfan28]

We don't set the rules, we played by the same dumb ping pong ball rules that everyone else did, and we moved up when the odds favored us dropping, I have no idea why anyone would be disappointed

Probably because the teams [play-in group] with the lowest pct won the lottery [2.5 pct.] and that the Pens, Oilers and Leafs could get the top pick. Seriously, it's just laughable the way it turned out.

 

[BringTheReign]

I'll also add that Byfield is 7 months younger than Stutlze, since most of the time we only talk about Byfield being ~10 months younger than Lafreniere.

 

[fsanford]

So if the Kings did not beat Ottawa on the last game of the year, they would not have picked 2nd, would this be correct? I think they would have been 5th right?

 

[KopitarFAN]

Bob McKenzie mentioned that if for some reason the playoffs don't happen these results will stand and teams 8-15 by points % will be in the lottery for the 1st pick.

 

[fsanford]

Raymond at 2 would make me furious

I would cancel my season tickets. well maybe not but I would really be pissed

 

[SlimCharles]

I don't really care that Byfield is 6'5". The NHL in 2020 does not require massive size at centre like in the past. So, take away the size advantage and it's clear as day to me that Stutzle is the proper pick at #2. Also, I know they are different players, but seeing the success of Leon Draisaitl makes me very interested in more German hockey talent. He's a little bigger than Stutzle but I can see some similarities with their creativity.

 

[kingsfan28]

So we'll be picking at 2, 32, 63, 94, etc..?

 

[He pukes you die]

Stutzle’s skill level and hockey IQ is through the roof and he dominated the German league at 17 years old. Scouts are also raving about his attitude and character. He is one of the best skaters in the draft and is electrifying to watch, the type of player the Kings are severely lacking. Stutzle is a no-brainer at #2 IMO