Ben Shelley: Kings will select eighth overall in 2021 NHL Draft

Who knows who will be there?

https://www.eliteprospects.com/draft-center/2021

Check out the links to the different prospect rankings. Dobber, for example, has Power at 9. Elite has him at 4. Most everyone I've seen has Power at 1. Same with Clarke: the rankings are all over the place.

I hope Clarke falls to the Kings.

Regardless, Kings should go BPA.

Who knows who will be there?

https://www.eliteprospects.com/draft-center/2021

Check out the links to the different prospect rankings. Dobber, for example, has Power at 9. Elite has him at 4. Most everyone I've seen has Power at 1. Same with Clarke: the rankings are all over the place.

I hope Clarke falls to the Kings.

Regardless, Kings should go BPA.
- Only_A_Ladd

Clarke falling would be nice.hope blake and the scouts have done some real good advanced scouting on this draft class.hope we find a good one at 8

Kent Johnson is the guy they should target. Similar to zegras.

I understand a D man should be drafted but kings can’t wait for a Dman to develop they can trade for one or buy one. Not saying Johnson is NHL ready cause he’s not. He needs to add weight and he’ll be in college at least one more year.

Kent Johnson would be perfect with Byfield. Excellent skater. Vision is up there. Has a scoring touch and isn’t afraid to try in between the leg shots or the Michigan style goal. Nice back hand as well (passing/shot)

Kent Johnson is the guy they should target. Similar to zegras.

I understand a D man should be drafted but kings can’t wait for a Dman to develop they can trade for one or buy one. Not saying Johnson is NHL ready cause he’s not. He needs to add weight and he’ll be in college at least one more year.

Kent Johnson would be perfect with Byfield. Excellent skater. Vision is up there. Has a scoring touch and isn’t afraid to try in between the leg shots or the Michigan style goal. Nice back hand as well (passing/shot)
- KINGS67

Best player available!

A lot of the mocks have Johnson there at 8. Kid has skills to shine, especially on a power play. Wouldn't that be nice? Wouldn't mind him at all.

Clarke stands out like Makar, despite being only 18 years old and in a men's league. I want him!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfaF7ASmoEE&t=1s

^It looks like a highlight reel, but it's just every shift of his in one game.

How far are you guys from turning the corner? You have by far the best prospect pool (at least for forwards) and have great vets like Kopitar and Doughty...

Is there going to be a time at which they start trading assets to shift into trying to build a winner? Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari, Kaliyev, are all elite prospects but at what point do you get them in the NHL and shift focus on putting talent around them rather than continuing to draft guys that will be years out?

I get this feeling Guentzel is going to be on the move and an elite winger with really good hockey sense like him would be fantastic to pair up with a guy like Byfield to really accelerate his transition into the league.

We also have Marino who is a solid 2nd pair RD on a long term deal that might fit in with the Kings long term plans.

Given that the Kings have a variety of pieces the Pens are missing and the obvious connection with Hextall I just wonder if there could be a deal there. For sure the future is bright in LA!

Hard to tell really who will be there,I can hope but dont see clarke falling to us.luke hughes or edvinsson could be there.i wouldnt even be upset if they looked at wallstadt the goalie there.alot of rankings have him very high on their lists

How far are you guys from turning the corner? You have by far the best prospect pool (at least for forwards) and have great vets like Kopitar and Doughty...

Is there going to be a time at which they start trading assets to shift into trying to build a winner? Byfield, Turcotte, Kupari, Kaliyev, are all elite prospects but at what point do you get them in the NHL and shift focus on putting talent around them rather than continuing to draft guys that will be years out?

I get this feeling Guentzel is going to be on the move and an elite winger with really good hockey sense like him would be fantastic to pair up with a guy like Byfield to really accelerate his transition into the league.

We also have Marino who is a solid 2nd pair RD on a long term deal that might fit in with the Kings long term plans.

Given that the Kings have a variety of pieces the Pens are missing and the obvious connection with Hextall I just wonder if there could be a deal there. For sure the future is bright in LA!
- MacPatty

I believe it will be a couple of seasons before all these kids can make it to and make an impact at the nhl level.cant build a contender by rushing the process,its a bit painful at times but i look forward to having a top team in the nhl again soon rather than a group that was rushed and wasnt ready.we are on the right path.if everything works out for us,kopitar will be playing 3rd line center for us and doughty will be in our second pairing when all these kids are turning the corner and ready to compete,and I'm ok with that process.

Did anyone actually watch the draft lottery?!? It looked like a joke. Instead of putting in balls with a team logo to match their percentage of a chance they choose 4 random numbers and those numbers somehow corresponded with a team. While done before, this whole system seems weird as s@!+ to me. Why make it so complicated.

Did anyone actually watch the draft lottery?!? It looked like a joke. Instead of putting in balls with a team logo to match their percentage of a chance they choose 4 random numbers and those numbers somehow corresponded with a team. While done before, this whole system seems weird as s@!+ to me. Why make it so complicated.
- KingKopitar

I just never see the point in watching with media now,its instantaneous results

If I’m the Kings I’d call Buffalo and see what it would cost to move up to 1. The kings could use a top end LD prospect more than anything, they have the assets, Buffalo already has dahlin and will likely be interested in more future assets as it’s likely they will be hitting restart on the rebuild.

If I’m the Kings I’d call Buffalo and see what it would cost to move up to 1. The kings could use a top end LD prospect more than anything, they have the assets, Buffalo already has dahlin and will likely be interested in more future assets as it’s likely they will be hitting restart on the rebuild.
- RedC21

Power isn't the unanimous #1 this season. Some rankings have him as low as #9. If I'm Blake, if it costs more than the #40 pick to move up from #8 to #1, I'd just stick with #8.

If I’m the Kings I’d call Buffalo and see what it would cost to move up to 1. The kings could use a top end LD prospect more than anything, they have the assets, Buffalo already has dahlin and will likely be interested in more future assets as it’s likely they will be hitting restart on the rebuild.
- RedC21

I don't think trading up for need at LD is a good idea in this draft. Is Power really that much better than Edvinsson? I'm not sure he is.

Plus, Power's going to be expensive. My guess is the cost would be a swap of 1st rounders this year, a 1st next year, and a prospect.

I don't think trading up for need at LD is a good idea in this draft. Is Power really that much better than Edvinsson? I'm not sure he is.

Plus, Power's going to be expensive. My guess is the cost would be a swap of 1st rounders this year, a 1st next year, and a prospect.
- Only_A_Ladd

Fair enough. My idea was based on there also being a good chance that the 4 top D will be gone by 8 and the next best ones are to projected to go mid teens at the highest. They say to always to pick BPA but in a draft with a tag line of anyone can be a diamond in the rough I expect to see a lot of teams addressing needs hoping to hit the jackpot.

As far as cost to move up goes that’s definitely an overpay. If it’s anything more than an established forward prospect like vilardi and one of your RD not named doughty i would probably back out myself considering there isn’t that much separation in the top 10.

In this hypothetical I mainly chose Buffalo as they need to rebuild the farm and it’s always best to have 1st choice but realistically you could probably use any team in the top 5 to get the D you want.