Sheng Peng: Why Did Gabriel Vilardi Drop? It's perhaps the surprise of the night as Gabriel Vilardi falls out of the top-five to #11

Great pick up, quite the steal, but I can see the logic in some picks over him (Pettersson e.g.).

Man did we luck out. A great day for the Kings. Scouts and GM's overthinking it as usual.

I for one like the pick. Now time will only tell how much he improves.

The Sportsnet crew mentioned on the pre-draft show that one of the top prospects struggled during the psychological interviews at the combine. I'm guessing it was Vilardi. The guys still a solid prospect, but might need a bit of extra attention while he develops. Good score for the Kings.

Great pick up, quite the steal, but I can see the logic in some picks over him (Pettersson e.g.).
- DutchSenators

Really, what was the logic behind picking Patterson over Vilardi?

so long as he's more toffoli/pearson in ability to improve skating and not mersch, then the LAK scored big on this one.

Lucky Luke helping the Club again in a windfall ....it's okay if Vilardi is slow he's perfect for the Kings team.

Really, what was the logic behind picking Patterson over Vilardi?
- Reubenkincade

Only someone as thick as you can't get the name of the player right.

Great pick up, quite the steal, but I can see the logic in some picks over him (Pettersson e.g.).
- DutchSenators

Yup....highlight reel player over grit.

Did some scout really just compare Vilardi with Dirty Perry?

That's it! Trade him! Get him off the team! I could never look at Vilardi the same, ever!

I for one like the pick. Now time will only tell how much he improves.
- poisondhearts37

Simple answer from a simple man.

Yup....highlight reel player over grit.
- Nuck4U

I have actually seen him play since I watch more Swedish hockey than NHL...

Think both will be great players either way.

The Sportsnet crew mentioned on the pre-draft show that one of the top prospects struggled during the psychological interviews at the combine. I'm guessing it was Vilardi. The guys still a solid prospect, but might need a bit of extra attention while he develops. Good score for the Kings.
- Vanoxy

Well, Ryan Kesler turned out ok...

I had a feeling that Vilardi wouldn't slip past y'all. I was hoping hard you were picking a Dman, then GMRF could run up there and select him. Great pick for y'all though. He would have filled a big need for us.

The Sportsnet crew mentioned on the pre-draft show that one of the top prospects struggled during the psychological interviews at the combine. I'm guessing it was Vilardi. The guys still a solid prospect, but might need a bit of extra attention while he develops. Good score for the Kings.
- Vanoxy

I have to imagine that that was Tolvanen, since one of the big rumors going around yesterday was that he rubbed teams the wrong way in interviews with what seemed like arrogance, thinking that he'd be the next Laine or something like that. He was considered a top prospect who could go in the top 10, but almost fell out of the 1st round, presumably because of those combine interviews.

From what I've read, it sounds like Vilardi has a good head on his shoulders, good work ethic and very good hockey sense. I haven't seen anything else. The only knock that I've heard is about his skating, and I guess that the way that speed is so coveted nowadays is why he slipped. I read that teams that consider him a center might take him earlier and teams that consider him a winger might pass on him. The fact that he slipped could be an indication that #5-10 teams saw him more as a winger, where speed is more valuable. I suspect that LA sees him as a center and an eventual Carter replacement, though, so the skating isn't an issue for them (and they've had historical success with players whose only knocks have been on their skating).

I heard the same about Lucky Luc back in the day - blah blah blah can't skate - slow - Yeah all the guy could do was fill the net - Luc worked out pretty well for the Kings -

I've seen the kid play and he holds the puck down low like a madman D men cannot get it from him he causes them to take so many penalties - he'll fit the Kings like a glove ... what a steal -

Same thing about Cam in 2010 at staples when he fell to Ducks at 12 can't skate - yeah sure how do some of these scouts and analysts keep jobs???

I heard the same about Lucky Luc back in the day - blah blah blah can't skate - slow - Yeah all the guy could do was fill the net - Luc worked out pretty well for the Kings -

I've seen the kid play and he holds the puck down low like a madman D men cannot get it from him he causes them to take so many penalties - he'll fit the Kings like a glove ... what a steal -

Same thing about Cam in 2010 at staples when he fell to Ducks at 12 can't skate - yeah sure how do some of these scouts and analysts keep jobs???
- dozerD10

I remember this. The talking heads had Cam going at 5 to the Isles AT WORST. They took Niederreiter instead and everyone scrambled until Cam fell to the Ducks. OOPS!

Can't wait to see what the Flames paid to get Hamonic.

Good get. Vilardo is a beast i bet u guys r happy as u should b. Watching him regularly i could nt believe when he started to slide. Happy for him tho should fit in nice

I heard the same about Lucky Luc back in the day - blah blah blah can't skate - slow - Yeah all the guy could do was fill the net - Luc worked out pretty well for the Kings -

I've seen the kid play and he holds the puck down low like a madman D men cannot get it from him he causes them to take so many penalties - he'll fit the Kings like a glove ... what a steal -

Same thing about Cam in 2010 at staples when he fell to Ducks at 12 can't skate - yeah sure how do some of these scouts and analysts keep jobs???
- dozerD10

although I am a bit nervous about so many pro scouts thinking his skating was subpar enough to drop him from what originally sounded like a consensus middle first 10 pick, I'd have to agree. Whether it's Luc or Toffoli, we've all seen time and again that these guys are professional NHL players. They tend to be able to learn to skate on ice faster eventually. Go figure. I'm freaking thrilled we stole this guy. Also made me think of the ducks getting fowler. Bob McKenzie saying a bunch of scouts considered this guy a top 5 pick is more than enough for me.

The Sportsnet crew mentioned on the pre-draft show that one of the top prospects struggled during the psychological interviews at the combine. I'm guessing it was Vilardi.
- Vanoxy

I have to imagine that that was Tolvanen, since one of the big rumors going around yesterday was that he rubbed teams the wrong way in interviews with what seemed like arrogance, thinking that he'd be the next Laine or something like that. He was considered a top prospect who could go in the top 10, but almost fell out of the 1st round, presumably because of those combine interviews.
- Osprey

I'm pretty sure it wasn't Vilardi. Tolvanen is a possibility, a lot of questions about his compete level. Also, possibly Liljegren. I'll ask around.

Really, what was the logic behind picking Patterson over Vilardi?
- Reubenkincade

Pettersson is a star talent who just needs to fill out. He might have more of that "star" quality than Vilardi. It's a completely understandable pick, only time will tell if it was the right one.

Thoughts on taking a risk on Yakupov? Seems like a very low risk high reward type of thing. I think it was stated that STL wasn't going to tender him a contract offer. Perhaps an experiment worth trying?

Thoughts on taking a risk on Yakupov? Seems like a very low risk high reward type of thing. I think it was stated that STL wasn't going to tender him a contract offer. Perhaps an experiment worth trying?
- poisondhearts37

I never mind taking fliers on skill players, try him out on the fourth line to see if he can get going, but the Kings haven't had that tendency over the years, generally preferring pluggers on the fourth line. I wonder if Blake will be any different in this regard.

Thoughts on taking a risk on Yakupov? Seems like a very low risk high reward type of thing. I think it was stated that STL wasn't going to tender him a contract offer. Perhaps an experiment worth trying?
- poisondhearts37

I'd rather they target Radulov or Kane. Perhaps even make a pitch for Duchene. Target Williams for 1-year deal rather than re-sign Iginla. Martinez+prospect/picks for Brodin. Rock 'n Roll.