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

[kilowatt]

Please let one of the defensemen be there...

 

[King'sPawn]

Sounds good in theory, but I had this conversation with an Ottawa fan awhile back. He had the same rationale, but it gets murky when you insert names into the equation. John Gibson was a bubble 1st rounder in 2011. Ottawa ended up with two picks late in the round and spent it on Stefan Noesen and Matt Puempel. They didn't provide much utility (granted Ottawa traded Noesen while he still had value).

Buffalo passed on Andrei Vasilevskiy twice for Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons. Even in the moment, some were worried whether Grigorenko was a boom/bust project and Girgensons had limited upside. Heck, Tampa took Slater Koekkoek before Vasilevskiy.

I thought San Jose might have interest in Thatcher Demko in 2014, but they opted for Nikolai Goldobin.

TL;DR 1st round forwards/D becoming replacement level guys happens more frequently than most of us like to ackwnowledge. I'm not saying the Kings need to take a goalie at #8 since it looks like there's a top tier of 9 skaters who could be top PP unit type guys, but I think it's a conversation to be had.

Sure, and I understand that. That's where you have to be sure your scouting and development team has done their homework.

The Kings have done a good job with goalies, so I'm less worried than, say, Dallas when it comes down to picking a goalie with a first round pick. Jack Campbell is the prime example of being able to identify talent, but not knowing what to do with it. He was never a bad goalie, he was just expected to deal with the mental aspect alone while in Dallas.

 

[Brodeur]

Sure, and I understand that. That's where you have to be sure your scouting and development team has done their homework.

The Kings have done a good job with goalies, so I'm less worried than, say, Dallas when it comes down to picking a goalie with a first round pick. Jack Campbell is the prime example of being able to identify talent, but not knowing what to do with it. He was never a bad goalie, he was just expected to deal with the mental aspect alone while in Dallas.

Yannetti mentioned that the team intended to draft Connor Hellebuyck in 2012 but got sniped by Winnipeg. Sometimes there's a bit of luck with taking mid-round goalies.

 

[Schrute farms]

Meh. If they do go goalie, i sure as heck hope it's because of the player and not simply because we have a LT need.

 

[La sports fan]

The Goalies available for that #8 spot are potentially #1 franchise goalies. The Kings are high on Cossa as well!

 

[Buddy The Elf]

In my ignorance I was wondering how the Kings could be drafting 8th overall when they were one of the worst teams in the league. Jesus! How awful were the 6 teams that finished worse than them?

 

[Reclamation Project]

Biggest problem in 2018 according to Blake - scoring. And here we are still...

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Biggest problem in 2018 according to Blake - scoring. And here we are still...

I think that's been the biggest problem since Andy Murray was coaching.

 

[DoktorJeep]

If they’re gonna use the first rounder on a goalie, it can’t be a six year project. I’d go with the European kid, sign him to an ELC and put him on the Reign next year if possible. I don’t think you could do that with Cossa based on the CHL agreement.

Wallstedt played 22 games in a top men’s league last year. So he should be able to transition to the AHL right away.

 

[SFKingshomer]

I’d be disappointed with a goalie with a good defenseman or forward available. They have been able to do fine in net with lower draft picks, undrafted, and reclamation projects. The goalie would have to be pretty special for them to grab 1 that high.

 

[goosh]

I like Wallstedt but one of Hughes/Clarke would be too good to pass up on, imo.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

The way we built up our RD prospect pool is the same way we are going to build up our left side. Go to the draft with a plan, get BPA for that tier but now target LD men in that tier if you think they have the best upside. Be patient, but also be aware on who's on the market. Keep a pulse on what is going on.

No reason to force trades and rumors that aren't realistic because we rely on a hope that the player is available or wants to sign with us.

Nobody thought Arvindsson was to be traded, expecially to the Kings. No rumor, no buzz at all.
So keep an eye for under the radar D men, sometimes the best trades are the ones that nobody saw comming.

Every time I mock the 2021 Entry draft the Kings always lose out on the D-man they like or want,every time! I'm sure Blake has done the same with his scouts and Mark Yannetti

 

[LAKings88]

If they take either goalie at 8 I hope they knock it out of the park in round 2.

 

[KingLB]

I can confirm this!

Great, now we are going to have to bash you in the other thread!

 

[Reclamation Project]

BRUH...

 

[Sol]

I will be really annoyed if we draft a Goalie at 8 overall.

 

[Crownroyal21]

Maybe a goalie in round 2 or 3. Mactavish!!!!!!!!

 

[Peter James Bond III]

2005. Round 3. #72 overall. 7 years later, in June 2012, he had this to say....

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I will be really annoyed if we draft a Goalie at 8 overall.

If Ranford is pounding the table for one at 8, I don’t have a problem with it.

 

[Reclamation Project]

^^^ The sequel in 2014 was even better. Stoll and Kopitar were hiding the mic from him and he snuck in and dropped the bomb!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

^^^ The sequel in 2014 was even better. Stoll and Kopitar were hiding the mic from him and he snuck in and dropped the bomb!

And he was tossing beers to the crowd.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

BRUH...

One man's "success" is anothers not qualified by Ottawa

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

No draft success story for Andy Andreoff?