Prospect Info: Who does LA pick #2? Part 2 To Byfield or to Stutzle? That is the question

[Ziggy Stardust]

Byfield doesn’t go into corners and use his size? Then what’s he doing here?

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Byfield doesn’t go into corners and use his size? Then what’s he doing here?

I have seen this video before but he us rarely battling in the corners. He goes in there like Prokhorkin does/did. Lite and using his stick more than body. His body is his 2nd option most of the time (it's always stick work he uses). What I don't see in these video's is his defensive work/positioning. And I get it because they are highlight video's, but i rarely seem him playing down low like a Center does. He is always up near the blueline and one of the first players out of the zone. Something you dont see many Centers do at the NHL level. I see as I have said before (from my own personal opinion) a "one-dimensional" forward. Can he work on that side of his game and improve overall. Sure! Will he? Maybe. But I like to see more well rounded players be drafted to LA than guys that will float. He is definitely a top5 guy but I wouldn't take him over someone like Lafreniere or Stutzle. But that's my personal view. People won't like it and will call me crazy but it's MY view for the team. I'll be happy to come away with any 1 of Lafreniere, Stutzle or Byfield at the draft. I'll just be hoping for the other 2 guys to land in LA before Byfield.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Are you expecting a 17 year old to be Bob Gainey? Seems like some think that these kids being drafted are finished products and just stop developing.

 

[Jericho111091]

Regardless of which it is we're getting a darn good player. I'm pumped

 

[Ghetty Green]

I feel, at the moment, that Byfield is the slam dunk pick at 2 and i will be quite disappointed if we take Stutzle instead.

 

[salami]

I feel, at the moment, that Byfield is the slam dunk pick at 2 and i will be quite disappointed if we take Stutzle instead.

Me too, but only a little.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

‎All the Kings Men | LA Kings: Prospect Report: Quinton Byfield on Apple Podcasts

 

[King'sPawn]

‎All the Kings Men | LA Kings: Prospect Report: Quinton Byfield on Apple Podcasts

Definitely appreciate the opinions of people who watch him every day.

 

[Statto]

Listening to those that know Byfield they say that in 2018-19 he didn’t play physical. Then the start of 2019-20 he improved on how he used his strength and then after the WJC he really started to up his game physically. So 18 months ago it was probably fairly considered a weakness but that is no longer the case.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I just ran into Luc Robitaille and said “Byfield?” - he laughed, said they are looking at him, and said there are some other good players too. Whatever that meant. Nice guy - met him a few times in the past, was with Stacia and their dogs.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I just ran into Luc Robitaille and said “Byfield?” - he laughed, said they are looking at him, and said there are some other good players too. Whatever that meant. Nice guy - met him a few times in the past, was with Stacia and their dogs.

Luc’s poker face.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Craig Button’s mock draft of the top 15 selections after today’s lottery result.

 

[kilowatt]

Craig Button’s mock draft of the top 15 selections after today’s lottery result.

Carolina would actually be a great fit for Askarov. They’re pretty solid at forward and defense.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Carolina would actually be a great fit for Askarov. They’re pretty solid at forward and defense.

Toronto losing out on a potential franchise goaltender. I think I’ve seen that play out before.

 

[The Lukeman]

Pronman updated his mock draft. He stated in LA's 2nd section "When I talk to sources around the league, they think Byfield is the direction the Kings will eventually go, but nobody feels overly confident about it."

So, pretty much nobody knows still... I doubt it, but we could hear something at the August 12th virtual event with Luc and Blake.

Pronman’s Mock Draft: Projecting the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft

 

[ru4reals]

As a great armchair GM that I am it has to be Byfield. I'll live and die with that decision. Too much potential not to pick the big centerman. Of course I'll probably change my thoughts tomorrow but as of tonight it's gotta be Byfield.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But some bullshit talkshow host in Ottawa told us we were dumb and Stutzle to the Kings is a foregone conclusion?

Pronman seriously better watch his back!

 

[cyclones22]

But some bullshit talkshow host in Ottawa told us we were dumb and Stutzle to the Kings is a foregone conclusion?

Pronman seriously better watch his back!

Well I don't know, Stützle was spotted downing a Jägermeister while sporting a Marco Sturm Kings jersey after the Phase 1 lottery show.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Well I don't know, Stützle was spotted downing a Jägermeister while sporting a Marco Sturm Kings jersey after the Phase 1 lottery show.

I heard he was caught fraternizing with Eisbären Berlin players eating Kraut in a G Wagen with "Anschutz" plates.

 

[KINGS17]

I heard he was caught fraternizing with Eisbären Berlin players eating Kraut in a G Wagen with "Anschutz" plates.

...with one of these:

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As a great armchair GM that I am it has to be Byfield. I'll live and die with that decision. Too much potential not to pick the big centerman. Of course I'll probably change my thoughts tomorrow but as of tonight it's gotta be Byfield.

I'm always interested in the psychology of this too. If you pick the close to consensus best pick and go wrong, it's hard to eat criticism. But if you take, say, Holtz at 2 and he doesn't pan out as better, you eat a ton of flak for it.

Obviously the best are going to separate the emotions and criticism from the job but it's gotta be hard to play past that to some degree.

I'm not sure how to ask that question but I'm sure Yanetti has a fascinating answer for that. Although the simple answer would just be 'we have our own list,' heh.

I think a good example to a much lesser degree happened when they took Bjornfot and counted on a scorer being there at their next pick and landing Kaliyev. That took some real stones. Much less potential criticism obviously than something at the top of the draft, but Bjornfot there raised some eyebrows at first.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I'm always interested in the psychology of this too. If you pick the close to consensus best pick and go wrong, it's hard to eat criticism. But if you take, say, Holtz at 2 and he doesn't pan out as better, you eat a ton of flak for it.

Obviously the best are going to separate the emotions and criticism from the job but it's gotta be hard to play past that to some degree.

I'm not sure how to ask that question but I'm sure Yanetti has a fascinating answer for that. Although the simple answer would just be 'we have our own list,' heh.

I think a good example to a much lesser degree happened when they took Bjornfot and counted on a scorer being there at their next pick and landing Kaliyev. That took some real stones. Much less potential criticism obviously than something at the top of the draft, but Bjornfot there raised some eyebrows at first.

I think if the goal was to avoid criticism at all costs and feel good about walking with a solid NHL player, Rossi might be that guy, his size might keep him from being a prolific scorer, but I have a hard time seeing a situation where he isn't a 50-point guy.

 

[TwzKing]

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

This #2 pick turned out to be alright.

 

[cyclones22]

I'm always interested in the psychology of this too. If you pick the close to consensus best pick and go wrong, it's hard to eat criticism. But if you take, say, Holtz at 2 and he doesn't pan out as better, you eat a ton of flak for it.

Obviously the best are going to separate the emotions and criticism from the job but it's gotta be hard to play past that to some degree.

Yeah, I think part of it is a job security thing. In the end it's a paying job. If you go consensus at number 2 and the player under performs draft position, you may get a pass for a few years because that player was everyone's pick, right? You go with your convictions at #2 and select someone outside of the top 4 or so and whiff? You're gonna get fired unless you've built up some good will with other moves and draft choices. Since the consensus is either Byfield or Stutzle, there won't be a huge amount of criticism either way.