Anyone else nervous about the pipeline?

[Johnny Utah]

Goaltending:
The goaltending depth is awful. We now have 2 former NHL'ers as the AHL goalies. Bartosek and Dillon are the only prospects now after losing Jones and Berube and one is still in juniors.

Forwards:
Depth is okay especially on RW and LW...Mersch, Kempe, and Zykov seem solid, but what about Center? Not so good. Weal is in LA, Dowd is a 3rd or 4th line center and he's already 25.

Defense:
This is the only strength with Forbort, Cernak and Lintuniemi. LaDue and Leslie possibly. Gravel and Ebert could make a case too.

Lombardi has to be careful from here out. The years of deals to get Penner, Carter, Richards', Lucic and Sekera have really cut into the prospect pool.

For the first time since 2006, when DL took over, I am a bit worried.

Click to read more...

 

[kingsboy11]

the only area of concern that I have is in the center position. Outside of Amadio, who has limited upside despite having good showings in the OHL, there really aren't any strong center prospects. That's one of the reasons why I didn't want to give up the 1st round pick this year.

But I feel pretty good about the other positions. The wingers are strong, the defense especially, and I'm really high on Dillon and Bartosak in goal.

 

[KINGS17]

We may as well face it. The Kings are going to have 3 or 4 seasons of absolute suckage at some point in the not too distant future, and that is how they will re-acquire top talent at the center and goaltending positions.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

The Kings have gone all in by trading numerous high draft picks. When the bottom falls out, it's going to get ugly

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'd see how this season goes. If it ends like last year, or even worse, I'd blow it up. You could rebuild the pipeline in a couple years.

 

[KINGS17]

I'd see how this season goes. If it ends like last year, or even worse, I'd blow it up. You could rebuild the pipeline in a couple years.

Dean can't afford to have a borderline season and not get the assets that would be available in trade by moving numerous vets.

This team needs to get its ass in gear and show him that it will be a playoff team without a doubt, or I would expect changes to be made this season.

 

[KingsFan7824]

No. There's a reason Detroit is just about the only team that has done what Detroit has done over the last 2+ decades. It's damn near impossible, no matter how good of a farm system you have. Most teams don't do that in any league or sport. Even the Yankees can't buy every World Series.

The Kings lucked out with Kopitar falling in the draft as much as he did. No matter how many 1st round picks they have, they're probably never going to win 2 in 3 again. Maybe 3 in 5, whatever. At least they got the 2. They went for it, and they got it. That's more than most can say.

 

[Zero Pucks Given]

I'm not gonna worry unless this team doesn't win it all this year or go down swinging.

 

[Basilisk]

We may as well face it. The Kings are going to have 3 or 4 seasons of absolute suckage at some point in the not too distant future, and that is how they will re-acquire top talent at the center and goaltending positions.

TRUE!!! But before that happens, the Kings will win 3 or 4 Cups!

 

[donkozak]

Kings Are Bad...

I'm not gonna worry unless this team doesn't win it all this year or go down swinging.

Those first two games really showed us fans that they'll be no joy in mudville this season.Lombardi really has stunk it up on the trade front the last while and can't seem to get anything right!The Richards situation and resolution has to have the Kings' players wondering what the hell is next!!!If the Kings have any leaders they need to step it up now!!!Personally I'd be blowing things up starting with the captain...the 'tender and a few D-men!It was fun while it lasted!

PS Couldn't figure out the Lucic trade and why Lombardi would not sign and trade Jones to a team that was not a rival of the Kings! I guess hind sight is 20-20! And the Sekera deal harkened back to the 70's and 80's when the Kings would give away picks at a drop of a hat!!!

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Those first two games really showed us fans that they'll be no joy in mudville this season.Lombardi really has stunk it up on the trade front the last while and can't seem to get anything right!The Richards situation and resolution has to have the Kings' players wondering what the hell is next!!!If the Kings have any leaders they need to step it up now!!!Personally I'd be blowing things up starting with the captain...the 'tender and a few D-men!It was fun while it lasted!

PS Couldn't figure out the Lucic trade and why Lombardi would not sign and trade Jones to a team that was not a rival of the Kings! I guess hind sight is 20-20! And the Sekera deal harkened back to the 70's and 80's when the Kings would give away picks at a drop of a hat!!!

An elite C, elite D and top end goalie are not just pieces you pick up. Once you have them you hoard them. People are way too quick to be talking about blowing this up.

Also Lombardi traded Jones to Boston. Are a Kings rival?

The system isn't stacked but considering the picks having Kempe, Zykov, Bartosak, Cernak, Mersch type players is still doing pretty alright. Potential quality players at C, W, G, and D with other depth guys to fill around. It's not doom and gloom in LA. The top end guys (Kopitar, Gaborik, Carter, Doughty, Quick) are all still here. The depth guys (Pearson, Toffoli, Muzzin, Martinez, King) can be filled in from all over draft placement like that collection was.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It's a little early for doom and gloom, but no sure fire first round blue chippers is the price of success. No teams are having their cake and eating it too.

 

[Fishhead]

This comes with winning.

Detroit is the best example of keeping the pipeline stocked, but that was quite a few years ago. They haven't been past the 2nd round in the last 6 years. They won it pre-cap, then a couple years after the cap while things were still adjusting themselves because they already had a stacked team. Since they took Franzen in 2004, who has been an impact guy? Helm? Abdelkader? Nyquist? Tatar? Nice players, but nothing special. With technology and communications now, late round picks that turn into stars are rare. The only recent one I can think of is Benn, although there might be a couple more.

Go for it then suffer, that's the way of it. For me, the pipeline went from the future core of this team to resources that can help prolong the window. I'm confident that our scouting group will be able to restock in short order when that window is closed.

 

[Kingsfan1]

We had chances to draft very good players like Tarasenko and in later rounds . They dont take best player available contrary to them saying they do . They go for character and leadership. They need to start going for some skill because this team sucks

 

[KopitarFAN]

Dean can't afford to have a borderline season and not get the assets that would be available in trade by moving numerous vets.

This team needs to get its ass in gear and show him that it will be a playoff team without a doubt, or I would expect changes to be made this season.

Hope so. I said it in another thread, but if things go sideways this season, they have an opportunity to recoup draft picks in 2016 & 2017 with players on expiring contracts (Kopitar, Lucic, Lewis, Ehrhoff, King), that group would bring back numerous picks in the first 3 rounds, and at least one 1st round pick (in return for Kopitar).

Note: I said IF, i'm not proclaiming the season over.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I could see Lucic and Kopitar fetching firsts.

 

[kingsfan28]

We had chances to draft very good players like Tarasenko and in later rounds . They dont take best player available contrary to them saying they do . They go for character and leadership. They need to start going for some skill because this team sucks

Tarasenko is the sexy pick right now, and if you'd look a little further down the draft we took a a guy named Tyler Toffoli at #47. He may not carry the same "sexy" but he has won a cup, knows what it takes to win and will put up 25 plus goals for a very long time.Forbert will be a good steady defenseman for years. Every team need this kinds of dman.

Edit: They also drafted Weal in the same draft.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Kopitar fell and Quick was a third round pick. It all evens out. Kings are the best second round drafting team in the league. Look how much talent they have drafted that is now in the NHL.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

We had chances to draft very good players like Tarasenko and in later rounds . They dont take best player available contrary to them saying they do . They go for character and leadership. They need to start going for some skill because this team sucks

One wrong pick and it's the Kings are intentionally trying to make themselves worse by not drafting the best player available? Can you not see how huge a leap in logic that is?

I guess New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues all don't want best player available either. Because yes Tarasenko wasn't even chosen with St. Louis' own pick, they passed on him the first time.

 

[kingsfan28]

One wrong pick and it's the Kings are intentionally trying to make themselves worse by not drafting the best player available? Can you not see how huge a leap in logic that is?

I guess New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues all don't want best player available either. Because yes Tarasenko wasn't even chosen with St. Louis' own pick, they passed on him the first time.

You know the Sens are kicking themselves for trading that pick. It ended up being David Rundbald for Vladimir Tarasenko.

 

[ru4reals]

The answer is simply yes. Personally outside of Kempe Uuuuuuummmmm I don't see any bright prospects unless someone comes out of the blue and surprises.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

me? worried? nah man nah, it's all good

 

[Reclamation Project]

The answer is simply yes. Personally outside of Kempe Uuuuuuummmmm I don't see any bright prospects unless someone comes out of the blue and surprises.

I heard a few prospects don't think you're very bright.

 

[scryan]

I realize that there is a difference between high caliber AHL players and guys who will be big in the NHL.

But people have been saying this for years. ****ing Calder Cup champs with plenty of young talent. Franchise players are over rated in such a team sport and I would rather have a stable of solid young players then a few big names getting ready to demand big contracts.

 

[King'sPawn]

It's way too early to be having this kind of discussion, in my opinion.

Ontario just had their first game defending the Calder cup. And they beat the Bakersfield Condors (affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, who have had many high picks and supposedly have a great "cupboard") 5-0. A year ago today, Mersch was just another AHL rookie, and Kempe was a promising player who was playing in Sweden, but hadn't touched North American ice.

In the event the Kings do well this season and make the playoffs, this is a moot point. In the event the Kings are struggling and need to start selling pieces, they have a lot of players they could trade away to try to address the pipeline immediately.

But still, a lot of things develop in the course of a season. There's a lot of stuff we're not privy to. So, no, I'm not really worried at all. More annoyed with the struggles of the team and not having a first round this year, but not worried.