Toggle sidebar

Prospect Info: 2020 NHL Entry Draft Thread

Raccoon Jesus said:
Totally agree. This is exactly what we needed--a blue chip high end forward almost no matter what.

We've got more prospect depth than any franchise I can remember in recent history. It's about the top end. This helps solve that.





I'm not as sure he has as some others are.

He's playing in a league whose defense is as messy as juniors. He's an elite playmaker and forechecker with a motor, but he's got a muffin shot and only scored 7 goals against third-rate goalies. He's got more to learn than people are giving him credit for. I'm not sure he'll be able to dance NHL defenders who want to plow through him as easily as he will DEL defenders who are swinging their sticks around where Tim just was. And he goes hard to the net, which I love, but again easy against buttersoft defenders. Anyone touting Stutzle as more of a sure thing are overlooking a lot of questions on purpose.

Byfield has warts too of course. Inconsistency. Size, but not much use of it. Elite hands and speed to go with the size. Byfield isn't a 'project' in the sense people are thinking. He's already got insane hands and feet and size. People just want to see him develop some aggression both in use of size and in taking over games like he can. But he was what, a month away form being eligible for next year?

Really either of these guys COULD be better than Laf. Laf is #1 just because he's just about as sure a thing as it gets. Byfield and Stutzle are risky picks in comparison is all. But we're talking about the #2 and #3 picks overall, not about picking Forbort at 15 or Brian Boyle or something. I don't think you can go wrong either way.
Click to expand...

If we don’t wind up with two top six centers out of Turcotte/Vilardi/Byfield, something went seriously wrong.

To be honest, today is the first time I’ve been excited about the Kings in a long, long while. I was actually more into the Lakers this season than the Kings for the first time in like literally 15-16 years.

I was hopeful for players like Turcotte and Vilardi and especially Kaliyev. But adding Byfield to the mix is a whole new dimension. We’re basically guaranteed a top flight center if not two, and we have multiple high ceiling wings. Doughty will contribute at a high level for another 4-5 years at the least, so that buys time to find that next #1D.

Some hopeful times ahead for the Kings, thank Christ.
 
  • Like
Reactions: psych3man, KINGS17, KingsFan7824 and 1 other person
This is definitely one of the toughest decisions that I can remember regarding who the 2nd pick should be. Usually it's between 1 and 2, but when was the last time it was this close for the 2nd overall?
 
  • Like
Reactions: tbrown33
crassbonanza said:
Since 2000, who have been our best left wingers? Deadmarsh? Frolov? Smythe?

I know Brownie, Gaborik and Williams played on the left on occasion with Kopi, but were there haven't been many great guys who were mainly left wingers recently. Didn't we used to fill in the 1st line left wing spot with "capspace"?
Click to expand...
Worse than cap space at LW1 though was Stumpel at 1C, or Smolinski at 2c, followed by Armstrong at 1C somewhere along the line.]

I ride Kopitar hard, but prior to his arrival the Kings hadn't had a 1C since Gretzky. To win in the NHL you have to have a dominant 1C, or a 1AC and 1BC punch that is so good one of them is going to go off in a playoff series.

1C, 1RD, and 1G. You have to make finding them top priorities.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KingsFan7824 and ru4reals
KINGS17 said:
Worse than cap space at LW1 though was Stumpel at 1C, or Smolinski at 2c, followed by Armstrong at 1C somewhere along the line.]

I ride Kopitar hard, but prior to his arrival the Kings hadn't had a 1C since Gretzky. To win in the NHL you have to have a dominant 1C, or a 1AC and 1BC punch that is so good one of them is going to go off in a playoff series.

1C, 1RD, and 1G. You have to make finding them top priorities.
Click to expand...

I was just joking about our dearth of left wingers, but I am a big proponent of drafting BPA. I don't think we should reach for a certain position/slot, I would be happy with either Byfield or Stutzle. I would say, this may be the best prospect pool I can remember and I am really excited.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KINGS17
Byfield has size, strength, and skating, with a great deal of puck skills.

Stutzle has exceptional skills and hockey sense with exceptional skating, and professional experience.

Stutzle is a much safer pick. Plays both center and wing. And the team drafting him has several more options as far as where he plays the next two seasons.

Byfield is pure potential. He needs to mature and continue filling his frame, and learn how to utilize his size/play mean and physical. With all that, he was still incredible being "the guy" on Sudbury as opposed to racking up points on a stacked Ottawa team.

You can't go wrong with either. Though I agree the Kings can afford to swing for the fences, and I've been a Byfield fanboy since last year.

Funny story: Byfield was on a podcast hosted by Akil Thomas and a couple of his friends. One of the hosts asked Byfield (paraphrasing), "so, you have the chance to be the highest person of color pick in history. How do you feel?" To which Byfield quipped "yeah, I thought it was going to be Akil Thomas, but he fell 50 spots."
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoktorJeep, SlimCharles, tbrown33 and 10 others
King'sPawn said:
Stutzle is a much safer pick. Plays both center and wing. And the team drafting him has several more options as far as where he plays the next two seasons.
Click to expand...

Do you think this is an advantage for Stutzle? Since we don't know how the CHL will work next year, would the ability to have more control in a potential prospects development be more valuable?
 
Our future hoping it all plays out the way we want. Damn just imagine they all hit their potential. One can only wish...

Fagemo-Vilardi-Kaliyev
Kempe-Byfield-Turcotte
Lizotte-Kupari-Thomas
Dudas-JAD-Iaffallo
Grundstrum
Frk
2020 draft picks

Walker-Bjornfot
Anderson -Roy
Nousiainen-Spence
Hults-Clague
Durzi

Pettersen
Parik
Ingham
 
crassbonanza said:
Do you think this is an advantage for Stutzle? Since we don't know how the CHL will work next year, would the ability to have more control in a potential prospects development be more valuable?
Click to expand...

I always consider development flexibility as an advantage.

With Byfield, it's OHL or NHL.

With Stutzle, it's NHL, AHL, WHL (Seattle), USHL (Sioux City), or DEL. This is even if COVID were to magically disappear tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: crassbonanza and Raccoon Jesus
King'sPawn said:
I always consider development flexibility as an advantage.

With Byfield, it's OHL or NHL.

With Stutzle, it's NHL, AHL, WHL (Seattle), USHL (Sioux City), or DEL. This is even if COVID were to magically disappear tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Not sure if it matters. Only 1 player over the last 10 years taken #2 didn't make NHL roster out of camp, every forward taken did. I am expecting the pick to by Byfield and I expect him to be in LA next year working with the development and coaching staff and not going back to junior hockey where he isn't likely to be challenged. The Kings biggest area of weakness in the system was an elite #1 center, this could be it, what a great day for the Kings, especially after losing out last year.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ghetty Green, Telos, KINGS17 and 3 others
So for 21-22, what’s this team going to look like?

Turcotte - Byfield - Vilardi
Kaliyev - Kopitar - Madden
Fagemo - Thomas - Kupari
Wagner - JAD - Grundstrom

Bjornfot - Doughty
Anderson - Roy
Clague - Durzi

Petersen
Ingham

Some of these kids are going to be traded.
 
Exciting times for this organization no doubt. Going to get a few good players from this years draft to go along with last years draft as well. Can't wait damn you Covid 19.
 
TwzKing said:
God I hope AK pans out. We need him to reach that potential
Click to expand...

I'm right there with you I'm really rooting for this kid. But AK in my opinion is a player that needs a few years of development before he can make into the NHL. I just think he needs a lot of work to round out his game especially his skating and footspeed before he's able to make the jump. Wouldn't be surprised if he took longer then expected. Just my thoughts.. But I really hope he can be that consistent scorer we are lacking in this organization.
 
kilowatt said:
So for 21-22, what’s this team going to look like?

Turcotte - Byfield - Vilardi
Kaliyev - Kopitar - Madden
Fagemo - Thomas - Kupari
Wagner - JAD - Grundstrom

Bjornfot - Doughty
Anderson - Roy
Clague - Durzi

Petersen
Ingham

Some of these kids are going to be traded.
Click to expand...
They will and we will be trading from a position of strength. No way Vilardi and Turcotte both go to wing, Vilardi is a C only for me. We will end up with massive Center depth with Byfield and Vilardi taking on more responsibility when ready, allowing Kopi to age gracefully with his minutes managed to then net another Selke or 3. I think Turcotte slides to wing providing good cover at C, if needed.

We could easily start next season something like...


Iaffalo- Kopitar - Kaliyev
Kempe - Vilardi - Carter
Turcotte - Byfield - Brown
Grundstrom - JAD - Wagner
Lizotte s#12

Madden, Fagemo, Kupari, Thomas to start in AHL for big minutes.

Bjornfot - Doughty
Anderson - Roy
??FA?? - Walker
MacD #7

Peterson-Quick

Obviously players need to earn roles at camp and you cannot stack entire lines with rookies, hence what I laid out. However at least a couple of these guys will eventually get moved as too many Of them project to be top 6 players and there just isn’t room. We need to make sure we move them when they still have good value so that we manage our assets properly. I think Kaliyev will get 9 games, but then possibly goes back to the OHL (hopefully he’s traded somewhere that will compete). We then have a bunch of guys to call up, rotating in and out of the lineup to prepare then at the right pace. If he sticks all the better.

I’m fine with playing so many kids because none of them would have to play 82 games. There is so much depth that they can all have their minutes managed so they can develop at the right pace and have pressure reduced when needed. There is always going to be someone with quality in the AHL ready to go, waiting for the phone to ring.
 
Congrats on 2nd, got to assume you guys go byfield. He just has too much upside to pass up, I say that as someone who absolutely loves stutzle. If you guys like us in any way tho, you’ll go askarov


Byfield vilardi turcotte should be pretty scary going forward, I imagine 1 would move to wing with Thomas and JAD in system and Kopitar still a good player.

Who do you guys hope to get at 35(and 48 if you have thought that far ahead), this has potential to be another strong draft for Kings(getting tired of saying that).
Any chance you guys package them and try to move up?

what would you consider your biggest weakness in your system now, that needs to be addressed
 
  • Like
Reactions: SlimCharles, cyclones22, Raccoon Jesus and 1 other person
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom