2021 NHL Entry Draft - Round 1: July 23 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW, TVA Sports)

[DoktorJeep]

Especially 2 years ago, (seems more like a yr ago) when the Kings had the second pick of rd 2 and Ottawa was ahead of the Kings. Most all of us had fingers crossed for Arty dropping and when Ottawa called out Shane Pinto, I screamed Hell yeah! Then Arty was King. After round 1 Friday night, many were miffed / baffled about the Bjornfot pick....looking back, if the Kings took Arty at the Bjornfot slot,
Toby would have been gone before the 2nd round pick.

Was looking forward to having picks 40 and 49, but would make that Arvidsson trade every time.

It’s interesting to contrast Pintos season with Kaliyev. Pinto put up 1G, 7 pts in 12 nhl games after playing a good season at the ncaa level. He also burned the first year of his ELC afaik. If Arty had put up 7 pts in 12 games with the big club, we’d feel a lot better about penciling him into the opening night roster.

 

[cyclones22]

I take a lot of the stats this season with a grain of salt. The way all the teams only played with in their own division was pretty garbage. And it's obvious that Canadian division was watered down regardless of Montreal's Miracle run.

 

[ricardfromage]

With all due respect I totally disagree with your opinion about Clarke.
We have no defenseman prospect in our system equal to him with his kind of dynamic offence.
Can you please provide names of such defensemen?
I believe our current best prospect defensemen Brock Faber does not have elite ability on offensive side…
Clarke is excellent zone entry pack carrier with great vision and puck distribution. Also he is very creative offensively with high effort on each shift.
He needs to work on his defensive side, but he is good on this side as well.
He will be incredible steal for Kings at 8th.

Sure.

I can start with one that stands out to me and that is Mikey Andersen. The big difference between them is that Mikey at the same point in their development was a truly great leader and considered to be an excellent skater. After that I would say that you could argue that Grans is similar in skillset though not at the same level between the ears just yet. Faber is a more to the point comparison though he excels in area's that Clarke doesn't. You could also say that Durzi is an exceptional skater who is an elite level play maker and has a very high hockey IQ. My point here is that Clarke is in many ways a redundancy to the way I see him in many ways but most glaringly is that he isn't going to become a #1 Dman and when you look at players like Bjornfot, Andersen, Faber and the rest we have more than a few 2 through 6 Dmen in our system and that is where Clarke is more than likely to fit into as well. I don't see him as a steal at 8th but I do see the best goalie prospect to play in Swe in a very long time and considered to be as solid as a prospect as Askarov and maybe even better than him as well to be a steal at 8th. I don't like drafting a goalie in the top 10 but this time and this draft I would run to the podium to select him. Even more so when you compare him to the goalie's that we have in our system. Not that I think you are wrong it is just that I see things a little bit differently.

 

[kinghock]

Sure.

I can start with one that stands out to me and that is Mikey Andersen. The big difference between them is that Mikey at the same point in their development was a truly great leader and considered to be an excellent skater. After that I would say that you could argue that Grans is similar in skillset though not at the same level between the ears just yet. Faber is a more to the point comparison though he excels in area's that Clarke doesn't. You could also say that Durzi is an exceptional skater who is an elite level play maker and has a very high hockey IQ. My point here is that Clarke is in many ways a redundancy to the way I see him in many ways but most glaringly is that he isn't going to become a #1 Dman and when you look at players like Bjornfot, Andersen, Faber and the rest we have more than a few 2 through 6 Dmen in our system and that is where Clarke is more than likely to fit into as well. I don't see him as a steal at 8th but I do see the best goalie prospect to play in Swe in a very long time and considered to be as solid as a prospect as Askarov and maybe even better than him as well to be a steal at 8th. I don't like drafting a goalie in the top 10 but this time and this draft I would run to the podium to select him. Even more so when you compare him to the goalie's that we have in our system. Not that I think you are wrong it is just that I see things a little bit differently.

With all due respect I see things much differently.
I believe that with exception of Faber none of young Kings defensemen have elite level of talent and LA really needs Clarke.
With correct development Faber can become great second defensemen on the team.
Bjornfot can become very good third-fourth defensemen.
Mikey Andersen can become fourth defensemen at best.
Grans is big question mark at the moment.
Durzi do not belong to be in NHL
Now regarding Swedish goalie prospect Wallstedt.
In my opinion he do not have the same level of talent as Askarov.
He is not very athletic and his lateral quickness is not very good.

 

[funky]

Wait until draft day comes, the top 4 Defence guys are gone, we start debating Wallstedt vs McTavish or Johnson and Yannetti calls out Carson Lambos. I would love it but there may be some heart attacks in LA

 

[Reaper45]

Wait until draft day comes, the top 4 Defence guys are gone, we start debating Wallstedt vs McTavish or Johnson and Yannetti calls out Carson Lambos. I would love it but there may be some heart attacks in LA

I’m just crossing my fingers it’s not an off the board pick in a weird draft year.

The Los Angeles Kings are proud to select, from CSKA Moscow of the KHL, Daniil Chayka.

 

[Legionnaire]

2021 NHL Draft: Johnson vs. Guenther


2021 NHL Draft: Johnson vs. Guenther


Tough choice

 

[kilowatt]

Wait until draft day comes, the top 4 Defence guys are gone, we start debating Wallstedt vs McTavish or Johnson and Yannetti calls out Carson Lambos. I would love it but there may be some heart attacks in LA

If we were pick ten or twelve I'd be feeling much worse. There's still going to be a good player available at 8. Obviously might still go off the board, but hopefully we go off and pick Kent Johnson and not Logan Stankoven.

 

[Legionnaire]

Wait until draft day comes, the top 4 Defence guys are gone, we start debating Wallstedt vs McTavish or Johnson and Yannetti calls out Carson Lambos. I would love it but there may be some heart attacks in LA

I'd be fine with Lambos.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

With all due respect I see things much differently.
I believe that with exception of Faber none of young Kings defensemen have elite level of talent and LA really needs Clarke.
With correct development Faber can become great second defensemen on the team.
Bjornfot can become very good third-fourth defensemen.
Mikey Andersen can become fourth defensemen at best.
Grans is big question mark at the moment.
Durzi do not belong to be in NHL
Now regarding Swedish goalie prospect Wallstedt.
In my opinion he do not have the same level of talent as Askarov.
He is not very athletic and his lateral quickness is not very good.

Faber is better than Bjornfot? I don't think so!I'd be pleased if Faber was a numero quatro D-man but would settle for 5th D-man. Grans is definitely a project,hope they send him back the AHL is no place to develop young D-men. I expect the Kings to go hard with D-men in this draft but if one doesn't fall to them at number 8 a goal scoring Winger is just as good a find. If that happens I think the Kings will draft mostly D-men and I wouldn't be surprised if 1-2 came from Finland,that and the American development system

 

[kinghock]

Faber is better than Bjornfot? I don't think so!I'd be pleased if Faber was a numero quatro D-man but would settle for 5th D-man. Grans is definitely a project,hope they send him back the AHL is no place to develop young D-men. I expect the Kings to go hard with D-men in this draft but if one doesn't fall to them at number 8 a goal scoring Winger is just as good a find. If that happens I think the Kings will draft mostly D-men and I wouldn't be surprised if 1-2 came from Finland,that and the American development system

I like Bjornfot too, but I believe that Faber has more potential.
They both are great skaters, but Faber is better one.
Also I believe Faber is stronger and more physical…

 

[kilowatt]

Faber really took huge steps this year. I'm really excited to see what he can do next season but I really think the sky is the limit for him.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

I like Bjornfot too, but I believe that Faber has more potential.
They both are great skaters, but Faber is better one.
Also I believe Faber is stronger and more physical…

How can you compare an 18 year old at the college level to a pro at the AHL/NHL level and think Faber is the better of the two. Lets have some equal footing and competition to compare. Bjornfot is going to be a stud of a D-man that no one notices except the other team because he's made life hell for them

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

I like Bjornfot too, but I believe that Faber has more potential.
They both are great skaters, but Faber is better one.
Also I believe Faber is stronger and more physical…

And I think Faber is going to be a very good D-man as well! Like M Greene except with offense!

 

[LAKings88]

I still think Beniers is the best overall player in the draft. I think he could maybe be more impactful than Powers. Really liked watching him in the WJ.

 

[kilowatt]

And I think Faber is going to be a very good D-man as well! Like M Greene except with offense!

I don't really see Matt Greene when I watch Faber, but I do see a guy like Ryan McDonagh.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

I'm having a very hard time getting excited for this draft. I really want to but I feel like they are going to trade.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

And I think Faber is going to be a very good D-man as well! Like M Greene except with offense!

Don't tease me.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Hoping NO Kent Johnson. Small, not really goes to tough areas....crazy wicked moves and slippery...but NOT FAST. And not big.
And sealed it for me, when I watched Scouching video and Johnson was like #110 in this class in some offensive elements....like, near
the end of this entire class. I'm sure I do not have the full book on him, but saw enough to hope he's not King. There will be better options
at #8 if Johnson is there. That said, I still trust Yannetti.

Also, Pronman gave Johnson 'below average skating' wow.

 

[kilowatt]

Hoping NO Kent Johnson. Small, not really goes to tough areas....crazy wicked moves and slippery...but NOT FAST. And not big.
And sealed it for me, when I watched Scouching video and Johnson was like #110 in this class in some offensive elements....like, near
the end of this entire class. I'm sure I do not have the full book on him, but saw enough to hope he's not King. There will be better options
at #8 if Johnson is there. That said, I still trust Yannetti.

Also, Pronman gave Johnson 'below average skating' wow.

I think Johnson is better than Pronman gave him credit for. The closest thing we have to Johnson in our system is probably Tyler Madden, but Johnson has so much potential. A lot of the things he does arw reminiscent to Patrick Kane. But the question is worth asking: what does a worse Patrick Kane look like?

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Hoping NO Kent Johnson. Small, not really goes to tough areas....crazy wicked moves and slippery...but NOT FAST. And not big.
And sealed it for me, when I watched Scouching video and Johnson was like #110 in this class in some offensive elements....like, near
the end of this entire class. I'm sure I do not have the full book on him, but saw enough to hope he's not King. There will be better options
at #8 if Johnson is there. That said, I still trust Yannetti.

Also, Pronman gave Johnson 'below average skating' wow.

Oh you wet blanket. He was my favorite. Now I have to rethink. You are making me think...man.

 

[kinghock]

How can you compare an 18 year old at the college level to a pro at the AHL/NHL level and think Faber is the better of the two. Lets have some equal footing and competition to compare. Bjornfot is going to be a stud of a D-man that no one notices except the other team because he's made life hell for them

I do not agree with you.
I believe that after watching hockey for last 50 years of my life I am entitle to have my own opinion about which prospect will be better.
P.S. I watched both Bjornfot and Faber on world juniors 2020 and Faber was much better player there…

 

[King'sPawn]

I do not agree with you.
I believe that after watching hockey for last 50 years of my life I am entitle to have my own opinion about which prospect will be better.
P.S. I watched both Bjornfot and Faber on world juniors 2020 and Faber was much better player there…

It wasn't Bjornfot's best tournament. And relative to how he started in 2019, he looked worse.

That said, I think I'd give Faber the edge. Defensive acumen looks comparable, but Bjornfot suffers from a lower impact offensively this past season. Of course, things change, but I think Faber is easily the best defensive prospect in the org.

Hoping NO Kent Johnson. Small, not really goes to tough areas....crazy wicked moves and slippery...but NOT FAST. And not big.
And sealed it for me, when I watched Scouching video and Johnson was like #110 in this class in some offensive elements....like, near
the end of this entire class. I'm sure I do not have the full book on him, but saw enough to hope he's not King. There will be better options
at #8 if Johnson is there. That said, I still trust Yannetti.

Also, Pronman gave Johnson 'below average skating' wow.

I don't like Pronman's rating system. Aside from that, Johnson put up 101 points in the BCHL the year before, and was the second-highest scorer for Michigan after Bordelau. So it's not like was was only successful beating up weak competition.

He's flawed, like all prospects. He's physically weaker and tends to do too much.

The Kings wouldn't have a prospect like him. So the question is would the added dynamism benefit both? Or would it be throwing chicken on a fruit salad?

 

[kinghock]

It wasn't Bjornfot's best tournament. And relative to how he started in 2019, he looked worse.

That said, I think I'd give Faber the edge. Defensive acumen looks comparable, but Bjornfot suffers from a lower impact offensively this past season. Of course, things change, but I think Faber is easily the best defensive prospect in the org.



I don't like Pronman's rating system. Aside from that, Johnson put up 101 points in the BCHL the year before, and was the second-highest scorer for Michigan after Bordelau. So it's not like was was only successful beating up weak competition.

He's flawed, like all prospects. He's physically weaker and tends to do too much.

The Kings wouldn't have a prospect like him. So the question is would the added dynamism benefit both? Or would it be throwing chicken on a fruit salad?

If Kings will get Clarke/Edvinsson at 8th it will great first round draft in my opinion. If this will not be possible Johnson will be great consolation prize.
I also believe they need somehow to get goalie Benjamin Gaudreau in 2nd round.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'm having a very hard time getting excited for this draft. I really want to but I feel like they are going to trade.

Think about it like this: There is a higher probability of the Kings getting the best player in the draft at 8 than most years.