2022 Draft Discussion (after the trade)

[SmytheKing]

I seen a few people bemoan the fact there isn't elite goalie talent in this draft and that maybe we shouldn't draft one because of it. The greatest goalie we've ever had was a 3rd rounder. Arguably the Vezina winner this year, Igor Shesterkin, was a 4th rounder, Ilya Sorokin was a 5th, etc. There is plenty of goalies in the NHL that went in rounds one or two, but plenty outside that range too. This is a fine year to throw a mid-round pick at a kid that's a long range project and let him marinate, preferably overseas.

There were seven other goalies taken in front of Quick in his draft year. There were thirteen taken in front of Shesterkin. The reason why people have said this isn't a good year for goalies is because the first one taken will likely be in the 3rd or 4th round. Not several up to that point. It's not that they won't be the best goalies who ever played, but when the highest ranking one is taken at that point, it's not generally that great a year for them. It would be like if the very first defensemen was taken in the mid-second. No one is going to think that guy is the future.

 

[kingsfan]

There were seven other goalies taken in front of Quick in his draft year. There were thirteen taken in front of Shesterkin. The reason why people have said this isn't a good year for goalies is because the first one taken will likely be in the 3rd or 4th round. Not several up to that point. It's not that they won't be the best goalies who ever played, but when the highest ranking one is taken at that point, it's not generally that great a year for them. It would be like if the very first defensemen was taken in the mid-second. No one is going to think that guy is the future.

To me that's irrelevant. Regardless of how many goalies went ahead of Quick or Shesterkin, the only reason they were available when they were is because most/all teams viewed them as 3rd-5th round talents. It's not as if those seven goalies in front of Quick disappear he'd be picked much earlier, if at all. If Quick/Shesterkin were viewed as elite talents they would have gone much higher.

Goalies are very difficult to project, more so than any other position, if you like the raw skills of a goalie it's worth it to toss a mid-round pick at him and see what happens.

 

[apocalypse]

Draft a wing.

 

[Herby]

I might be biased but Nazar will be right about where the Kings are likely to be picking and is exactly the type of player the Kings need. He would be an ideal 2C behind QB or could even play on his wing on the 1st line. There are flaws to his game that people will ofcourse bring up every time it is suggested the Kings draft a player like this, but the organization still has holes going forward that he could help fill.

 

[Basilisk]

We should draft a mutant!!! Reptilian, with nine heads yet!!! Radioactive enamel....!!!!!!

 

[KopitarFAN]

Expecting them to trade their 1st, especially if they make or barely miss the playoffs.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I might be biased but Nazar will be right about where the Kings are likely to be picking and is exactly the type of player the Kings need. He would be an ideal 2C behind QB or could even play on his wing on the 1st line. There are flaws to his game that people will ofcourse bring up every time it is suggested the Kings draft a player like this, but the organization still has holes going forward that he could help fill.

Had to look him up a little more but he's intriguing. Luckily the Kings don't seem to have size bias anymore so that wouldn't be held against him maybe.

 

[kings11]

I might be biased but Nazar will be right about where the Kings are likely to be picking and is exactly the type of player the Kings need. He would be an ideal 2C behind QB or could even play on his wing on the 1st line. There are flaws to his game that people will ofcourse bring up every time it is suggested the Kings draft a player like this, but the organization still has holes going forward that he could help fill.

Pretty sure he’s shot up the ranking to where he might be/is now considered a top 10 pick

 

[Matt13]

We should draft a mutant!!! Reptilian, with nine heads yet!!! Radioactive enamel....!!!!!!

It sounds good and all but he would probably take pucks to the head and lose the teeth and the enamel would be no good to us. Unless of course we are thinking he (sorry to assume) can play goal and then maybe I can see this working.

 

[kingsfan]

It sounds good and all but he would probably take pucks to the head and lose the teeth and the enamel would be no good to us. Unless of course we are thinking he (sorry to assume) can play goal and then maybe I can see this working.

The achilles heel of all aliens. Such a shame.

 

[Reclamation Project]

To me that's irrelevant. Regardless of how many goalies went ahead of Quick or Shesterkin, the only reason they were available when they were is because most/all teams viewed them as 3rd-5th round talents. It's not as if those seven goalies in front of Quick disappear he'd be picked much earlier, if at all. If Quick/Shesterkin were viewed as elite talents they would have gone much higher.

Goalies are very difficult to project, more so than any other position, if you like the raw skills of a goalie it's worth it to toss a mid-round pick at him and see what happens.

One of my all time favorite sports quotes -

"If we thought Datsyuk was going to be that good we would have drafted him in the first round, not sixth." - Ken Holland (before he lost his mind)

 

[kinghock]

Draft a wing.

Or LD

 

[Pucknut50]

Draft a 6'-2" Lizzotte.

 

[Rekingsfan17]

Mats Lindgren is a LD and son of Mats Lindgren. Widely considered one of the best skaters in the draft.
He is one of the younger players in this draft class (only a few weeks from being in the 2023 draft class).
He is currently approx 5’11”and 165 lbs. I think he will grow as he is so young and his father played at 6’2” and 200 lbs.
He is currently ranked #46 by Bob MeKenzie and #55 by Craig Button.
He is ranked late in the first round by some of the other scouting services. He should be available when we draft…….

 

[triplcrown]

Only Parik

Don't forget about David Hrenak----He could be a good one.


David Hrenak Career Statistics

 

[kilowatt]

Just for some light reading, here are some articles:

• NBC: NHL Draft: Top 32 prospect rankings for 2022 - Pro Hockey Talk
• Sporting News: NHL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board, ranking of top 32 players overall
• The Hockey Writers: 2022 NHL Draft Rankings: Forbes' Top 64 January Rankings
• Sportsnet: Sportsnet's 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: January Edition

My best guess is we'll be picking in that 15-20 range. I think our best-case scenario is an elite scoring winger falls in the draft a bit. A couple guys I like are Isaac Howard, Frank Nazar, and Cutter Gauthier. Cutter's already 6'3 195 at age 18, a physical goal-scoring winger. From Scouching regarding Cutter:

Well, two months later, this is still looking good.

Cutter Gauthier: 2022 NHL Draft Scouting Report

Cutter Gauthier is a fast riser on draft boards everywhere this season. That's despite playing on a loaded team with other high-end players.

lastwordonsports.com

Gauthier looks like the prime definition of a modern-day NHL power forward.

Sold!

 

[Schmooley]

Any good goalies to look out for in this draft?

 

[kings11]

Mateychuk - basically the only LHD in the first half of the first round, in the area we likely draft. The rest are all RD.

Owen Pickering looks really intriguing, Tall and really mobile/agile

 

[HookKing]

I would prefer no more "projects" or "fallers" with skating issues.

 

[kings11]

Liam Bichsel is a 6’5, 210lbs LHD

 

[Sleeping Dog]

No more RHD until 2025 draft. Please.

We’re gonna corner the market on RHDs,

 

[lumbergh]

I would prefer no more "projects" or "fallers" with skating issues.

I guess you didn’t like the Arthur Kaliyev pick?

 

[HookKing]

I guess you didn’t like the Arthur Kaliyev pick?

He was fine for 2nd round. Just not for our top pick in the first round.

 

[Fat Elvis]

I'm guessing that there's a 65-75% chance LA moves their 1st this season.

IF they keep it, maybe one of the USDP forwards like McGroaty, Howard, Gauthier or Snuggerud. Lekkerimaki, Ohgren and Kasper are some Euros that could be of interest if they're looking at forwards.

 

[Brodeur]

One of my all time favorite sports quotes -

"If we thought Datsyuk was going to be that good we would have drafted him in the first round, not sixth." - Ken Holland (before he lost his mind)

The Datsyuk draft story is a fun one. 1998 was his 3rd year of draft eligibility, so he was super off the radar. Especially back in the 90's, teams were a little bit reliant on Russia to bring its top prospects to the various tournaments and they never brought Datsyuk.

Detroit scout Hakan Andersson was in Russia to scout expected 1998 1st rounder Dmitri Kalinin and Datsyuk (on the opposing team) caught his eye. He made a mental note to go check him out again later in the season. I think as Andersson tells it, watching Datsyuk's team was a major pain in the butt. Like he'd lose 4-5 days in round trip plane/car travel, so that would explain why no other team had scouted him. After a second viewing, Andersson liked him as a late round pick.

Edit: Looks like Kalinin and Datsyuk's teams were in the 2nd tier Russian league as well.

Andersson said he was on a plane to watch Datsyuk one more time before the draft and he noticed a couple NHL scouts on board. The plane ended up having mechanical issues and never took off. In a parallel world where that flight is normal, maybe another NHL team likes Datsyuk more than Detroit did. But always kinda crazy knowing that Detroit lucked into Datsyuk just off of two viewings.