Anyone else nervous about the pipeline?

[ru4reals]

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

I know the truth hurts it is what it is.

 

[KingsCourt]

When the down turn begins alot these players will moved for picks and prospects.. Focus is to win now

 

[KopitarFAN]

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.

I'm not sure how many guys their are in Ontario who will/could be NHL players.

Kempe
Zykov
Brodzinski
Mersch
Gravel
Forbort (though he is technically with the big club now, not playing)
Auger?
Bartosak

Probably a few more. But it's important to note that a number of guys who were important on last years team are either with the big club or have moved on. (Weal, O'Neill, Miller, Shore, Bodnarchuk)

 

[KingPuckChoo]

When the down turn begins alot these players will moved for picks and prospects.. Focus is to win now

and we're doing a fantastic job too mind you

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm a bit nervous of the current roster underachieving again.

 

[bob77]

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.

And Gravel.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah, let's put it this way--the only reason to be nervous about the pipeline is that there aren't sure fire replacements for guys like Kopi/Carter in there. If THOSE guys start underperforming, the pipeline starts to look terrible; if not, the pipeline is in great shape, full of complementary players that could be impact players in smaller roles, but not likely to be a 1C/2C on a major contender.

But you could also say that for a number of teams, so anyone telling you our farm is barren has a large misunderstanding of its value.

 

[Jason Lewis]

The Kings are fine.

 

[Telos]

I'm a bit nervous of the current roster underachieving again.

Pretty much this. The pipeline is fine, what we need more than anything is the current roster to perform.

 

[scryan]

Probably a few more. But it's important to note that a number of guys who were important on last years team are either with the big club or have moved on. (Weal, O'Neill, Miller, Shore, Bodnarchuk)

But given that the whole point is to develop tallent, the fact that we did that, and all those players are able to move up is more of a poaite then anything. Right? Then more kids come in to the spots they have vacated, and the cycle begins again.

Yeah, let's put it this way--the only reason to be nervous about the pipeline is that there aren't sure fire replacements for guys like Kopi/Carter in there. If THOSE guys start underperforming, the pipeline starts to look terrible; if not, the pipeline is in great shape, full of complementary players that could be impact players in smaller roles, but not likely to be a 1C/2C on a major contender.

IMO this is the point though. I dont know that we look to the pipeline to replace Kopi. Your big players get paid, and there is little point to developing someone who is to expensive to keep, or who you could just buy/trade for anyways.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Kings had the chance to improve the pool with a high pick this year but just had to give it away for one year Lucic. Missed chance while being a playoff team.

With Carter and probably Kopitar we have center depth for years. Too early to worry about that. Who knows what happens in the next 6 years.

Than you have Toffoli and Pearson on the roster for years to come, though Pearson needs to show something this season. It remains to be seen how long Gaborik stays healty but he is signed till eternity too. Dustin Brown is a lost cause. Quick will be here for years too and the last thing I would worry about are goalie prospects. They can come out of nowhere.

The pipeline is very thin, without any high skilled players. Point is, with the current core it should be possible to insert good players from later rounds who will exceed expectations. If that happens the Kings will stay a contender for years to come, unless they play like **** like in these last two games. This team on paper is very good, its just unheard and if they keep playing like that, than any theory like above is useless anyway.

 

[sinister6000]

Lombardi has traded a lot of 1st, and 2nd round picks plus he traded 2 really good right handed 2 way defensemen. They still have Ladue, Kempe, Mersch, and Zykov, but could use some future first line skilled prospects. To get those type of players they need to keep the 1st, and 2nd round picks, rather then trade them for players with expiring contracts.

 

[theMajor]

The Kings are fine.

tell 'em!

 

[Choralone]

Jeez, I see a lot of glasses half-empty in this thread...

Edit: The first-round picks we traded weren't going to land us top talents anyway.

 

[BigKing]

We should be nervous about everything

 

[damacles1156]

The Farm is fine, You don't land the Next Kopitar with 1st round Picks in the 20-30's.

It's super rare (like nonexistent).

For the picks the Kings have had, the scouts/development staff have done an amazing job.

Lombardi/Futa hit home runs in the second round, homers.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

I could see Lucic and Kopitar fetching firsts.

I don't see DL trading Kopitar unless its for a kings ransom (No pun inteded) I'm thinking a 1st+++

 

[Kurrilino]

I could see Lucic and Kopitar fetching firsts.

And who would offer a first for Lucic ????
He already said he wants to go to Vancouver beside that he is barely worth a 3rd rounder.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

The Farm is fine, You don't land the Next Kopitar with 1st round Picks in the 20-30's.

It's super rare (like nonexistent).

For the picks the Kings have had, the scouts/development staff have done an amazing job.

Lombardi/Futa hit home runs in the second round, homers.

How about pick number 13?

 

[damacles1156]

How about pick number 13?

Had Zacha fell, sure. But he didn't. There was no pick this last draft in the 13th slot that screams (sure fire NHL top talent).

The Kings would have had to move up into the top 6-10 picks, which would have costed more assets (Like a roster player).

 

[Reclamation Project]

I don't see DL trading Kopitar unless its for a kings ransom (No pun inteded) I'm thinking a 1st+++

1st rounder, NHL ready prospect, and another prospect at the minimum.

And who would offer a first for Lucic ????
He already said he wants to go to Vancouver beside that he is barely worth a 3rd rounder.

Just because you've complained about the trade at every opportunity since it went down doesn't mean Lucic wouldn't fetch a first at the trade deadline, because he would.

Barely a 3rd rounder? Please.

I suggest you look at how many first round picks have been traded for rentals in the last few years.

 

[damacles1156]

It would depend on the type of season Lucic was having. GM's are learning slowly, that 1st round picks, shouldn't be dealt lightly.

Your team better be close, or making a run, to deal 1st and 2nd rounders.

The cap is making picks/Prospects inflated, due to cheap/young talent costing next to nothing.

Players that are 24-28 years of age, with a pedigree of high production/winning, are costing a fortune.

Just think how much Muzzin would cost if he was an UFA today. Also signing 29-31 year old's to HIGH cap dollar, max contract length deals, is CAP suicide ATM.

 

[damacles1156]

Also, how can anyone be worried about the current pipeline ?

The Kings went through a decade plus of just an awful pipeline/drafting.

Did everyone forget the mess that drafting/development of the 1990-2003 era ?

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Also, how can anyone be worried about the current pipeline ?

The Kings went through a decade plus of just an awful pipeline/drafting.

Did everyone forget the mess that drafting/development of the 1990-2003 era ?

Vitali Yachemenev was pretty good

 

[417th]

Cernak Gravel Forbort Luts are all going to be good to #2/3 pairing Dmen in the NHL. While Gravel will likely become a 4/6 guy his SAH style and smarts will keep him as a valuable player for a few years at least. Ebert LaDue Campbell are all good bets to see time in the NHL though where I am still not certain and Leslie is a mystery to me but not out of the question. Our D is great. It wouldn't be a reach to say that Cernak could end up a true #2 dman in the NHL and the same can be said about Luts though he has a little further to go.

While we may only have Kempe Zykov Mersch as our best bet to play in the top 6 there are a couple of other kids who could end up surprising all of us and making the team. We are flat out loaded with character/bottom 6 players so no worries there at all. I am a little concerned with our depth at G but with the way the NHL works today I am not overly concerned.

Our system could use a bonafide elite top 3 winger but so could most everyone else. The rest of our system is stacked.