Los Angeles Kings 2015 NHL Draft Preview

[HF Article]

Photo: Los Angeles Kings prospect Adrian Kempe, the team’s first round pick at the 2014 NHL Draft, had a brilliant playoff run for the Calder Cup champion Manchester Monarchs (courtesy of Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)


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</p> Though the Manchester Monarchs are the 2014-15 AHL champions, the Los Angeles Kings are on the links, and the 2015 NHL entry draft is coming soon. The Kings have seen outstanding performances from a number of their young prospects this year, and it is showing in the way of Memorial Cup performances and AHL heroics. Meanwhile, the Kings have started to hit a potential point of transition, where young prospects may need to rise to the occasion soon.… read more

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[417th]

Jason, you need to write more articles.

Your insights are solid and always a fun read. Even when I may not agree entirely with what you are saying your reasoning is sound and your style pro quality. I am going to read it again and come back with what I think about the content but it was a solid read as always.

 

[LAKings88]

Spencer Watson?

 

[417th]

I think that Kempe and Zykov have the hands and speed to be game breakers but I can see where you are coming from. Mistele is also a really gifted offensive player but will it translate to the NHL? I hope so but will have to wait and see. I don't see us picking Konecny, not that he wouldn't be a great add but I think that we will always lean more towards power size skill players unless it is a complete no brainer. I would be geeked if TK ends up with us but still see us drafting one of Zacha Connor or Svechnikov or Meir. Connor is who I have been saying we would end up drafting from the start of this thread because of his skill size and grit but who knows where we end up. This year is the year that we could see a slight shift in our drafting style if we are ever going to do so.

Great article, I would like to see an even more in depth one with your thoughts on each of the top 20 picks.

 

[417th]

Spencer Watson?

I think that most times I see his name mentioned but the guy has truly elite caliber O skills. If he were 4" taller he would be a King maker. As it sits I wonder but the kid can flat out score and is a really good skater.

 

[King'sPawn]

Good pick and article, Jason.

Not sure if you ever saw my draft breakdown ever since Lombardi joined the Kings, but more picks have been used on OHL forwards than any other league and position.

Combine that with Chris Byrne, who joined the Kings organization last year after leaving the 67s, and while drafting Jacob Middleton and Alex Lintuniemi, I think they have a LOT of insight on the 67s captain.

He just screams perfect fit. The biggest concern I have is if he'll have a Mike Richards developmental path where he becomes a very dominant player fast and early, only to have injuries cause his career to collapse.

 

[LAKings88]

I think that most times I see his name mentioned but the guy has truly elite caliber O skills. If he were 4" taller he would be a King maker. As it sits I wonder but the kid can flat out score and is a really good skater.

Not bad for 7th rounder I guess. Azevedo seems to be coming to my mind tho.

 

[Herby]

Same thing as every year. Take the best available player that's not a goaltender!

Dave Steckel was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a jumbo sized center.

Jonathan Bernier was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a #1 goalie. Little did they know they had one.

Thomas Hickey was a pick based on need, they thought they needed to add to the back end and passed up many better players.

Colten Teubert was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a rugged defenseman and ended up using a 1st round pick on a German League caliber defenseman.

Everyone seems to be talking forwards, and that is fine, the Kings could use a skilled forward in the system, but if one of the higher rated defenseman falls you take him.

 

[Primakov!]

Unless something has changed Michael Mersch is a natural left wing so you could add him to the list you had there.

And I'm not too sure why you decided to make a distinction between players drafted as a left winger and guys that are currently in the AHL playing and developing in that position. Doesn't that just make the deficiency over-emphasized then?

To me, it kind of makes the issue seem much worse than it really is since it's not like Manchester was operating without left wingers down there. In fact if you look at the line combinations reported on by Andy Tonge you see a 1st and 2nd line punch of Mersch and Kempe being utilized, which paints an entirely different picture, you know?

 

[Vino]

I think Michael Mersch is as much natural left winger than Matt Mistele. And Adrian Kempe played pretty well Nick Shore's left side. In my mind on a position to position bases, the RIGHT wing group is exceptionally thin with the Kings.

If our first round draft pick is Travis Konecny I'm really dispointed. An undersized dwarf, who is not a great scorer even in the OHL. Last year 63 games and 70 points and this year 60 games and 68 points. Where is the progress? He is not even his teams best scorer, Dante Salituro - also draft 2015 eligible - scored ten more points (okay, and played ten more games). And he (Konecny) is already physically fit, so is there any upside?

edit.

Primakov! was faster. Good for him.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Good pick and article, Jason.

Not sure if you ever saw my draft breakdown ever since Lombardi joined the Kings, but more picks have been used on OHL forwards than any other league and position.

Combine that with Chris Byrne, who joined the Kings organization last year after leaving the 67s, and while drafting Jacob Middleton and Alex Lintuniemi, I think they have a LOT of insight on the 67s captain.

He just screams perfect fit. The biggest concern I have is if he'll have a Mike Richards developmental path where he becomes a very dominant player fast and early, only to have injuries cause his career to collapse.

Great post also great article JL

 

[KINGS17]

Same thing as every year. Take the best available player that's not a goaltender!

Dave Steckel was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a jumbo sized center.

Jonathan Bernier was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a #1 goalie. Little did they know they had one.

Thomas Hickey was a pick based on need, they thought they needed to add to the back end and passed up many better players.

Colten Teubert was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a rugged defenseman and ended up using a 1st round pick on a German League caliber defenseman.

Everyone seems to be talking forwards, and that is fine, the Kings could use a skilled forward in the system, but if one of the higher rated defenseman falls you take him.

Agreed. The player taken with the 13th pick is an asset that can always be traded, or another player can be traded to make room for the 13th pick.

Lombardi needs to switch to a Patriot-mode mind set. These players are assets. I think if the Kings are thinking need and BPA at the same time, they are going to have to trade up above San Jose to get Zacha.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Same thing as every year. Take the best available player that's not a goaltender!

Dave Steckel was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a jumbo sized center.

Jonathan Bernier was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a #1 goalie. Little did they know they had one.

Thomas Hickey was a pick based on need, they thought they needed to add to the back end and passed up many better players.

Colten Teubert was a pick based on need, they thought they needed a rugged defenseman and ended up using a 1st round pick on a German League caliber defenseman.

Everyone seems to be talking forwards, and that is fine, the Kings could use a skilled forward in the system, but if one of the higher rated defenseman falls you take him.

I agree, I just think that if you look at the teams immediately ahead of us, I simply cannot see those 12 teams passing on Werenski, Hanifin, Provorov. Most of the mocks are based on teams snapping these guys up. The only one near below us is Zboril and he certainly wouldn't be the BPA.

Great writeup Jason!

 

[417th]

Of course. Of course we would take a Hanifin if we were available when we picked. I mean of course we would. That said when comparing picks over the years you have to also consider who else was available when we made our selections and what we knew about them at the time. I mean Bernier was considered to be the next Roy by everyone including Roy himself, that was a great pick when we made it and so were some of the others. If we have a choice of Konecny Zacha Meir Connor Svech etc then I say we take the one that is best suited to our system and has to most talent which is what I think we have been doing more than anything else over the past several years. Was Pearson a bad pick at 30 when we needed a LW? Should we have gone after someone else? I don't think so at all. I am certain that DL and co will get the best player available who also fits our system next weekend. Regardless of where they play but that said, when I look at who is likely available I look see many more talented forwards at the 13th spot then I do any other spot. Now we can make an educated guess or two based on each of the likely available prospects backgrounds, specific skill sets, where they are likely to play next season and shorten the list of likely candidates but in the end we will likely see the same three names being discussed.

 

[apadilla]

Nice read, but the article could of had some other prospects listed, and why the Kings might be interested in them. IMO anyway.