How Would You Grade the Kings' 2020 Draft?

[Rooks]

Gave them a B+
However the Lias Anderson trade was an A tier move so I definitely see how most people (media included) would swing towards an A.
was harder to rate this draft compared to the last few where I immediately came out knowing we nailed it. Probably not fair but my expectations for them are so high now lol

 

[Rekingsfan17]

For me the Kings picking both Quinton Byfield and Helge Grans made their draft an A for me. They were my first choices taking into consideration of where they were drafting. I really never thought Grans would fall to the Kings at #35.
I had Byfield ranked #1 because of his upside. I had Grans ranked at #16. Chromiak was #20 on my list and Simontaival was #49 on my list, so yeah, I give them an A.
I didn't have Faber on my list but I had Mysak at #15 on my list. I was so sure they were trading up for him when they announced the Kings were moving up to #45........he was sitting right there......available to pick. I'm sure Faber will be a good pick and I trust the Kings scouting staff but man I sure would have loved it if they would have taken Mysak.
They did take 4 of my top 50 so I am pretty happy aboot that..........

If I went off my list I would have taken Mysak at #66, Chromiak at #83, Nybeck at #112 and Mason Langenbrunner at #140.

I'm really like what the Kings scouting staff did at the draft.

 

[KopitarFAN]

This would be a hell of lot of fun.

 

[Kingspiracy]

Nuetral fan from down the freeway.

I think the kings had a pretty good draft.... I really feel like during 17-20 drafts the kings have been the best drafting team in the league(hurricanes/rangers prob in the arguement). Idk that 20 was as good as their 17/18/19 drafts but i think it was still a pretty good draft(and a kid like byfield really helps tip the scale a bit)

Obviously getting a guy like Byfield is a great start, just turned 18. I think the scary thing about him is id call him relatively raw at this point and has lots of room to really develop into a premier center in the league.

Grans was a player i watched/liked alot and was hoping Anaheim would get with our 27 pick.. i think he should be a pretty solid nhl player down the line. I admittedly dont know much on faber so cant comment on him. Chromiak was another player i wanted the ducks to grab as the rounds went by.

I also include the Andersson move as part of their draft, and i think its a move that will payoff for them, i think he was worth taking a chance on... and a late 2nd... isnt bad. I still think he can be a 2nd line LW at the NHL level.

Anyway just checkin in... excited about some of the future matchups between our 2 teams

Your guys have had a couple of good drafts recently too, which hasnt gone unnoticed.

Like you say, there should be some great future matchups

 

[kilowatt]

For me the Kings picking both Quinton Byfield and Helge Grans made their draft an A for me. They were my first choices taking into consideration of where they were drafting. I really never thought Grans would fall to the Kings at #35.
I had Byfield ranked #1 because of his upside. I had Grans ranked at #16. Chromiak was #20 on my list and Simontaival was #49 on my list, so yeah, I give them an A.
I didn't have Faber on my list but I had Mysak at #15 on my list. I was so sure they were trading up for him when they announced the Kings were moving up to #45........he was sitting right there......available to pick. I'm sure Faber will be a good pick and I trust the Kings scouting staff but man I sure would have loved it if they would have taken Mysak.
They did take 4 of my top 50 so I am pretty happy aboot that..........

If I went off my list I would have taken Mysak at #66, Chromiak at #83, Nybeck at #112 and Mason Langenbrunner at #140.

I'm really like what the Kings scouting staff did at the draft.

I can think of a couple "trade up and go off the board" picks the Kings have made that look pretty smart in retrospect. Trading up for Bjornfot at 23 (McKenzie had him at 27, and Kaliyev was still on the board) and Fagemo at 50 (McKenzie had him at 60, and Nick Robertson was still on the board). Hopefully Brock's another one this time next year.

 

[regulate]

I can think of a couple "trade up and go off the board" picks the Kings have made that look pretty smart in retrospect. Trading up for Bjornfot at 23 (McKenzie had him at 27, and Kaliyev was still on the board) and Fagemo at 50 (McKenzie had him at 60, and Nick Robertson was still on the board). Hopefully Brock's another one this time next year.

Just an FYI, the Kings drafting Bjornfot at 22 was not a trade up to pick, it's just where the Toronto pick (Muzzin trade) ended up when they traded for the pick during the 2019 season.

 

[Rorschach]

We must have the most open-minded, opportunistic scouting staff...instead of the individual scouts pressing GM RB to pick "their pet guy" from their region so they can look good and keep their job, they just nab whomever the rest of the NHL is dumb enough to let fall a round (Kaliyev) or four (Chromiak).

 

[kilowatt]

Just an FYI, the Kings drafting Bjornfot at 22 was not a trade up to pick, it's just where the Toronto pick (Muzzin trade) ended up when they traded for the pick during the 2019 season.

You're right of course, that's my bad. I meant going off the board, and lumped that in with the Fagemo trade accidentally. Either way, both were good picks.

 

[The Lukeman]

I give LA an A-, compared to last year's A. LA made great picks and got value all around their draft board. The thing that separates 2019 draft from 2020 draft was Kaliyev. He had no business being at 32, let alone the 20s. I had Kaliyev at 14 last year.

 

[Sparky206]

I agree, the only difference to last years draft was that we felt like winners because we got an absolute steal in Kaliyev.

We had another one this one with Chromiak, but its a bit harder to get excited when he falls THAT far.

 

[kilowatt]

I give LA an A-, compared to last year's A. LA made great picks and got value all around their draft board. The thing that separates 2019 draft from 2020 draft was Kaliyev. He had no business being at 32, let alone the 20s. I had Kaliyev at 14 last year.

I think Chromiak in the fifth is better value than Kaliyev in the second!

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Your guys have had a couple of good drafts recently too, which hasnt gone unnoticed.

Like you say, there should be some great future matchups

It’s pretty awesome both teams kinda in the same window , I think Kings are a year ahead of us... but we both should be relative again around the same time... I think we need another playoff series vs you guys or 5

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I think Chromiak in the fifth is better value than Kaliyev in the second!

some of us on duck forums were talking bout trading up to 2nd round to get Chromiak so I’d def agree with that... was pissed we passed up kaliyev last year as he seemed like an ideal partner for zegras.... but Perrault seems like another pure sniper that fills that desire, so it all worked out.

still mad you guys got both bjornfoot and grans I liked both a lot

 

[Schrute farms]

Grans is the 2020 version of Kaliyev. Most had him rated in the 15-25/30 range. We could have traded up into the 20's to take Grans and it would have been a good move. Yet we stayed at 35 and got him.

 

[Schrute farms]

Faber seems like a 2020 version of Bjornfot. Not in style of play or anything -- just draft wise. When Bjornfot happened, people were PISSED with all the other talent (esp forward talent) on the board. Plus, he wasn't the sexy and known guy. Yet within 3-6 months, he became a fan draft favorite and someone we're all excited about. Faber may end up going that same route and people will have a much different view of the draft pick down the road -- only taking longer than Bjornfot since he'll be in college a few years.

 

[Vino]

I give LA a B. First three picks were really good - Faber could be right shooting Bjornfot and I just love Bjornfot.

I didn't like Lias Andersson-trade. Kings have a chance to draft a huge, right shooting Russian winger Yegor Sokolov, but they missed it. Sokolov is not a swiftest skater, but neither is Andersson.

I didn't like Simontaival pick at all. He is a really small (he is listed 5'9", but he is smaller than that, maybye 5'8"). If they wanted to draft a really small and skilled guy, why not draft a player like Daniil Gushchin. He is already playing in the North America and showed that he can score. Or pick a true "high risk, high reward" player like LD Jeremie Poirier. Kings best most promising LD's are Mikey Anderson and Tobias Bjornfot, whose offensive potential are not that high at all.

Last five picks were Alex Laferriere, Jussi Markkanen's son Juho Markkanen, a very good gamble Martin Chromiak, Ben Meehan and Aatu Jamsen and I'm really happy if even one of them plays some day in the NHL.

I really hoped that Kings draft more grit and size, but the wish did not come true. But maybye next year or year after that.

 

[The Lukeman]

I think Chromiak in the fifth is better value than Kaliyev in the second!

That's a fair opinion! Personally I think the Kaliyev pick is arguably one of the biggest steals in the last decade. I just don't see many other picks where you are getting top of the draft talent in the 2nd round. Chromiak is a great pick up though

 

[Statto]

I give LA a B. First three picks were really good - Faber could be right shooting Bjornfot and I just love Bjornfot.

I didn't like Lias Andersson-trade. Kings have a chance to draft a huge, right shooting Russian winger Yegor Sokolov, but they missed it. Sokolov is not a swiftest skater, but neither is Andersson.

I didn't like Simontaival pick at all. He is a really small (he is listed 5'9", but he is smaller than that, maybye 5'8"). If they wanted to draft a really small and skilled guy, why not draft a player like Daniil Gushchin. He is already playing in the North America and showed that he can score. Or pick a true "high risk, high reward" player like LD Jeremie Poirier. Kings best most promising LD's are Mikey Anderson and Tobias Bjornfot, whose offensive potential are not that high at all.

Last five picks were Alex Laferriere, Jussi Markkanen's son Juho Markkanen, a very good gamble Martin Chromiak, Ben Meehan and Aatu Jamsen and I'm really happy if even one of them plays some day in the NHL.

I really hoped that Kings draft more grit and size, but the wish did not come true. But maybye next year or year after that.

Grit and size, especially in bottom 6 roles is relatively easy/cheap to pick up either via trade of free agency. Skill is much harder and more expensive to acquire and that’s why I think that’s been the focus. You are right that they are important components in a contending roster but they will be pieces we acquire via different routes IMO. With a surplus of skill we will be able to trade for that grit/size and get good quality/value when we do.

 

[Vino]

Grit and size, especially in bottom 6 roles is relatively easy/cheap to pick up either via trade of free agency. Skill is much harder and more expensive to acquire and that’s why I think that’s been the focus. You are right that they are important components in a contending roster but they will be pieces we acquire via different routes IMO. With a surplus of skill we will be able to trade for that grit/size and get good quality/value when we do.

Sorry, but I must disagree.

In my mind their (Blake&Yannetti) focus is too much on skill. This was their fourth draft and they have drafted 32 players. Is there anyone, who you could describe as a grit/size/brawn/tough player? Is Blake's LA Kings a team which is hard to play against?

And yes, bottom 6 "grit and size players" are relatively easy/cheap to pick up either via trade of free agency, just like bottom 6 skill players are relatively easy/cheap to pick up either via trade of free agency. But you have to overpay, if want to trade/sign a good, or even average, "power forward".

Blake Coleman <-> 1st round pick + Nolan Foote (= 1st round pick)
Barclay Goodrow, 3rd round pick <-> 1st round pick, Anthony Greco (AHLer)
If you want to sign a good UFA power forward => Milan Lucic 7 years x 6 milloin per year.

 

[Token]

So Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev ... I’d say they got some size ...

We traded for a bundle of grit in Andersson ...

Sodergran and Lee are big boys already in the system.

How much more do we need?

 

[crassbonanza]

. But you have to overpay, if want to trade/sign a good, or even average, "power forward".

I completely agree, look at the Josh Anderson trade/signing that just happened or even look back on the Tom Wilson contract. Tough/grit players who can play a top 6 role and contribute offensively have essentially become the unicorns of the league. I can only imagine how much value a young Dustin Brown would have in todays NHL.

 

[SFKingshomer]

So Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev ... I’d say they got some size ...

We traded for a bundle of grit in Andersson ...

Sodergran and Lee are big boys already in the system.

How much more do we need?

I like Lee because he played local and is a great kid but he could be a lot more physical. I haven’t seen him play since junior but he was smart and played in all situations. Good pair of hands in front of the net.

 

[bland]

So Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev ... I’d say they got some size ...

We traded for a bundle of grit in Andersson ...

Sodergran and Lee are big boys already in the system.

How much more do we need?

There is size, then there is tenacity. None of those three forwards is known for their fortitude, Vilardi more so than the others.

The Kings most tenacious prospects are all average to below average size - Turcotte, Fagemo, Faber, Anderson, Dudas, Bjornfot. Those are the most competitive of the group.

I am no fight junky, but some size with snarl would be nice.

 

[Token]

There is size, then there is tenacity. None of those three forwards is known for their fortitude, Vilardi more so than the others.

The Kings most tenacious prospects are all average to below average size - Turcotte, Fagemo, Faber, Anderson, Dudas, Bjornfot. Those are the most competitive of the group.

I am no fight junky, but some size with snarl would be nice.

There are like 7 of those guys in the league. Caps have two.

I think it’s a tall order. Rare birds.

Name some players, let’s trade for them.

 

[Lt Dan]

So Byfield, Vilardi, Kaliyev ... I’d say they got some size ...

We traded for a bundle of grit in Andersson ...

Sodergran and Lee are big boys already in the system.

How much more do we need?