GDT: BLACKHAWKS at KINGS 4/8/17 3pm FS-W, CSN-CH, NHL.TV

[damacles1156]

Great post. I think you can be a great fan and recognize the shortcomings in the current roster and how difficult it will be to correct those shortcomings.

The draft is likely the only way the Kings have to improve over the next several years.

With the Salary cap, and Kings current Salary structure, drafting is the only way for the team to get better.

Sadly it will take to long, for it to help the current core.

Kopitar will likely be 33-34(years of age) by the time the current drafting starts to help.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Exactly the reason I can't stand it either. Many here are oblivious to the big picture and the immediate future, improving of the team...valuing enjoying 1 single, meaningless game, having a few beers and fun, over the impending betterment of the future of the team...kind of just hoping
a good prospect will be selected and draft postitions matter not...and DL will somehow make the team better in some way...

I think everyone gets the lose to get a better pick philosophy, and ultimately agrees with it. If the team wins a meaningless game though, what can you do? Other than getting mad at the clouds, you just have to accept it. The players do not care about draft position. They're playing for themselves. That's how they got to the NHL in the first place.

There is a big difference between pick 10 and 14. In 2005, the Kings got Koitar at #11. I was pretty sure he would go to Ott at 9 or Van at 10. I am glad Lombardi was not here that year, as he would have taken Marc Staal at 11. (he was drafted at 12)
The next 4 selections NEVER played in the NHL. (ok, one of them played 33 games)

I'm sure you can find a draft where the 14th pick was better than the 10th pick.

There's a drop after the top 10 this year too...true, this is not a deep draft, but selection #10 is better than 14. A win today coupled with a Philadelphia loss will
be a setback. I am a King fan and do not want that to happen. 1 game is 1 game and
1 player could be here 10+ years and be a difference maker, for the next decade. If the Kings took Staal and not Kopitar, there are NO Cups here.

Strictly speaking, sure, but nobody even knows who has been taken 10th or 14th yet.

It doesn't matter if fans like or don't like teams winning meaningless games. It won't change the outcome, win or lose, or whether or not the players give an effort in such a game. You're not going to get an entire team throwing a game on purpose. If they win or lose, the GM deals with whatever slot the draft pick falls in. That's all there is to it.

 

[damacles1156]

The draft is always a crap shoot, sure you want higher picks when possible.

But as other pointed out, NHL players don't care about draft position.

 

[Nizar]

They are also not fond of tanking, which will still occur for major caliber youngster like McDavid. Lottery odds can still be lowered or entire round or non playoff picks determined by lottery. is NHL going to to decrease lottery odds even further for worst teams, because Toronto got 20% last year comparing to 17,9% for Colorado this year(first overall)?

 

[CTKingsFan]

I'm all for the Kings losing tonight. It's the most beneficial thing for the team. Now, with that said, I'd expect them to try to win and I wouldn't ask them otherwise. But my loyalty is to the logo, not the players, when they're all long gone, I'll still be a fan. So I'm okay with sacrificing one game (even to the Ducks) in order improve the chances of improving the team. A top 3 pick would be very valuable to this team, even in a weak draft. I'm all for improving the chances by 4%. The 4% is more valuable then the 2 points right now. (To me, not the players)

 

[Telos]

I'm all for a Kings win! GO KINGS GO!

 

[KingLB]

With the Salary cap, and Kings current Salary structure, drafting is the only way for the team to get better.

Sadly it will take to long, for it to help the current core.

Kopitar will likely be 33-34(years of age) by the time the current drafting starts to help.

True,

But I still think Kopi could be a #2 center on a cup winner at that point.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

True,

But I still think Kopi could be a #2 center on a cup winner at that point.

He could be like Joe Thornton, racking up assists and still being a point producing two-way center, but for the Kings to be in position to draft a top flight #1 C would require them to be pretty bad and fortunate, like they were in 2005 when Kopitar fell to their laps with the 11th pick.

 

[kingskring]

no gamethread for today??

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm sure you can find a draft where the 14th pick was better than the 10th pick.

Nonsense. Wouldn't you prefer Keaton Ellerby over Kevin Shattenkirk?

In all seriousness, though, the draft is only one facet. Development is the other. I forget... how many people were upset that the Kings won a meaningless last game of the season back in 2008 when Brian Willsie scored the game winning goal, making the Kings pick #2 instead of #1?

The understated aspect of games after being eliminated from the playoffs is that while you lose out on draft position, you also don't want the Kings to be "okay" with losing. I'd rather them win a "meaningless" game even if it makes for a worse draft position.

 

[kingsboy11]

Nonsense. Wouldn't you prefer Keaton Ellerby over Kevin Shattenkirk?

In all seriousness, though, the draft is only one facet. Development is the other. I forget... how many people were upset that the Kings won a meaningless last game of the season back in 2008 when Brian Willsie scored the game winning goal, making the Kings pick #2 instead of #1?

The understated aspect of games after being eliminated from the playoffs is that while you lose out on draft position, you also don't want the Kings to be "okay" with losing. I'd rather them win a "meaningless" game even if it makes for a worse draft position.

Exactly how I feel. Especially when there is a lot on the line for the Ducks. If the Kings win and the oilers win then the Ducks and Sharks play each other which guarantees one of those team out in the first round. That's fun to me.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

no gamethread for today??

Given the start they just had, better to skip it.