And Dean Lombardi has not yet traded one of his own picks…
…the players he drafted, I mean; not the actual picks…those he trades all the time, usually for other picks.
FC’s 2010 Fall Mock Draft « Future Considerations
LOS ANGELES Kings
15th Overall Selection: C Jaden Schwartz – Tri-City (USHL)
Organizational Summary: With one of the top NHL talent pools, the Los Angeles Kings have very good depth and multiple high-end prospects at almost every position. They have skill up front, see Andrei Loktionov, Oscar Moller and Brayden Schenn; they have a stable of up and coming top four defenders, see Thomas Hickey, Slava Voinov and Colten Teubert; and they have a top goaltending prospect in Jonathan Bernier. All this prospect depth and a young NHL roster already full of skill that is just starting to come into its potential. A blue chipper in the net would be nice since Bernier has not taken the top spot over and some doubt he will ever do so. Some more offensive talent on the wings, especially on the left side, would be a nice addition. More depth throughout is what LA will likely be after as they take the best player available.
Pick Summary: The Kings, who have a good stable of prospects, add a skilled and speedy forward who could eventually slide into any role needed whether it is a checking or scoring role. They could have added a goaltender here but like what Jaden Schwartz has to offer too much to pass him up.
Via The Score: 2009 Entry Draft – Update on Major Junior Forwards
What follows here is a list of most of the major junior forwards taken in the last draft, and their performance so far this season. I’ve cut out all the players who were drafted as overagers to make things fairer. Players are ranked by points per game, and ties are broken by goals per game.
- Taylor Beck, 70th overall (OHL): 18GP – 11G – 20A – 31PTS (1.72 PTS/GM)
- Brayden Schenn, 5th overall (WHL): 17GP – 9G – 15A – 24PTS (1.41 PTS/GM)
- Andrej Nestrasil, 75th overall (QMJHL): 20GP – 10G – 17A - 27PTS (1.35 PTS/GM)
- Cody Eakin, 85th overall (WHL): 21GP – 21G – 6A – 27PTS (1.29 PTS/GM)
- Gabriel Dumont, 139th overall (QMJHL): 14GP – 7G – 11A – 18PTS (1.29 PTS/GM)
- Gabriel Bourque, 132nd overall (QMJHL): 17GP – 4G – 17A – 21PTS (1.24 PTS/GM)
- Peter Holland, 15th overall (OHL): 10GP – 4G – 8A – 12PTS (1.20 PTS/GM)
- Carter Ashton, 29th overall (WHL): 18GP – 9G – 12A – 21PTS (1.17 PTS/GM)
- Eric Wellwood, 172nd overall (OHL): 19GP – 11G – 11A – 22PTS (1.16 PTS/GM)
- Levko Koper, 185th overall (WHL): 17GP – 10G – 9A – 19PTS (1.12 PTS/GM)
- Linden Vey, 96th overall (WHL): 23GP – 9G – 16A – 25PTS (1.09 PTS/GM)
- Michael Latta, 72nd overall (WHL): 14GP – 7G – 8A – 15PTS (1.07 PTS/GM)
- Nazem Kadri, 7th overall (OHL): 15GP – 10G – 6A – 16PTS (1.07 PTS/GM)
- Philip Varone, 147th overall (OHL): 17GP – 3G -15A – 18PTS (1.06 PTS/GM)
- Alex Hutchings, 93rd overall (OHL): 19GP – 9G – 11A – 20PTS (1.05 PTS/GM)
- Benjamin Casavant, 205th overall (QMJHL): 15GP – 7G – 8A – 15PTS (1.00 PTS/GM)
- Scott Glennie, 8th overall (WHL): 19GP – 8G – 12A – 20PTS (1.05 PTS/GM)
- Ryan Howse, 74th overall (WHL): 21GP – 15G – 7A – 22PTS (1.05 PTS/GM)
- Steven Anthony, 187th overall (QMJHL): 21GP – 12G – 10A – 22PTS (1.05 PTS/GM)
- Ethan Werek, 47th overall (OHL): 16GP – 9G – 7A – 16PTS (1.00 PTS/GM)
- Casey Cizikas, 92nd overall (OHL): 18GP – 8G – 10A – 18PTS (1.00 PTS/GM)
- Jordan Szwarz, 97th overall (OHL): 17GP – 8G – 8A – 16PTS (.941 PTS/GM)
- Tomas Vincour, 129th overall (WHL): 19GP – 10G – 7A - 17PTS (.895 PTS/GM)
- Byron Froese, 119th overall (WHL): 16GP – 7G – 7A – 14PTS (.875 PTS/GM)
- Mitchell Callahan, 180th overall (WHL): 19GP – 7G – 9A – 16PTS (.842PTS/GM)
- Zack Kassian, 13th overall (OHL): 12GP – 5G – 5A -10PTS (.833 PTS/GM)
- Kyle Clifford, 35th overall (OHL): 15GP – 6G – 6A – 12PTS (.800 PTS/GM)
- Dave Labrecque, 153rd overall (QMJHL): 19GP – 5G – 10A – 15PTS (.789 PTS/GM)
- Garrett Wilson, 107th overall (OHL): 23GP – 10G – 8A – 18PTS (.783 PTS/GM)
- Philippe Paradis, 27th overall (QMJHL): 20GP – 7G – 7A – 14PTS (.700 PTS/GM)
- Jimmy Bubnick, 155th overall (WHL): 21GP – 6G – 8A – 14PTS (.667 PTS/GM)
- David Gilbert, 209th overall (QMJHL): 18GP – 4G – 7A – 11PTS (.611 PTS/GM)
- Andy Bathgate, 151st overall (OHL): 21GP – 4G – 8A – 12PTS (.571 PTS/GM)
- Jordan Caron, 25th overall (QMJHL): 7GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS (.571 PTS/GM)
- Tyler Randell, 176th overall (OHL): 17GP – 2G – 7A – 9PTS (.529 PTS/GM)
- Marcus Foligno, 104th overall (OHL): 19GP – 1G – 9A – 10PTS (.526 PTS/GM)
- Kirs Foucault, 103rd overall (WHL): 20GP – 6G – 4A – 10PTS (.500 PTS/GM)
- Landon Ferraro, 32nd overall (WHL): 9GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS (.333 PTS/GM)
- Garrett Mitchell, 175th overall (WHL): 10GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS (.200 PTS/GM)
- Cameron Abney, 82nd overall (WHL): 16GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS (.188 PTS/GM)
- Ashton Bernanrd, 174th overall (QMJHL): 18GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS (.167 PTS/GM)
- Jamie Devane, 68th overall (OHL): 7GP – 0G – 1A – 1PTS (.143 PTS/GM)
- Evan Bloodoff, 157th overall (WHL): Injured, has not played
Taylor Beck, pictured above, has had an incredible start. After he was picked (by Nashville) Predators’ scout Jason Bukala gave a brief description for the team’s website; he called him a “power-forward” and used the word “strong” four times in five sentences. Beck also did a Q&A session with Hockey’s Future, prior to the draft and he hinted that skating was an area he needed to work on, and that he was working on his defensive game. As of this moment, Nashville fans have to be pleased with his performance; the third round pick is the best junior scorer of the ’09 draft group so far.
Aside from Beck, Brayden Schenn is off to a phenomenal start.
The Hockey News: The Hot List – Draft aftermath
10. Brandon Kozun, RW – Calgary Hitmen (WHL): Think of Kozun as this year’s Justin Azevedo; a high-scoring small forward passed over in previous drafts, but picked up by the Kings nonetheless. Kozun wrecked the Dub for 108 points this year, good for second on the circuit. Drafted 179th overall by Los Angeles in 2009.
via The Hockey News: The Hot List: The Hot List: Draft aftermath.
And we already have last year’s Justin Azevedo.
Red Line Report’s list – USATODAY.com: “Somebody will get an itchy trigger finger early in the second round” — GUESS WHO!
Both Jerry D’Amigo and Kyle Clifford flew under the radar a bit despite coming from hockey scouting hotbeds in Ann Arbor, Mich. and Ontario. D’Amigo, a New York native who has been a member of the U.S. Under-18 team, has been overlooked a bit since he was not considered one of the flashy offensive stars of the national program. But he was consistently one of their most effective two-way performers all season, and has really worked hard in his two years with the Ann Arbor-based team rounding out the skills portion of his game. His puckhandling and finish around the net have improved vastly while he maintained his blue collar, lunch-pail work ethic.
Clifford didn’t bloom until the second half of his second season in the OHL, but he’s blossomed into a power winger who can skate, drop the gloves and pop the occasional goal. He’s a legitimate tough guy who skates quite well for a big man and has enough skill to play a regular shift. Lots of teams are laying in the weeds on this kid and somebody will get an itchy trigger finger early in the second round for fear that another club will jump up and grab him.
via Duchene, Tavares top forwards on Red Line Report’s list – USATODAY.com.
The Puck Stops Here : “There are a few things we can say about the draft which are probably true”
Yep.
On average three players selected in the draft will go on to have Hall of Fame careers. It is hard to identify them at this point. It is a reasonable guess that John Tavares may be one of them, but that is far a certainty. Probably at least one of them is not yet selected after the first day of the draft and may be found in the very late rounds of the draft. Several more players will go on to have significant careers, but fall short of Hall of Fame level. Again, identifying them is all but impossible. Some players who are highly rated and have scouts gushing over them today will fail to have any significant NHL career. Your guess is as good as mine for their identity.
It was NOT a surprise that the New York Islanders selected John Tavares with the first overall pick. I don’t care what was written by the media in the days leading up to the draft that suggested it wasn’t a given and tried to create a false controversy to gather further interest in draft coverage. Tavares looks like the best player at this point, he has looked like the best player for quite a while, he outplayed Victor Hedman at the World Junior Championships, if you are paying attention there is no reason not to pick him.
In terms of impact next season, this draft will have little. Maybe a handful of players selected will play an NHL game next year. About two of them will remain in the league all season, while the rest get quickly returned to their junior teams. I think the news that makes the biggest impact next season is the trade of Chris Pronger. The Anaheim Ducks traded Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle, an AHL forward with little potential to make an NHL impact to the Philadelphia Flyers for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two first round draft picks (this year’s and next) and a third round pick to be taken in 2010 or 2011. It is a hefty price for Pronger, who will be 35 this October. I am surprised the Flyers believe they have salary cap room for Pronger. I don’t think they do. I think they are forced to make further moves to make the salary cap. I think this means Daniel Briere will be moved, likely for limited return, in order to do this. Anaheim will likely win this deal over the long term, but they should be weaker next year as much of their take is futures that won’t be ready to make an impact yet. I am not convinced Philadelphia will be any better with Pronger in the line up, given the other moves that will be necessary to make the salary cap. I think the big winner next year could be the team that gets Philadelphia assets (like Briere) at a cut rate price. If Briere can be healthy, that team will see a big benefit.
Klingberg, Budish, Shore, Brown, Nettinen
I think DL likes Budish. You heard it here first. But you didn’t. Because you don’t know where here is, and I have the stats to prove it.
From (the great) Matthew Barry: I Loved All The Things That DIDN’T Happen!
1) Tavares – So Dreger and the Union Leader and almost everyone else on XM204 was saying Duchene was going first – THAT didn’t happen and it didn’t seem like there was ever any doubt it was Tavares.
Dreger – so plugged in, and yet…
2) Brian Burke’s failure to move up – yes, he good a great draft pick and that was a CLASSIC sound byte of him telling Bryan Murray “we’re taking your guy” – but what I loved even more was the look on his face when the Kings took Schenn.
What’s extra funny was that it was obvious even before I heard about the sound byte that this is exactly what he was doing. You don’t usually get a quote — much less an exact quote — and MUCH MUCH less a sound byte of an exact quote — of what would normally be a “photoshop a caption” moment. Also, I agree completely, the shot of Burke after Schenn was selected was like a Saturday Night Live parody.
3) As Ek mentioned, JayBo didn’t move – Vinny didn’t move – Jack Johnson and Alex Frolov are still Kings. Every time Bettman said “we have a trade” it was for draft picks. THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE – It was about the DRAFT and not trading players.
4) Flyers fans weren’t given a box of chocolates after being used, abused, and pounded like a slab of veal. FOUR first round picks???? FOUR for Pronger???? That’s just NUTS!!!!! The price just went UP, UP, UP on Heater and every other talented player. If you’re going to pay 4 1st rounders for a guy with 1 year left on his contract and will be on the other side of 35, what’s Heater and Gaborik and Hossa and all of the others worth?
I don’t think it’s going to inflate anything, for the simple reason that, in Heatley’s case, Murray is over a barrel, and the UFAs have to find someone with cap room, which is a rare commodity and getting rarer all the time. Also, to state the obvious, Philly is (probably) out of the UFA market.
Okay, okay, take it easy, I know Lupul was a complete salary dump and I’ll be so happy not to see Prongers stupid grin in the West anymore, but still, Sbisa and 2 first rounders is still a serious price to pay – Now, tell me, now that you ADDED a million dollars to payroll, who gets dumped next?
At least six million worth of somebody.
via HockeyBuzz.com – Matthew Barry – I Loved All The Things That DIDN’T Happen! .
Los Angeles Kings (LAKingsHockey) on Twitter
http://twitpic.com/8i8eu - Right now…Dean Lombardi and Ottawa GM Bryan Murray chatting in front of Kings table…stay tuned! DE
James Mirtle (mirtle) on Twitter
Eric Duhatschek says: “Almost everyone here thinks Matt Duchene is going to go No. 1 to the Isles now” http://www.theglobeandmail….
Right. Sure.
I assume that’s wishful thinking on the part of Toronto sports media people. Because if Tavares doesn’t go first, there’s an infinitesimal chance Burke can trade up and grab him. Or is it that I am still hoping DL trades up and grabs Duchene? Or-or…is Duchene Pat Falloon? What time is it?
StanleyCupofChowder (cupofchowdah) on Twitter
RT @BigLeagueScrew 38% of voters on ESPN think the league’s likely #1 overall pick John Tavares is a soccer player. http://bit.ly/M7YHz
And the only state where the majority of poll takers picked Tavares as a hockey player? Hawaii.
Los Angeles Kings (LAKingsHockey) on Twitter
I am really excited. great day for our franchise – Luc #NHL
I hope so, but does he know something we don’t know, or is he just being optimistic? I guess he could be saying, “it’s a great day for our franchise because whether we get Kane, Schenn, Cowan or MPS those are all great players with great potential.” I just don’t think that’s what he’s saying. Of course, with nothing else to do for the next nine hours, I may be prone to reading tea leaves.
Russo’s Rants: Trade chatter
As of now, Chuck Fletcher is still trying to make a trade, with the emphasis on the trying. As proof by the crickets throughout the NHL, it’s not easy making a trade right now, not when as a colleague said to me today, there’s about 150 players on the block, of which 100 nobody wants. The problem I am sensing from the numerous execs I’ve talked to is sort of what I alluded either in an article or the blog or the Twitter — I don’t know, it all sort of runs together.
There are lots of teams looking to get rid of really good players, but good players with really big contracts. So those teams automatically want picks and prospects back, which as you know if you’ve been reading the Strib, the Wild isn’t exactly filled to the brim with. So, hence Fletcher’s problem. And hence, the league’s problem. You can’t just acquire a $4 million player in today’s game without giving up some dough.
He’s inquired about nearly 40 players, including Phil Kessel and Dany Heatley. But there are many others that I either don’t know about or don’t want to write because it’s just rumor, so who knows what Fletcher gets done — or quite frankly, if Fletcher gets something done.
I’ve been told Ottawa’s cut its targeted teams down to seven. I’ve been told the Wild is one of them. But I’ve also been told L.A.’s hot after him and would consider giving up winger Alex Frolov, a quality defenseman and the fifth pick, which let’s be honest, the Wild can’t contend with.
And, five minutes later, I still think it’s insane. Check out Hextall’s comments on the Kings website re Heatley. If anything, the red-flag comments seem more damning when you see them in context. Is the entire Kings brain-trust just blowing smoke up our a***s every time they talk about a potential trade? Are we supposed to take every interview or fan-chat as coded messages or shots across the bow of opposing GMs?
I still think it makes no sense to trade one LW for another. Yes, it’s an upgrade, in theory. But, forgetting the red-flags, like for example that Heatley is having a problem in OTT with their — wait for it — DEFENSIVE SYSTEM and doesn’t like — WAIT FOR IT — BEING BUMPED FROM THE FIRST POWER PLAY UNIT, how the hell is that supposed to work with Terry Murray, who bumps people from the first power play unit all the way down to the fourth line as punishment for a bad pass.
I just have to believe DL will not pull the trigger on a Heatley deal. Dealing Johnson I would be okay with. Not Frolov. And not the 5th.
If DL makes that trade, the only way he will be able to make it up to me is by signing Hossa next week.
Los Angeles Kings (LAKingsHockey) on Twitter
Just spoke with Hexy about what OTT is asking for in exchange for Heatley. He said “1 or 2 players and our fifth pick.” DE
Pass.
From TSN: Tavares or Hedman? Remember “Daigle or Pronger?”
Well if the year was 1993, the Ottawa Senators would select slick centre Alexandre Daigle and leave stalwart defenceman Chris Pronger for the Hartford Whalers. In some cases, having the second overall pick can work out pretty well.
The New York Islanders have a similar decision to make heading into Friday’s first round of the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, which you can watch live on TSN and TSN HD at 7pm et/4pm pt.
Should they keep the pick and select the unaminous top prospect in 6’0″, 200lb. high-scoring centre John Tavares? Or should they call out the name of Victor Hedman, the 6’5″, 210lb. defenceman? Or should they call the Lightning at No. 2 and work out a deal to flip picks?
Having the first overall pick does not guarantee the addition of a future Hall of Famer to your roster for years to come. For every Mario Lemieux and Dale Hawerchuk, there are names like Daigle and Patrik Stefan.
In 1999, the Atlanta Thrashers decided to take Stefan, who is now out of the league. Vancouver Canucks’ general manager Brian Burke made a big splash by making a number of trades to get the second and third picks, enabling him to take Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Daniel is approaching the 500-point mark as he, along with Henrik, continue to live up to expectations.
Scott Burnside: Trades, rumors and who’ll be No. 1
Another guy bound to be in the middle of about a million rumors this weekend will be Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi, whose young Kings took a big step forward last season by hanging around the playoff picture well into the second half. Lombardi is now on the hot seat to get the Kings into the playoffs for the first time since 2002. He has cap space and is in the market for a big offensive gun to help solidify what should rapidly become one of the best young blue lines in the NHL. Will it be Lecavalier? Heatley? What about veteran leader Ryan Smyth, who is stuck in Denver where the Avs are in rebuild mode? Lombardi can always try the free-agent route if he cant get anything done draft weekend, but he will control the situation better if he can make a move sooner than later.
Via espn.com (trouble with the links for some reason)
Something may be up – The Boston Globe
The Bruins also could have their eye on Zack Kassian, perhaps the toughest customer in the entire draft. The 6-3 Kassian, though, is more likely to be nabbed in the top 12-15 picks.
Via Faceoff.com: Tough, skilled Kassian has caught Burke’s eye
“He’s big, tough, skilled, hostile and belligerent. Naw, I don’t like him,” said Burke with tongue firmly tucked in cheek. “Why would I want a player like that?”
Indeed, if there’s a player in this Friday’s NHL entry draft who would appear to be exactly the kind of athlete Burke is looking for as he rebuilds the Maple Leafs, it would be Kassian, the nasty piece of business who patrolled the wing for ex-Leaf Ken McRae’s Peterborough Petes this past season.
Even better, Kassian is a pug with a scorer’s touch, a personality and a quick wit. He said he hasn’t bothered to take boxing lessons or instruction in martial arts like many hockey players.
“Nothin’,” he said.
“I just throw punches and try not to get hit too often.”
Asked if he has a suit for the draft, he said, “Oh yeah, I’m gonna look good.”
Kassian grew up in Lasalle, Ont., near Windsor, lost his dad at age 12 and idolizes his older brother, Mike, who keeps him on the straight-and-narrow. His mother cleans homes and his stepfather is an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
“I’ve had people say I’m a Burke-type player,” he said yesterday in an interview. “What does that mean? Well, I’m a big guy, physical, but I can play and I don’t mind fighting. That separates me from most guys in the draft. I wouldn’t be who I am if I just tried to score goals.”
Kassian laughed yesterday when he told of his first hockey fight during a bantam line brawl between his Windsor Jr. Spitfires and the Waterloo Wolves.
“It was just a mess. Guys got their teeth knocked out and there was blood everywhere,” he said.
“It was pretty fun.”
Back when I hoped the Kings would finish higher — and thus land a pick in the teens somewhere — Kassian was my favorite likely King pick. Now he’s gonna play for someone else. Too bad. But maybe DL will trade for a second 1st round pick. I know, ha ha.
Battle of California: With the 5th Pick…
I’m drafting Brayden Schenn.
Sorry I don’t have some big build-up for you, but I figured I’d save you the suspense and just let you know right now. Now, I’m not saying Brayden is the best pick, or the one the Kings should necessarily make, just that he’s the one that Dean would likely make. Yesterday’s poll decided that Evander Kane was the choice for most LA fans, but he’s gone because The Falconer from Birdwatchers Anonymous is a bastard. Kane is a great pick for Atlanta for 2 reasons: one, he has the highest upside of any available prospect, and two, you’d be foolish to argue that drafting a young black man is not a good thing for Atlanta. So the Kings are really left with a decision between Brayden Schenn and Magnus Paajarvi-Svennson, and if you consider Dean Lombardi’s history then it’s really a no-brainer.
Characteristic hilarity from BoC. Read the rest: via SBN Mock Draft: With the 5th Pick… – Battle of California.
LA Times: Kings are Getting to Know Evander Kane (and May Think He Pitches for the Angels)
The Kings, who draft fifth in what is considered a relatively deep pool of talent, have talked several times with Evander Kane of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants. Kane a 6-foot-1 center, had 48 goals and 96 points in 61 games last season and has won raves for his scoring instincts and willingness to venture into the corners.
Kane said he spoke with Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi “quite a bit” during the recent NHL combine, which assembled draft prospects in Toronto for physical and psychological testing. Kane said he thought their conversations went well and allowed each side to get to know the other.
“It would definitely be a great place to go and a real good place to play,” he said. “They have a good, young team and they continue to get better every year. I think they’re going to be pushing for the Stanley Cup in the near future so it would be a great environment to play in.”
Kane, a Vancouver native, said he has visited Los Angeles only once, as a tourist. “It seems like a real good city and the L.A. Kings are a real good organization,” he said. “I think it would be a great place to play, for sure.
“I think they have a real deep interest in myself, as do I with their team. It seems like from what we’ve talked about it would be a real good situation and a real good fit. I think next year they’re going to be a real good young team and pushing to make the playoffs for sure.”
Lombardi said he had scheduled a visit with Kane’s family and the families of several other prospects. He also said 6-foot-5 defenseman Jared Cowan of Spokane of the Western Hockey League is “in the mix” for being chosen with that pick.
via Kings are getting to know Evander Kane – Los Angeles Times.
Two things: (1) I would be shocked if Kane is still available when the Kings pick. (2) The LA Times article says this is Evander Kane [pic at right]. 
I assume they’ll fix it eventually, so I captured it for you/me. Obviously this is not Kane, but Angels’ pitcher Kelvim Escobar. [UPDATE: They fixed it.]
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