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Rumor: Planning Ahead: 2019 Off-Season

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AlphaBravo said:
Great analysis and I agree with your conclusion. The best way to build a championship team is from the back out. Forbort is not a good long term partner with Doughty. He has a good year in 2017-2018, but his style of D is no longer a good option in the modern NHL. Byram reminds me a lot of Voynov and will be a great option with Doughty and later anchoring the second pair.

As far as forward options are concerned, we have some promising young players coming in next year, and I think we can land skilled forwards with our Toronto pick and the 2nd rounder. We can also pray that Vilardi recovers which will be a miracle.
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Good points by you and PJBII. And we know how Drew looks with a skilled partner because every 4 years he dominates at the Olympics with one. I wouldn't be mad if Byram was selected at 5. I'd be just as happy with Pod or Turcotte in that spot as well. I was super disappointed Stamkos went to Tampa in 2008. A few minutes after Drew was drafted, I was all in on his potential and had turned the page of losing out on #1. I'd be more disappointed if this draft was thin up top, but it isn't. Hopefully whoever they draft at 5 has the heart, drive and health to match with the talent. At 5 you're going to get talent for sure.
 
Herby said:
He could, most teams the last few years have taken forwards in the Top 5. Was it just an unusually bad group of d-man the last five years or are teams placing more value on skilled forwards?
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He's looking like the only top D in the pool and if he's getting more and more attention rating wise, I could see him going to the Avs. They can score already but need help in D. Chicago probably goes forward again, but their blueline keeps getting older. I mean it's not like it's impossible he can fall to the Kings, but I wouldn't be surprised if he got picked up.
 
I have a feeling they might go with Byram if he is available. Our scouts have already commented that everyone after the top two picks are a couple of years away from the NHL. They may look to get a future replacement for Doughty and he just may be the BPA. He's also known as being able to create offense form anywhere on the ice. The Kings have been without a powerplay QB, maybe he is the answer...
 
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Anybody that has followed the draft for more than a hot minute will know that what is said in April means little when they get to late June.

GM’s thrive on suckers who hang on their every word because it’s all by design. Outside of the top 2, nothing will be set in stone and it could change the moment before a team walks up to the podium.

One common theme that has occurred without any change in at least the last 25+ years that I have followed it is that the top guys will get critiqued to death and guys who were rated lower will all of the sudden start climbing even if nothing new has happened. It’s because they all have too much time on their hands and they start over analyzing everything. That’s why the next two months will be a joke in how many times things will change.

You won’t know a thing about what the Kings will do until they make the pick. If you hang your hopes on 1 particular guy then there is an overwhelmingly high chance that your hopes will be dashed. Best way to play it is have 4-5 guys you like and will be happy to get because it rarely plays out as planned once you get past the top guy or the top two in this case.

For me, I will be more than pleased with Cozens, Dach, Turcotte, Byram and if Podkolzin is picked, that means the Kings did their due diligence on him most likely and vetted him to the point that Blake and Luc are willing to stake their jobs on the pick coming over because of the critical importance of it.

After yesterday, I was pretty much at peace with the draft with the first pick we have because it will most likely be one of those guys and they are all excellent options. That said, I’m sure 1-2 more guys will nudge their way into the conversation because that’s how these things go. My guess is that it will be Krebs and Zegras but there will always be one from left field.
 
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KingsOfCali25 said:
Watching this Tampa Bay playoff game, oh how I wish we had Cernak still. :facepalm:
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That’s what happens when you have a GM who has lost their way and can’t think like a businessman anymore with regards to the potential profit and loss with trades. Watch what happens in Columbus if they go out early after making nothing but emotion based deadline decisions and worrying about it later.

Later tends to come fast.
 
I think Byram will be a riser. If everyone thinks it is pretty bunched up after the Top 2, then it is up to each team's board. Byram looks good though and, even though forwards might be the top flavor at the moment, I still think teams will take the defenseman if all things are equal.

The Kings apparently had Hickey a hundred spots higher than anyone else in 2007 so you never know. With it being so bunched up, anything is possible.
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
Watching this Tampa Bay playoff game, oh how I wish we had Cernak still. :facepalm:
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It's almost impossible to try and justify almost any of the moves made from June 2014-April 2017. It truly was as bad a three year run as a team can possibly have when it comes to transactions. We feel it today, and will sadly probably feel it for many years to come.
 
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Pretty confident Blackhawks will take Turcotte 3rd. Chicago native, he plays like Toews, and the GM talked about drafting Toews 3rd overall and getting someone to follow in his footsteps.

Colorado is the wild card. They could take Byram or one of the top forwards. They value skill, and we see all these kids have it.

I would hope for either Byram or Dach gets picked at 5 (if the top 3 goes as I expect). Leaning towards Byram over Dach.
 
The more I watch Byram the more he looks like #3 to me. He is ready and would make our roster from game 1.
 
I'd love to get Byram at 5 but I feel like even if he's available the team would rather a forward, he just looks like such a play driving defenseman and could be a power-play quarterback for years to come next to Doughty
 
Byram/Dach 100% at 5 unless Podkolzin drops to us. Byram if there as the safest high-end bet and a bigger need.

I'd be quite happy with Turcotte too. Prefer now one of the first 3 just since of the guys after the top 2 those 3 three possess the highest potential. Byram should be the best defender from the draft, Dach could end up the best forward even over Hughes/Kakko, and Podkolzin should be the best winger with some scouts liking his potential even over Kakko. Turcotte I love yet realistically see as a RoR more than a Toews, which is awesome yet not the same upside as the other three. Have said it multiple times yet the one I don't want is Cozens. Would depress me after the season we had. Not that I don't like him, think he can be good, etc just has great 2nd liner complimentary 1st liner upside at best imo. If going the safer routes and ignoring close to similar floors with higher ceilings I prefer Turcotte/Krebs both who should be future captains and do it all.
 
I like Turcotte, Podkolzin, and Byram, in no particular order. Turcotte has a sort of Jonathan Toews vibe to him and could fill the 2C hole for years. Podkolzin is obviously a talent, and the Russian thing is not a big deal. Byram could anchor a 2nd pairing on the Kings very soon. Has the offensive and defensive game, but just has to get bigger and grow a bit.

All three are very very good, and at least one of them will be there at #5. I'll be happy with any of them.
 
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lumbergh said:
I like Turcotte, Podkolzin, and Byram, in no particular order. Turcotte has a sort of Jonathan Toews vibe to him and could fill the 2C hole for years. Podkolzin is obviously a talent, and the Russian thing is not a big deal. Byram could anchor a 2nd pairing on the Kings very soon. Has the offensive and defensive game, but just has to get bigger and grow a bit.

All three are very very good, and at least one of them will be there at #5. I'll be happy with any of them.
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I can't see the Kings drafting Pod due to the Russian factor We need a player that will be playing in north america at the very least.
 
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