Who does LA pick #2

[Little Psycho]

I thought I missed the lotto drawing and got so excited we ended up second.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I thought I missed the lotto drawing and got so excited we ended up second.

Two weeks away...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

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.

Not to mention the fact that the Kings have the following LHD:

Mikey Anderson, 21
Tobias Bjornfot, 19
Kale Clague, 22
Cole Hults, 22
Jacob Moverare, 21

Not expecting much out of Daniel Brickley or Markus Phillips, but they're Kings property, and Kurtis MacDermid is still 26 and will be around for a few more years. This immediate need for a LHD really is getting overblown. Like you already mentioned, that spot could be addressed by free agency or trade.

We even have Rorschach trying to peddle the Kings' first round pick for a LHD for some inexplicable reason. That man really, really wants a LHD.

 

[BringTheReign]

I went and reread Pronman's player reviews of Byfield and Stutzle (which include many video clips), and it solidified Byfield as my choice. It's honestly incredible how good his hands and edges are at top speed. He's not the type of choice where you're giving up something like hockey IQ to covet size. He's got it all.

I also get way too excited thinking about a future Kings team where Byfield, Turcotte, and Vilardi are all learning from Kopitar.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I went and reread Pronman's player reviews of Byfield and Stutzle, and it solidified Byfield as my choice. It's honestly incredible how good his hands and edges are at top speed. He's not the type of choice where you're giving up something like hockey IQ to covet size. He's got it all.

I also get way too excited thinking about a future Kings team where Byfield, Turcotte, and Vilardi are all learning from Kopitar.

Exactly.

Imagining a world where you have monsters like Byfield and Vilardi down the middle and Turcotte as a 3C is exactly what you hope for, you work on the #2 d-man after that. Imagine having those 3 and a 35-year-old Kopitar, period.

 

[LAKings88]

 

[Rorschach]

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.

Sorry, let me be more clear. I stated Byfield is 2+ years away from the Kings, meaning NHL. I then stated Kopitar was coached for two years. I'm saying Byfield is 4 years away from being a Kopitar replacement (a 2011 version of Kopitar), a polished two-way center.

Plus, who knows if a new Kopitar is what we need going forward...last year, toward the end of the season, Kings played Colorado and their newly-annoited golden boy MacKinnon. Kopitar, chasing the Hart, dominated him the whole game. After that I really felt like Kopi was a better player than MacK, all the while MacK is now arguably #2 behind McDavid. Maybe the future is MacK-types, not Kopitar-types...

Also, I think I'm the one person on this board who is thinking the Kings are almost there to at least become a playoff team and the clock is ticking bigtime on Doughty. If we're doing a 4-5 year rebuild, I feel we're already in year 4, after this draft. My gut is telling me I just don't think Byfield will make it in time. Laf will, if we get that pick...and I think quite a few of the other forwards in the list that are NHL-ready, including at center.

 

[Rorschach]

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.

Four years away from replacing Kopitar as a polished two-way NHL center. For example, Kopitar entered the league on the Kings back in around 2006-07. By around 2010-11, he was starting to get noticed. So with solid coaching it took Kopitar about three years to turn from excellent scoring forward prospect into one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. I can't imagine Byfield would take any less.

Plus Byfield's young for his draft year...I still want to see him in the juniors for another year, totally dominate, then go to that year's WJC and dominate like Laf did, then we can evaluate if he's NHL ready or AHL for one year.

I look at Byfield like a Keith Primeau. He's got it all physically. Mentally and character-wise, no major issues. He's just raw and extra-young. Detroit drafted him 3rd overall but it wasn't until he was in his 4th season that he became a wrecking ball player and until even years after that when he was in Philly he became the leader that Kopitar is.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Sorry, let me be more clear. I stated Byfield is 2+ years away from the Kings, meaning NHL. I then stated Kopitar was coached for two years. I'm saying Byfield is 4 years away from being a Kopitar replacement (a 2011 version of Kopitar), a polished two-way center.

Plus, who knows if a new Kopitar is what we need going forward...last year, toward the end of the season, Kings played Colorado and their newly-annoited golden boy MacKinnon. Kopitar, chasing the Hart, dominated him the whole game. After that I really felt like Kopi was a better player than MacK, all the while MacK is now arguably #2 behind McDavid. Maybe the future is MacK-types, not Kopitar-types...

Also, I think I'm the one person on this board who is thinking the Kings are almost there to at least become a playoff team and the clock is ticking bigtime on Doughty. If we're doing a 4-5 year rebuild, I feel we're already in year 4, after this draft. My gut is telling me I just don't think Byfield will make it in time. Laf will, if we get that pick...and I think quite a few of the other forwards in the list that are NHL-ready, including at center.

Got it.

I do think he's the raw-est of the top-10, but I see that as a good thing.

Outside of Laf, other guys are more prepared, but have nowhere near the ceiling imo. I'd actually argue Stutzle is really raw too, especially defensively. And the only other guy near MacK's explosiveness is Raymond, so any of those guys is a gamble in some manner. I guess--I'll use Rossi as an example because I love him--I can't see us making a decision based on our veterans' 'clocks,' if we're in a position to take Byfield/Stutzle and we take like Holtz because he's more ready, I'll flip my lid personally.

 

[LAKings88]

Four years away from replacing Kopitar as a polished two-way NHL center. For example, Kopitar entered the league on the Kings back in around 2006-07. By around 2010-11, he was starting to get noticed. So with solid coaching it took Kopitar about three years to turn from excellent scoring forward prospect into one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. I can't imagine Byfield would take any less.

Plus Byfield's young for his draft year...I still want to see him in the juniors for another year, totally dominate, then go to that year's WJC and dominate like Laf did, then we can evaluate if he's NHL ready or AHL for one year.

I look at Byfield like a Keith Primeau. He's got it all physically. Mentally and character-wise, no major issues. He's just raw and extra-young. Detroit drafted him 3rd overall but it wasn't until he was in his 4th season that he became a wrecking ball player and until even years after that when he was in Philly he became the leader that Kopitar is.

Primeau is the vibe I get too. I think he is more skilled tho. If he can find the physical aspect he could be a beast. Just my layman’s eye tho.

 

[Stimpythecat]

I'd want BPA. So that means Byfield.

 

[2-4 Slashin]

So if we get Byfield And Villardi meets expectations. We’d have an Allison/Primeau 1-2 C future? Is there really any reason we are in any disagreement that this is an NHL DREAM!! It’s a potential duo do over of a Gretz/Messier, Crosby/Malkin, Forsberg/ Sakic, Thornton/Allison, Lemieux/ Francis Type 1-2 C combo. Even if your being cautious you don’t poo on that hockey IQ / Raw skill potential.

 

[Legionnaire]

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.

QB is one of the youngest in the draft as well. He's almost an entire year younger than AL.

 

[Statto]

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.

BPA. Then if we have a surplus of blue chip players at C you move one for help at wing (if they cannot slide over) or D. Centers tend to carry a premium over wingers anyway, so you’d expect to get a player of equal ability plus a pick (or similar). You have to maximise assets.

 

[kilowatt]

so...

 

[Crownroyal21]

Byfield is the guy I think. Wow!

 

[AlphaBravo]

I say we trade for the 3rd pick, if Ottawa is willing. I doubt they would give number 5 in return, but maybe if they really want Byfield.

 

[fsanford]

Stutzle for me

 

[johnjm22]

McKenzie, Mckeen's, ISS, and HockeyProspect.com all have Stuzle ranked 2nd.

Elite and Future Considerations have Byfield ranked 2nd.

 

[BringTheReign]

I think you can find a 1st line winger/1st unit PP half-wall guy like Stutzle in the middle and late first/early 2nd round. You draft for the skill/vision even when there are warts (a la Kaliyev). Vilardi is another example.

You don't find a player like Byfield later, unless it's the '03 draft.

 

[AKAY47]

McKenzie, Mckeen's, ISS, and HockeyProspect.com all have Stuzle ranked 2nd.

Elite and Future Considerations have Byfield ranked 2nd.

I mentioned this in the other thread but you have to consider a few German-ties. Anschutz owns a team in Germany, Yanetti just mentioned that the Kings have a heavy scout presence in Germany AND Marco Sturm on the bench? Would not be surprised if this pick is Stutzle. There are a lot of ties.

 

[kevsh]

I almost wish they got #3 rather than #2 so the decision would be taken out of it. Whether Stutzle or Byfield is taken second, the other is their pick, and right now I'm really not sure long-term which is going to be the bigger impact player.

 

[Jason Squirties]

I mentioned this in the other thread but you have to consider a few German-ties. Anschutz owns a team in Germany, Yanetti just mentioned that the Kings have a heavy scout presence in Germany AND Marco Sturm on the bench? Would not be surprised if this pick is Stutzle. There are a lot of ties.

Create your case man, whatever makes you feel good.

 

[Telos]

You can trade a vast number of prospects we have in our war chest for 2-4 defensemen or wingers, but it's very hard to find a #1 center with size and speed. Gotta take Byfield.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Byfield.