Ben Shelley: Should the Kings trade any of their 2020 draft picks?

Patrick Laine for 2nd overall pick and Turcotte
Kings get some star power which sells in LA and they are prospect rich which allows them to be bold

The more darts you can toss at the board, the better. That’s often the case, and in this draft, you should absolutely stick by it.

I know moving up is fun, but it appears that there is so much talent in this draft, I wouldn’t mess with it too much. I mean, maybe if you just wanna move up a little bit in the 2nd, you don’t see a certain someone sliding to you, and it takes you one of your own 2nds and like a 4th or 5th to make it happen, but I wouldn’t go too radical and whittle my chances in the top 2 rounds down too much.

That Laine trade is laughable. A 1B center and another 1C in Stutzle/Byfield for a streaky goal scoring winger?
Is Laine even worth the 2nd overall? I think Stutzle is going to be a much more complete player and perhaps an even bigger star than Laine.

I can see them moving up a bit on draft day if they see a player they really like falling and think they could realistically get him by packaging a couple picks together. Kinda like they did when they saw Fagemo still on the board at #50 last year. Likewise, if there's nothing especially enticing on the board when it's their turn to draft, they might move back a bit in order to pick up an extra pick and fill in some depth gaps.

I don't think they're going to make a huge blockbuster trade that moves them into the first round or acquires a big-named trade target. Not to say that Blake isn't going to make a trade, just that he's not going to trade away any of his high-round picks to do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/...idge%27s_law_of_headlines


Moving up or down after the first round? Sure. If Blake see value, then go for it.

As for a trade for a roster player? It would have to be good value. For example, if TB is shedding a contract and wants to toss in Anthony Cirelli's RFA rights (a fan can dream), then I'd have no problem with a 2nd going the other way.

Patrick Laine for 2nd overall pick and Turcotte
Kings get some star power which sells in LA and they are prospect rich which allows them to be bold
- jjonah

I think LA moves back into the first for a Dman.

That Laine trade is laughable. A 1B center and another 1C in Stutzle/Byfield for a streaky goal scoring winger?
Is Laine even worth the 2nd overall? I think Stutzle is going to be a much more complete player and perhaps an even bigger star than Laine.
- optimus-reim

Laughable? Ok sure, I mean he’s already 7th all time for most goals before age 22. I guess he’d be top 3 if not for being so streaky, who wants that. Lol
And wow, a 1B and 1C Center Hey? So you already have Laine pegged at age 22 but two kids who haven’t played a game are already top line Centers without question.

Laughable? Ok sure, I mean he’s already 7th all time for most goals before age 22. I guess he’d be top 3 if not for being so streaky, who wants that. Lol
And wow, a 1B and 1C Center Hey? So you already have Laine pegged at age 22 but two kids who haven’t played a game are already top line Centers without question.
- Ross77

At the end of the day Centers are just valuable. You dont simply move 2 assets like that for Laine at this point in the rebuild.

I mean I love Laine but I don't do that trade as you are giving the Jets most likely Byfield and Turcotte and the Kings need an eventual replacement for Kopitar as he's getting up there and his prime window is closing.

And as a Kings fan but an honest one we are in a rebuilding mode and Laine isn't a big enough star to trade for the LA Market. The only people that would give the LA Market a true buzz would be Ovechkin or Crosby and even they wouldn't make the casual fan go nuts.

I'm fine with the course the Kings are choosing and I wouldn't be opposed to moving say 2 of the 2nd round picks for a Dman in the 1st. Although we have TONS of prospects outside of Bjornfort and maybe Durzi we don't have a ton of blue chippers on the defensive prospect front. We have some good prospects but not one outside of those 2 that make you think he'll be a star......

Earl

I mean I love Laine but I don't do that trade as you are giving the Jets most likely Byfield and Turcotte and the Kings need an eventual replacement for Kopitar as he's getting up there and his prime window is closing.

And as a Kings fan but an honest one we are in a rebuilding mode and Laine isn't a big enough star to trade for the LA Market. The only people that would give the LA Market a true buzz would be Ovechkin or Crosby and even they wouldn't make the casual fan go nuts.

I'm fine with the course the Kings are choosing and I wouldn't be opposed to moving say 2 of the 2nd round picks for a Dman in the 1st. Although we have TONS of prospects outside of Bjornfort and maybe Durzi we don't have a ton of blue chippers on the defensive prospect front. We have some good prospects but not one outside of those 2 that make you think he'll be a star......

Earl
- Earl Skakel

Mikey Anderson and Clauge as well. But I do think LA moves back up into the first for a dman if there guys are available

At the end of the day Centers are just valuable. You dont simply move 2 assets like that for Laine at this point in the rebuild.
- poisondhearts37

I understand stock piling Centers, they are valuable, when they turn out! The reason maybe you are stock piling centers is knowing full well they don’t always turn out.
I have no problem with not wanting to make the trade but calling it laughable is laughable was more my point. Laine at 22 and still very early in his career has given a pretty Good indication he’s going to score and score a lot in this league and since scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in hockey, it has some value.

Mikey Anderson and Clauge as well. But I do think LA moves back up into the first for a dman if there guys are available
- poisondhearts37

How is Vilardi looking as well as some of your other young centers in the system? How many realistically look to be first or 2nd line? I’m honestly asking. Third line centers are easy to find, but the ones that look to be legit top 6 are absolutely valuable!!

At the end of the day Centers are just valuable. You dont simply move 2 assets like that for Laine at this point in the rebuild.
- poisondhearts37

Sorry, this was about your comment of the kings possible trading down for a D.

All depends on cost! 2nd overall obviously has a ton of value but I’m a Jets fan and hypothetically lets say, I’m not giving up a great winger like Ehlers or Connor (both locked up long term on great contracts ) plus 10th overall to move up to 2. Might be the fair cost, who knows, maybe you even want more. Just saying I’m not doing it. I’d take the chance at 10 that the player I get plus Ehlers/Connor are still better than Byfield let’s say if that’s the pick at 2.

But I think Anderson and Clague although good prospects are not necessarily blue chippers and it might even be a stretch to call Bjornfort that but he's so young at this point who knows what his ceiling is?

Unfortunately for LA there is no way they can justify getting Drysdale at #2 but with 3 2nd round picks and a very early 3rd round pick they are in a great position to move into the first for a 2nd pick.

Earl

How is Vilardi looking as well as some of your other young centers in the system? How many realistically look to be first or 2nd line? I’m honestly asking. Third line centers are easy to find, but the ones that look to be legit top 6 are absolutely valuable!!
- Ross77

I think after his stint last year really the only question about Vilardi is his back health over the course of a full season.

Right now I would say the Kings Center Position is pretty deep
Kopitar
Vilardi
Byfield if picked
Turcotte
Madden
and several other prospects who will most likely have to move to wing if they want to play in LA.

Earl

I think the Kings should take a look at Jesse Puljujärvi from the Oilers. The Oil only have a first rounder they don't have another pick until the 5th round. With JP being a 22 year old winger he could be a good prospect for the Kings (and fit into our rebuild timeline) and I'm sure the Oilers would love picks in a deep draft.

If not I would just make the picks in a really deep draft. Early to mid 2nd rounders are going to be like late 1st rounders in a weak draft. We have a bunch of picks next year as well so don't think pushing them a year is really needed. Plus D men are going to take years to develop anyway so this years D-men taken in round 2 won't be ready until 2024.

How is Vilardi looking as well as some of your other young centers in the system? How many realistically look to be first or 2nd line? I’m honestly asking. Third line centers are easy to find, but the ones that look to be legit top 6 are absolutely valuable!!
- Ross77

I have really high hopes for Vilardi. Because of the rehab on his injury he was about a year behind some in his draft class, but from the time he made it back to the AHL and in the games he played in the NHL he looked great. When COVID 19 hit the Kings were on a 7 game win streak and the Vilardi / Frk line was a big reason for the Kings success. The Kings look very strong at C in the future. Even if you take Kopitar and Jeff Carter out of the equation the Kings will have 3 maybe 4 guys who could project as a first line center (Vilardi, Byfiled, Turcotte)

How is Vilardi looking as well as some of your other young centers in the system? How many realistically look to be first or 2nd line? I’m honestly asking. Third line centers are easy to find, but the ones that look to be legit top 6 are absolutely valuable!!
- Ross77

Villardi looked really good in the AHL and in his NHL showing at the end of the year when the Kings were going on a run. Hes likely a lock next year. Turcotte is the one we dont know about yet. Since he hasn't played in the NHL yet and LA will likely send him back to NCAA if thats even an option. Or find a Euro league for him. Unless the AHL is a thing for him. Also alot of these kids are looking quite good. Some of them still in juniors and or in Europe. Best prospect pool in the league.

Also when you said something about LA trading down for a dman. I dont think LA trades down from #2. I think they trade up with other assests to get back into the first round for a Dman.

Thanks for the answers fellas!! The future is getting brighter that’s for sure. I to thought Villardi looked good at the end of last season. Using your 2nd rounders this year to stock pile D seems like the right play, with so many picks you have options to move up if someone falls.

Just keep them. I don't know the prospect pool so maybe if you could move just a 2nd and a prospect for a roster player it could make sense?

Normally I would say yes to Jesse Puljujärvi but we have so many prospects almost too many I don't think we should help the Oilers out at all. I know he was the #4 pick overall but and you could possibly blame the Oilers in mishandling his training I find him overrated.

Earl

Normally I would say yes to Jesse Puljujärvi but we have so many prospects almost too many I don't think we should help the Oilers out at all. I know he was the #4 pick overall but and you could possibly blame the Oilers in mishandling his training I find him overrated.

Earl
- Earl Skakel

I agree he was a bit overrated but so maybe he was deserving of a mid first rounder. I still think he has some great hockey in him and the Oilers botching his development give us and opportunity and our picks give the Oilers a shot at a second chance (not with a high first rounder this time). I know we have a bunch of prospects but we are bit thin at wing and most will end up being middle six level prospects (that's just how the numbers work out).

I would trade prospects for a D prospect as even if just half of our prospects up front pan out to varying degrees we have too many. I mean look at what we have
Vilardi
Byfield if we pick him OR the German kid Stutzle
Thomas
Fagemo
Kaspari
Kaliyev
Turcotte
Madden
and that's not all of them. I mean we are so deep at forward that guys like Luff and Anderson-Dolan might not even make the team. I see the 3 2nd rounders as big bargaining chips to move up as well as our very early 3rd round pick. I know Blake left the team as a player in a way most fans still hold a grudge for but man he should be forgiven for how deep he has made our system.

Earl