Please no more 5'10 guys...especially with early draft picks. Size, size and toughness. Give me someone at least 6'0 that's not a weak twig who will become a MAN & has major f-ing balls. That's my starting point for scouting and my board for our top pick -- before i even get to staking, skills, etc.
I agree...but at #21, the top end skill is not there, with the bigger, tougher prospects.
I think the Kings have been adding size the last few drafts:
2023 Dvorak D 6'5" 205
2023 Ziemmer RW 6'1" 210
2022 Connors RW 6'1" 200
2022 Wright RW 6'3" 185
2022 Sparkes D 6'8" 238
2022 Lawrence 6'6" 230
And Lee and Helenius are close, esp Lee.
I think the Kings know they need size and toughnes...but they also know they need top end skill.
You can get lucky after round 1, with skill...if it's developing. I think with 5'7" Lizotte and 5'9" Arvidsson (seemingly) departing, there is room for an under 6' skilled forward. Lizotte was never a prototype 4C, just due to size.
When I saw Jack Hughes after the 2019 lottery draw...I thought no way can he play in the NHL this coming year. He looked 16 and scrawny. I am not saying Stiga is at that level, but he's grown 1-2 inches in the last year and took the greatest strides (according to some I;ve listened to) this past season. They were looking for a LW to play with Eiserman and Hagens and he stood out and took that spot. In the USHL games, he had 18 goals in 27 games and was #2 scoring and #1 plus / minus 20. Half the team was minus. Overall, he was +82 for the season. 60 goals. 68 assists. 66 PIM.
He battles and is not wimpy. He may certainly grow to 5'11" 185-190. Or even 6'
The Kings need a legit top 6 forward in the system. Pinelli seems to be more on the path for 3C.
Now, if Senneke was there at 21, that's the type of size, skill, toughness, you're talking about, but he'll be gone by 12.
USNTDP Juniors - USHL - hockey team page with roster, stats, transactions at eliteprospects.com
www.eliteprospects.com
Stiga moves on the ice like he got the game’s script ahead of time. When his teammates turn to pass, he’s right there, fully open in a spot. And he already knows his next play before the puck touches his stick. His prescient read of the game enables him to create beautiful give-and-go and tic-tac-toe plays.
-EliteProspects 2024 NHL Draft Guide
Size is coming here...Lee is going to make it, it seems. 6'4" 210. Helenius is rising. 6'6" 225.
I look back when the Kings took Teubert and Forbort...as they were big defensemen and were mistakes. The fact the Kings could get Ziemmer in rd 3, shows you can get some size with some skill. I think if you can get a higher skill level at 21, you do it. Will Scouching has Stiga at #7 OA and the other guy on his show at #13. After listening to Yanetti this (most excellent pod and Hoven was at his best...non annoying and asked good questions and less off topic trivia banter stuff)
it seems Yannetti may be the best professional in the front office...he's serious, he can talk about errors...he can talk about the Stars getting Johnston and how they did that and it made him upset that the Kings could not get the onfo they had (which I still don't know what it was). But he's passionate and demanding of himself!! Love that. Since they interviewed 55 prospects, no doubt Stiga was one...I am completely fine if he and staff pass on Stiga and take someone else...because they will know that player is the better selection.
I woke up at 4:30 AM and saw the pod dropped and listened, until the sun came up.
Good stuff. KP covered so much. I was bummed they didn't get to the 2023 draft!
And barely touched on 2022. I was kind of surprised he believes both Connors and Wright wil be NHL players. He said Wright's speed is almost Kempe / Wagner straight speed level. (when talking Wagner, should always say it's straight speed...he was not a great skater...no edge work like Kempe or Fiala)
Would have been nice to get more reviews of Reign players...but he did talk Lee, Helenius and said Pinelli began to play much better his last 20 games and how it took Pinelli a few yrs in OHL to ramp up and seeing the same path here, that he gets better after familiarity and experience.
Also wished they talked where he thinks Turcotte is at. Going over Jack Hughes was telling...that he hasn't grown or put on any weight....yet he skates well and has some game...and threw in that Nic Dowd took 7 years and when I saw Dowd at age 25, it was like his dad brought a 25 year old kid to bring your kid to work day. LMAO! He said Hughes scored some points when he got to play with Celebrini.
Loved the EJ Emory segment. He really dove deep there. Loved that he aasked his scouts "if Emory becomes an elite skating, shut down defenseman that is 6'3", closes plays at a high level, gets the puck and moves it out, passes, skating out and his offense never comes...is that worth #21 (or something like that)
I liked that said when a defenseman is so efficient and gets pucks, moves them fast, to a forward, that is offense...just went from defense to offense and have less time on D and more on O. It's a simple concept, but most in the hockey world, would never even think of an elite D, that can be that efficent, yet maybe put up 3 goals and 20 assists, can actually be more valuable to offense.
My Stiga pump.
Was great at the recent U18 and he and Emory were both team leading +15.
Such good awarenes, vision, hands. Love the play he made pass hit his leg, gathers it and passes back to Hagens at 1:55. Quick and sharp pass, with puck in tight, at his skates. I want Kings that have high skill and top level instincts.
I still would love any of the best forwards that may be there at 21:
Hage, Chernyshov, Hemming, Boisvert, Luchanko. Or defensemen Solger, Emory.
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