Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread part VII

[All The Kings Men]

Did anybody mention the 2004 Kings draft?

Cus... woof.

 

[Herby]

Did anybody mention the 2004 Kings draft?

Cus... woof.

Typical Taylor draft, take the highest ranked CSB faller. At least it worked out the next year.

 

[kilowatt]

Kaliyev also.

I really want Grundstrom and Kupari to be regulars, but we still have a bit of a log jam at forward.

Kupari will likely be in the AHL because he's waiver exempt IMO.



If Lemieux sits, you can work all 3 of Kaliyev/Grundstrom/Kupari into the lineup:

Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Iafallo - Byfield - Kaliyev
Grundstrom- Lizotte - Kupari
Lemieux
JAD
Vilardi
Andersson

Oops — I went over that lineup so many times, swapping people this way and that, that I forgot to add Kaliyev. I had him in place of Arvidsson in fact, since Arvidsson is likely out for a while to start the season. Then decided he should in fact be placed on the "opening night" roster, even if he won't be there.

I really want to see Kaliyev on our top line, but Kempe deserves to be there after last season's success.

Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Kaliyev
Iafallo - Byfield - Grundstrom
Lemieux - Lizotte - Kupari

This is my best guess at our actual opening night lineup, assuming Arvidsson is out for a while.

 

[kilowatt]

Are you related to Vilardi?

Not given a chance? Were you not following the team 2 seasons ago when Vilardi played 55 games as the Kings 2C. Mostly playing next to Jeff Carter, Trevor Moore and AA? What chance do you want? Teams dont just hand 1st line center roles.

So no team is going to trade a 3rd (prob Vilardi value now) or even a 2nd. Or offer sheet him for a 3rd to get a future ALL-STAR CENTER as you describe him. Why would no team be willing to take that chance? The Kings took a chance on Lias Andersson, these types of trades happen all the time.

If even 1 of the 31 teams had the views you have he would be on that team.

I think the pandemic really messed with Vilardi's development. He looked pretty good in 2019-20, with 3 goals and 7 points in 10 games as the team finished the year 8-1-1. His first game against Flordia, he scored on his first shift and shot and then won 13/16 faceoffs. I remember watching that game and feeling so much excitement. I can't help but wonder what an extra 12 games that season and then a normal summer of development work might have done for him. One too many extended breaks from hockey though. C'est la vie.

His 2C year wasn't terrible, but let's be real, he was playing with the ghost of Jeff Carter. Gabe's points per game improved significantly once Carter was traded to Pittsburgh. Vilardi had 15 points through the first 40 games of the season, then 8 points in the last 14 games to finish the year.

It's all mostly a moot point though, Vilardi isn't getting another chance at center with the Kings, and he probably doesn't get a chance at wing either. I hope he gets claimed and gets an opportunity elsewhere if we can't find a trade partner.

 

[Sol]

In all fairness, if you don't have the first to develop to start with, you can't do much. Kempe , drafted in 14' was the last guy to finally breakout. It took what 8 years from draft to nhl for him to get it? Next up would be Valardi and Kupari in 17' and 18' . Valardi's basically lost 2 full years to his back problem before he could really play. Kupari, knee injury. Unfortunately , our top 4 first round pick [outside of Clarke] have all had major injuries which has slowed all their development, that can't be denied. That being said, if guys don't starting hitting real soon, the blame will have to go straight on Murray and Emerson who are in charge of that. You can't have all that talent be stuck in 2nd gear and not progress.

I don’t agree with the narrative that Kempe broke out. Happens too much that players play insane contract year. Let him do it again this year.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

People around here constantly complained about Al Murray when he was with LA.

Development is overrated. It's mostly on the prospects themselves.

Drafting is at least 50% luck.

I attended a Q&A held by an NHL owner (who still owns his team), and he said exactly that about luck, especially with the way things played out for his team in 2004.

Typical Taylor draft, take the highest ranked CSB faller. At least it worked out the next year.

They should listen to us more, a good chunk of us were hoping for Drew Stafford that year, although a majority were in favor of a goalie who wasn’t going to be available in that range in Al Montoya. I got to see him play in Michigan and he never impressed me.

Also, all the Finns from that 2004 draft class were quite overrated, and none of them really panned out.

 

[Kingspiracy]

I enjoy this guy's channel. His analysis is quantitative and shrewd. It's not the fluff you see on most channels.

It's not the take of a random hockey fan, he has some expertise.

That piece didnt come across like a ringing endorsement.

 

[Statto]

That piece didnt come across like a ringing endorsement.

I really like Scouching but it’s over stats focused. He thought very little of Chromiak for exampl.

 

[Lt Dan]

There is a reason that guy is a YouTuber and not employed by a team or even a minor league organization or a Pho restaurant

 

[KINGS17]

Typical Taylor draft, take the highest ranked CSB faller. At least it worked out the next year.

Dave never called the GMs who passed and asked, "What is wrong with Callahan?"

 

[Herby]

Dave never called the GMs who passed and asked, "What is wrong with Callahan?"

You think Bo Callahan would be a DL type of player?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You think Bo Callahan would be a DL type of player?

Not a chance, once he heard Mack talk about how spooked he got and how everyone missed his birthday, he would have traded that pick for Stoll.

Blake though, or Al Murray...not sure they could resist a faller!

 

[Cianide]

, if guys don't starting hitting real soon, the blame will have to go straight on Murray and Emerson who are in charge of that. You can't have all that talent be stuck in 2nd gear and not progress.

You can't put our problems with development on the shoulders of Murray and Emerson. This is an epidemic within the entire organization and it starts with Blake.

 

[funky]

That piece didnt come across like a ringing endorsement.

We started picking in the second round then not again until the forth in a weaker draft. If we get any bottom 6 serviceable player I will be satisfied.

What we did come out with was a top line winger signed for 7 years. That will be my take away from this draft. Anything else is gravy.

 

[All The Kings Men]

This is an epidemic within the entire organization and it starts with Blake.

Enlighten us.

 

[johnjm22]

I really like Scouching but it’s over stats focused. He thought very little of Chromiak for exampl.

I asked him last year if his views had changed on Chromiak. He said no.

I'm not big on Chromiak either. I think he's very overrated around here. Every fanbase has a Chromiak-type prospect they think is better than he really is.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I asked him last year if his views had changed on Chromiak. He said no.

I'm not big on Chromiak either. I think he's very overrated around here. Every fanbase has a Chromiak-type prospect they think is better than he really is.

Maybe fair. I think for a 5th round pick you can't really ask much more. He's answered a lot of questions, people wondered if he was a product of Wright but he just can't stop scoring no matter who he's playing for or with.

Questions about whether that will translate are fair but I also think it's ok to be enthusiastic about a guy who just cannot stop lighting it up, especially at that value pick, and especially since the Kings always nail the late rounds.

He'll never be a burner and he's deceptive but isn't going to dangle anyone at the NHL level, but that shot and release and ability to find soft ice are ridiculous. He might not give you much more than scoring but if you can get Toffoli in the 5th?

I don't think he has a good floor, though. He's pretty much 2nd line scoring complementary forward or bust. Not a play driver, not a defensive player, not excellent size or speed. But terrific offensive instincts and plays well off his teammates. A lineup can't sustain many of those guys and we already have Kaliyev, but hey, if you can turn a 5th into anything better, you're in the black on the ledger.

I know that was long-winded but to relate it back to the quoted post Scouching seemed to gloss over a lot of his positive skills, you can be low on a guy but he didn't support it well at all. He's sort of like the folks who rely too much on NHLe to the detriment of any other analysis.

 

[johnjm22]

Maybe fair. I think for a 5th round pick you can't really ask much more. He's answered a lot of questions, people wondered if he was a product of Wright but he just can't stop scoring no matter who he's playing for or with.

Questions about whether that will translate are fair but I also think it's ok to be enthusiastic about a guy who just cannot stop lighting it up, especially at that value pick, and especially since the Kings always nail the late rounds.

He'll never be a burner and he's deceptive but isn't going to dangle anyone at the NHL level, but that shot and release and ability to find soft ice are ridiculous. He might not give you much more than scoring but if you can get Toffoli in the 5th?

I don't think he has a good floor, though. He's pretty much 2nd line scoring complementary forward or bust. Not a play driver, not a defensive player, not excellent size or speed. But terrific offensive instincts and plays well off his teammates. A lineup can't sustain many of those guys and we already have Kaliyev, but hey, if you can turn a 5th into anything better, you're in the black on the ledger.

I know that was long-winded but to relate it back to the quoted post Scouching seemed to gloss over a lot of his positive skills, you can be low on a guy but he didn't support it well at all. He's sort of like the folks who rely too much on NHLe to the detriment of any other analysis.

I agree it's a solid pick for a 5th rounder, regardless of how he ends up.

I just think every franchise has a guy they picked in the middle of the draft that's doing relatively well, and their HF fanbase overhypes them.

Chromiak isn't any better than say Linden Vey, Mike Amadio, Jordan Weal, or Justin Azevedo. I bet he has a similar career.

I hope I'm wrong.

Toffoli scored at a near goal per game pace as an 18 year old in the CHL.

 

[kilowatt]

I agree it's a solid pick for a 5th rounder, regardless of how he ends up.

I just think every franchise has a guy they picked in the middle of the draft that's doing relatively well, and their HF fanbase overhypes them.

Chromiak isn't any better than say Linden Vey, Mike Amadio, Jordan Weal, or Justin Azevedo. I bet he has a similar career.

I hope I'm wrong.

Toffoli scored at a near goal per game pace as an 18 year old in the CHL.

The OHL didn’t play in Chromiak’s 18 year old season so it’s hard to say. Toffoli scored 52 goals in 65 games in his last year in juniors (turned 20 that season), and Chromiak just put up 44 in 60 games at the same age. That’s 0.8 goals per game for Toffoli and 0.73 goals per game for Chromiak.

I’m not saying Chromiak is better, they’re different players. Just that of the players you listed, the only guy to score more than Chromiak was Amadio, in his final year of juniors at an older age.

 

[tny760]

Did anybody mention the 2004 Kings draft?

Cus... woof.

would the kings truly be the kings if they had never drafted fukufuji though?

 

[KINGS17]

You think Bo Callahan would be a DL type of player?

Uh, no.

 

[Statto]

I asked him last year if his views had changed on Chromiak. He said no.

I'm not big on Chromiak either. I think he's very overrated around here. Every fanbase has a Chromiak-type prospect they think is better than he really is.

I think the thing with Scouching is that he only uses advanced stats. He talks a bit about the eye test but he gives it no weighting. Don’t get me wrong, I love his stuff and it’s far more valuable than most of the internet experts. However its not a balanced assessment so I don’t think it can be used to conclusively backup or bury any viewpoint.

 

[Statto]

Maybe fair. I think for a 5th round pick you can't really ask much more. He's answered a lot of questions, people wondered if he was a product of Wright but he just can't stop scoring no matter who he's playing for or with.

Questions about whether that will translate are fair but I also think it's ok to be enthusiastic about a guy who just cannot stop lighting it up, especially at that value pick, and especially since the Kings always nail the late rounds.

He'll never be a burner and he's deceptive but isn't going to dangle anyone at the NHL level, but that shot and release and ability to find soft ice are ridiculous. He might not give you much more than scoring but if you can get Toffoli in the 5th?

I don't think he has a good floor, though. He's pretty much 2nd line scoring complementary forward or bust. Not a play driver, not a defensive player, not excellent size or speed. But terrific offensive instincts and plays well off his teammates. A lineup can't sustain many of those guys and we already have Kaliyev, but hey, if you can turn a 5th into anything better, you're in the black on the ledger.

I know that was long-winded but to relate it back to the quoted post Scouching seemed to gloss over a lot of his positive skills, you can be low on a guy but he didn't support it well at all. He's sort of like the folks who rely too much on NHLe to the detriment of any other analysis.

If Kaliyev hits and starts scoring at the NHL level in a meaningful way Chromiak is someone you package up in a trade because as you say there’s not going to be room for him. He’s not a guy that plays up and down the lineup.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Typical Taylor draft, take the highest ranked CSB faller. At least it worked out the next year.

Picking in the mid-1st rd, what's the difference? Why not take the consensus higher rated prospect who one more team keeps not picking? It's a good a shot as anyone else. Not like they missed on some franchise player. Stafford would've been better, but, he's Drew Stafford. You can think you're the next Steve Yzerman and reach at the 4th pick, but completely miss too. Not everyone can be as God-like as ol' Stevie.

It's pretty much torture looking through previous drafts for every team, which is ultimately a futile exercise. Everything else that happens after that pick changes because of that pick, so trying to figure out how things play out is impossible. You don't even know who the next pick would be after changing one pick, let alone all the other ramifications.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

A glimpse of what’s to come.