Kings History: 35 Years Ago, Kings Trade 1st Round Pick for Goalie Ron Grahame
- Thread starter Ziggy Stardust
- Start date
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Reaper45
Registered User
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
I think a bigger priority for JKC was to put butts in seats, not realizing that putting together a winning team like the Lakers would do the trick, hence their rationale for trading high picks for proven veterans who were on the downside of their careers.
Imagine if the Kings dealt the 2nd overall pick in 2008 for Andrew Raycroft. That's what the Grahame trade was like.
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
I'm glad the dark days are over. While I'm glad the Kings did the Gretzky trade, it actually seemed like they were starting to get it right just before that at the draft, guys like Jimmy Carson, Luc Robitaille, signing Steve Duchene, actually doing some development and trying to do some drafting. The Gretzky trade put that on the backburner for a decade or more.
Now DL is building the right way, not trading good assets for quick fixes. I hope this run last a long time, we deserve it.
Now DL is building the right way, not trading good assets for quick fixes. I hope this run last a long time, we deserve it.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
The biggest change to me is the emphasis on development now compared to what it was in the past. In addition to discovering the talents you listed, none of Robitaille, Carson or Duchesne spent any significant time in the minors.
It shows how little the organization thought of draft picks when they'd give them away like candy back when JKC was the owner. Jerry Buss didn't really have an interest in the Kings either since his main prize in that transaction with Cooke was The Forum.
It shows how little the organization thought of draft picks when they'd give them away like candy back when JKC was the owner. Jerry Buss didn't really have an interest in the Kings either since his main prize in that transaction with Cooke was The Forum.
kingsfan28
Its A Kingspiracy !
Did any development program exist before Lombardi came in? It seemed to me basically you played in the minors and once you showed the slightest hint of success, you were called up. I don't think the term "paying your dues" was even heard of back then.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
It seemed like hording picks/prospects was more of the strategy during that time frame and throughout the 90s. Take a team like Quebec for example who drafted Sakic, Sundin, Nolan, Lindros, Deadmarsh and other significant players like Foote, Kamensky, Leschyshyn, Gusarov, Lapointe, Kovalenko, Thibault, Drury, Hejduk. Most of those players were part of their Cup teams or were used to make acquisitions that played a big part in two of their Cup runs.
Most of those listed names didn't spend any time in the minors and just made the jump to the NHL. Seemed like if you showed any amount of skill, you were thrown into the fire and teams found out quickly if they belonged in the pros or in the minors. Least teams that had a keen eye on talent like the Nordiques/Avalanche did.
Butch 19
Go cart Mozart
Not to be outdone, 28 years later, the Kings drafted defenseman Thomas Hickey at #4. And I'm sure DL had some glowing words for Hickey that day - I'm not gonna check.
Grahame gave Kings fans a lot more than Hickey did...
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
Agreed Ziggy, though to be fair to a degree, not a lot of teams gave young players major development time in the minors. There were far more 18 year olds jumping straight to the NHL back then. The Oilers, the greatest team of the 80's, allowed a 19-yar (straight out of the draft) Paul Coffey to jump from the juniors to the NHL, an 18-year-old Grant Fuhr to play 48 games, and an 18-year-old Francois Leroux play a few NHL games. Of the 10 guys they drafted in the 80's in the first round, three played straight away in the NHL and only half even played in the AHL before going to the NHL. Nowadays, most 1st rounders will play in the AHL for at least a portion of a year outside of the top end picks or guys from europe who will play in the AHL equivalent over there.
Not to be outdone, 28 years later, the Kings drafted defenseman Thomas Hickey at #4. And I'm sure DL had some glowing words for Hickey that day - I'm not gonna check.
Grahame gave Kings fans a lot more than Hickey did...
Never want to go back to that draft when you look at the guys that was picked behind him.
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
Never want to go back to that draft when you look at the guys that was picked behind him.
Karl Alzner?
I agree he was the better pick, but it's not like we missed on a future hall of famer. I think we did just fine without him.
I said guys and I didn't mean Alzner. Couture, McDonough, Ellers, Gagner just to name a few.
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
Couture and McDonagh I agree, though neither was likely at 4th. Of course, neither was Hickey, lol.
The one I really wish we got was McDonaugh. All the concern over Willie Mitchell's knee and Regehr's age would be moot.
