Today's Slapshot, 2015 Kings Draft Preview

[Captain Mittens*]

I think the term hernia is blatantly sexist. if I ever get one I am going to call it my hisnea.

 

[kingsfan]

Of course. But people are starting to, as a group, write him off as a prospect without giving him a fighting chance.

Zykov's numbers:
--2012-2013 with Baie-Comeau: 40g-35a-75p in 67 games (1.12 PPG) and 10g 9a in 19 playoff games (1 PPG). Received Rookie of the Year. 2nd leading scorer on 2nd place team in league, 1st in division.
--2013-2014 with Baie-Comeau: 2nd leading scorer on first place team in division. 23g-40a-63p in 53 games (1.19 PPMG) and 7g-15a-22p in 22 playoff games (1PPG).
--2014-2015 21g-25a-46p in 42 games (1.1 PPG) and 3-4-7 in 11 playoff games after being traded from BC to Gatineau and recovering from a month out with a hernia.

From HF itself, nice summary:

"Zykov has had a challenging third season in North America in 2014-15. After impressing in Kings camp and making a strong pitch for a roster spot he was returned to Baie-Comeau. A sports hernia injury suffered in November 2014 kept him off the ice for nearly four weeks and he was a surprising cut from Russia's U20 team for the 2015 World Juniors. In January 2015 he was traded from the Drakkar to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for Sabres' prospect Vaclav Karabacek and a 2015 QMJHL draft pick. To his credit, Zykov is scoring at a point-per-game pace since joining Gatineau and appears recovered from his injury. Long-term he remains one of the top forward prospects in the Kings' organization. His combination of high-end passing and stick skills and a desire to win battles and create scoring chances suggests he can be an elite offensive player one day. "

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/valentin-zykov/

Again, I don't think concerns are completely unwarranted, I just think the sudden urge of folks to drop him completely out of the top-5 of our prospects is missing context, like the conversations of Brown v Richards play. There's a sudden "I don't like Zykov" groupthink that's lacking any substantive discussion other than his slight drop in production. I think next year will be very telling on where he is but there's no reason to tank his value. He's still a guy with more upside than most of our prospects that also has a very good chance of making it as a skilled and gritty 3rd liner if his top six upside doesn't pan out. That's more than we can say about much of the rest of our prospect base.

Since I would likely be singled out a potential leader of this 'group' I'd like to say I am not writing him off as a prospect. I fully believe he will make the NHL. I am however considering writing off his offensive upside. Hernia or not, his goals per game average went from 0.597 in his draft year to 0.434 last year to 0.5 this year. That's a big drop off while his points per game has leveled off (actually dropped very slightly between his draft year and this year).

Yet I still see people saying he has 30+ goal potential. He's right now barely a 30 goal guy in junior, in the most offensive league in junior hockey.

 

[damacles1156]

Since I would likely be singled out a potential leader of this 'group' I'd like to say I am not writing him off as a prospect. I fully believe he will make the NHL. I am however considering writing off his offensive upside. Hernia or not, his goals per game average went from 0.597 in his draft year to 0.434 last year to 0.5 this year. That's a big drop off while his points per game has leveled off (actually dropped very slightly between his draft year and this year).

Yet I still see people saying he has 30+ goal potential. He's right now barely a 30 goal guy in junior, in the most offensive league in junior hockey.

I second this.

Zykov will make the NHL, but I don't see him as a top end 30G scorer in the NHL. He is not skilled enough in my opinion.

Doesn't mean he can't be a 15-20G scorer, that would still be a good roster player.

His AHL tenure will answer (some) questions about him.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Since I would likely be singled out a potential leader of this 'group' I'd like to say I am not writing him off as a prospect. I fully believe he will make the NHL. I am however considering writing off his offensive upside. Hernia or not, his goals per game average went from 0.597 in his draft year to 0.434 last year to 0.5 this year. That's a big drop off while his points per game has leveled off (actually dropped very slightly between his draft year and this year).

Yet I still see people saying he has 30+ goal potential. He's right now barely a 30 goal guy in junior, in the most offensive league in junior hockey.

Wasn't at anyone in particular, I just remember a lot of flyby "zykov is no good" type posts during prospect ranking season. Yours have context and history. Sorry if you feel you were targeted, wasn't my intention.

Goals per game average was volatile by the type of players he was playing with, playmakers vs. grinders. It's like wondering why a guy scores with Kopitar but not with Stoll.

I'm not sure I ever thought he had 30g potential, and I don't recall reading that, certainly not often. I like Damacles' Frolov comparison really, puck protection guy with fantastic passing skills, board work, and a well-rounded game in progress (Kings asked him to work on his D IIRC). Seems like a 20-20 guy, those guys that are neither really goalscorer nor playmaker.

I second this.

Zykov will make the NHL, but I don't see him as a top end 30G scorer in the NHL. He is not skilled enough in my opinion.

Doesn't mean he can't be a 15-20G scorer, that would still be a good roster player.

His AHL tenure will answer (some) questions about him.

I agree fully. Though I think his skill is what's being undersold. Not scoring 30g doesn't mean he's not skilled (I know that's not what you're saying).

 

[StevenToddIves]

Nice read. Liked it so much I read it twice.

Question: If the Kings are on the clock with pick 13, and both Kyle Connor and Travis Konecny are available, what do the Kings do? Pick Connor or pick Konecny or pick neither or do they deal the pick for an extra 2nd rounder in '16? Based on the write up, I say pick Conner =)

Thanks for all the kind words, guys!

Connor or Konecny would be a tough call. Both are huge offensive talents, both are versatile enough to play up the middle or on the wing. Connor is a bit bigger but Konecny plays more physical. They are both superlative skaters. That decision, well -- I'd have to classify it as the classic win/win scenario.

Keep in mind both of these players would be surefire top 10 picks last year, or in 2013.

I think I would take Connor, due to the fact that he has a better chance to make the NHL at C and the fact that I believe him to have slightly higher scoring upside while still playing a responsible 200-foot game. But that's not to say I don't love Konecny, too.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Just curious--why are there no questions about the league Connor is playing in?

He put up 80 points in 56 games. That's fantastic. Trevor Lewis put up 75 in 56 as well and he's had issues translating.

I'm not attacking, just genuinely curious that everyone seems to be really all over this kid so much that the USHL hasn't really been brought up. I love everything I read, but I don't see anything negative written anywhere, and that's terrifying

 

[KINGS17]

If the Kings can't trade up high enough to get Zacha (probably need to pick #8 in front of San Jose), then I can see them sticking at #13 and picking Meier.

 

[King'sPawn]

Just curious--why are there no questions about the league Connor is playing in?

He put up 80 points in 56 games. That's fantastic. Trevor Lewis put up 75 in 56 as well and he's had issues translating.

I'm not attacking, just genuinely curious that everyone seems to be really all over this kid so much that the USHL hasn't really been brought up. I love everything I read, but I don't see anything negative written anywhere, and that's terrifying

I think bringing up the league it is a valid concern. However, he still put up good numbers and other tournaments. I think that's why some people are still very high on him.

Lewis, on the other hand, put up the same numbers but he was a year older and playing with a very talented player in Okposo. So I think that's why people are less nervous about Connor.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think bringing up the league it is a valid concern. However, he still put up good numbers and other tournaments. I think that's why some people are still very high on him.

Lewis, on the other hand, put up the same numbers but he was a year older and playing with a very talented player in Okposo. So I think that's why people are less nervous about Connor.

Thanks!

I'll admit to having watched little to no tape of the kid, just curious because reading his strengths in several places and his remarkable lack/omission of weaknesses he sounds like a top-5 pick.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Thanks!

I'll admit to having watched little to no tape of the kid, just curious because reading his strengths in several places and his remarkable lack/omission of weaknesses he sounds like a top-5 pick.

The last draft I would have Connor as a top 5 pick in would be 2012, though he would have been top 10 in 2013 or 2014.

He's a darn good prospect.