Who does LA pick #2

[funky]

I have created a poll to see who would L.A fans would pick at each of our possible landing spots.

I will assume Lafreniere would be chosen if we get the first pick but who do the majority of us want at each spot after.

After the number 2 pick is selected by the majority, he joins Lafreniere as ineligible for the following rounds.

 

[funky]

If this thread should not have been created or poster here please feel free to remove it. Just bored and curious what our fan base wants.

 

[tny760]

at #2? lol.

the question should be who we pick at #5, 6 or 7

 

[Legionnaire]

Byfield is the total package.

 

[LAKings88]

Head says: Byfield

Heart says: Stützle

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

I would love to see the kings try and trade down with New Jersey if the got the 2 pick hopefully picking up 2 1st rounders and throwing in Kupari if needed to sweeten the deal.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Byfield solidly for me.

Lafreniere is in his own tier, and Byfield his own, as well--but it's closer between those two than the rest of the field imo.

 

[Legionnaire]

If this thread should not have been created or poster here please feel free to remove it. Just bored and curious what our fan base wants.

Personally, I don't think we create enough threads. Most everything is put under one topic and some questions that come up should be seen by more of us.

But not me. My threads always blow.

 

[kingsboy11]

Byfield for sure for me. I think once we get to 3 or 4 is when we start seeing more and more debate.

 

[ru4reals]

If we get the 2nd yeah maybe I'd try to trade it everyone not Lafreniere is in the same tier for me. Get more assets I guess. Voted trade pick.

 

[Lt Dan]

at #2? lol.

the question should be who we pick at #5, 6 or 7

We don't know if funky is from the future and coming back to take our temperature on drafting second overall

 

[funky]

We don't know if funky is from the future and coming back to take our temperature on drafting second overall

If I was from the future I would be coming back to take bets on who we take at number two

 

[KopitarFAN]

Byfield pretty easy, these big centers are hard to find.

I would love to see the kings try and trade down with New Jersey if the got the 2 pick hopefully picking up 2 1st rounders and throwing in Kupari if needed to sweeten the deal.

If this were a couple of years ago, i'd agree. However, they don't need volume anymore, they need quality.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Byfield pretty easy, these big centers are hard to find.



If this were a couple of years ago, i'd agree. However, they don't need volume anymore, they need quality.

And that's why Byfield is #2 for me--he's not JUST a 'big center,' he's got rocket skates like wheeler and phenomenal hands/shooting to go with it. A totally unique specimen, a guy that could put it all together and be absolutely unstoppable. Guarantee you if it weren't for Lafreniere people would be absolutely falling over themselves to draft Byfield and oozing compliments over him but Lafreniere has been #1 overall in this draft for like 4 years.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

And that's why Byfield is #2 for me--he's not JUST a 'big center,' he's got rocket skates like wheeler and phenomenal hands/shooting to go with it. A totally unique specimen, a guy that could put it all together and be absolutely unstoppable. Guarantee you if it weren't for Lafreniere people would be absolutely falling over themselves to draft Byfield and oozing compliments over him but Lafreniere has been #1 overall in this draft for like 4 years.

Byfield is, what, almost a year younger than Lafreniere too, right? That’s a huge gap when we’re talking prospects of this age range so he could become an absolute monster.

 

[Lt Dan]

Head says: Byfield

Heart says: Stützle

My stomach says strudel or spatzel

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Byfield is, what, almost a year younger than Lafreniere too, right? That’s a huge gap when we’re talking prospects of this age range so he could become an absolute monster.

Yep. Byfield is August 19, 2002, Laf is october 11, 2001. Byfield won't even be 18 until around when the preseason would normally be. That's insane. He's also already listed at 215 but someone mentioned last week that now he's already closer to 225-230 (have to find the source, was audio).

 

[Rorschach]

Two months ago I would have said no-brainer BPA (or at least in my book, MVPA), which is Byfield. Now I'm much more unsure since I'm convinced the Kings turnaround will be much faster than we think now that Cal Petersen and Gabe Vilardi are here (plus Frk).

Byfield to me needs a couple of seasons to ripen. If I want someone who maybe can be big impact immediately, maybe it's Stutzle. But if the Kings scouting report says Drysdale is ready enough to be play on the big club, sheltered by Doughty, then him.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I would trade the pick, depending on what we can get in return. If we can trade for a pick in the top 7, and a second 1st rounder, I would do that deal. I think after Laf, it's a bit of a toss up (although Stuts and Byfield have an edge for nos. 2-3). If we can get Rossi and another 1st rounder, I would be very happy with the trade.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Two months ago I would have said no-brainer BPA (or at least in my book, MVPA), which is Byfield. Now I'm much more unsure since I'm convinced the Kings turnaround will be much faster than we think now that Cal Petersen and Gabe Vilardi are here (plus Frk).

Byfield to me needs a couple of seasons to ripen. If I want someone who maybe can be big impact immediately, maybe it's Stutzle. But if the Kings scouting report says Drysdale is ready enough to be play on the big club, sheltered by Doughty, then him.

Even if the turnaround is this season--wouldn't it be great to have a Kopitar replacement arrive in two years?

If the team is that good this year, wouldn't it be better with that addition with additional cost control later?

With respect, I think drafting for "now" is a mistake. I know "now" means "now AND later," but I don't see the next two years as so valuable that it determines our draft pick.

 

[LAKings88]

I honestly have lightened up on the draft.

Stanley Cup winning teams have different staples. Kopi was 11OA, Doughty was 2 of course, Quick was no where near the first round. Carter wasn’t top ten. On and on.

After Lafreniere, it all seems about equal. Can make an argument for most of these guys.

 

[Rorschach]

Even if the turnaround is this season--wouldn't it be great to have a Kopitar replacement arrive in two years?

If the team is that good this year, wouldn't it be better with that addition with additional cost control later?

With respect, I think drafting for "now" is a mistake. I know "now" means "now AND later," but I don't see the next two years as so valuable that it determines our draft pick.

Well we call Byfield a "Kopitar replacement" but even Kopitar took a couple years to become Kopitar under Terry Murray. On top of that, I feel due to his age and accomplishments (or lack thereof on the world stage) Byfield is 2+ years away from the Kings. So that means he's likely four years away.

On the other hand, we don't necessarily need to "replace Kopitar". We've had Kopitar for years now and missed the playoffs. What we need is to bring in a new 1-2-3 center punch for today's NHL and we may have that in the kajillion nice center prospects we already have in Vilardi, Turcotte, JAD, Kupari, Thomas and whomever else emerges. Center is the last thing I'm worried about. I'm looking at LHD and to a lesser extent the goaltending pipeline behind Petersen and that's what I think we need. Do we need to draft to fix this? Not necessarily cuz UFA/trading, but them's the gaps I see.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Well we call Byfield a "Kopitar replacement" but even Kopitar took a couple years to become Kopitar under Terry Murray. On top of that, I feel due to his age and accomplishments (or lack thereof on the world stage) Byfield is 2+ years away from the Kings. So that means he's likely four years away.

On the other hand, we don't necessarily need to "replace Kopitar". We've had Kopitar for years now and missed the playoffs. What we need is to bring in a new 1-2-3 center punch for today's NHL and we may have that in the kajillion nice center prospects we already have in Vilardi, Turcotte, JAD, Kupari, Thomas and whomever else emerges. Center is the last thing I'm worried about. I'm looking at LHD and to a lesser extent the goaltending pipeline behind Petersen and that's what I think we need. Do we need to draft to fix this? Not necessarily cuz UFA/trading, but them's the gaps I see.

Four years away from replacing Kopitar or making it pro? Because if you look at recent #2 picks... Kaapo Kakko, Andrei Svechnikov, Nolan Patrick, Patrik Laine, Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart (should've been Draisaitl), Aleksander Barkov... that's a pretty top notch class of talent.

So you go back to forcing yourself to take a position of need in the present rather than take the best available player? So if you had a choice between Aleksander Barkov or Derek Forbort, you're going to go with Derek Forbort because of immediate need?

The Kings do have some decent goaltending prospects and left handed defensemen in the pipeline. I don't know what your concern is, but your dismissal of Byfield seems rather silly based on a bunch of unproven prospects who may not even make the NHL or transition to other positions (or get dealt to address those needs you're concerned with).

I'd rather gamble on the best talent available than address a need, which would be a stupid thing to do at #2, like selecting Hickey fourth overall.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Well we call Byfield a "Kopitar replacement" but even Kopitar took a couple years to become Kopitar under Terry Murray. On top of that, I feel due to his age and accomplishments (or lack thereof on the world stage) Byfield is 2+ years away from the Kings. So that means he's likely four years away.

On the other hand, we don't necessarily need to "replace Kopitar". We've had Kopitar for years now and missed the playoffs. What we need is to bring in a new 1-2-3 center punch for today's NHL and we may have that in the kajillion nice center prospects we already have in Vilardi, Turcotte, JAD, Kupari, Thomas and whomever else emerges. Center is the last thing I'm worried about. I'm looking at LHD and to a lesser extent the goaltending pipeline behind Petersen and that's what I think we need. Do we need to draft to fix this? Not necessarily cuz UFA/trading, but them's the gaps I see.

I think "Byfield is 4 years away from the nhl" is an incredibly bold claim.

I'm not explicitly saying we need to draft a C--hell, Laf is for sure a winger--just saying BPA all the way and if there's a guy with the upside to be part of that 1-2-3 C punch and push someone else to wing then Byfield is the guy.

Agree there's an LHD gap but IMO it's much easier to get a Muzzin than it is a blue-chip forward. We can get the Muzzin with assets; no one is giving up a top-3 pick forward for anything.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Do not draft for an ostensible need now. Best player available.