GDT: 2019 Draft Discussion: LA Kings pick 5th, 22nd overall 8 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, TVAS)

[funky]

Heinola is very interesting, gamble that could pay off like Kaliyev

 

[Steve Zissou]

****, I missed it.

 

[Herby]

They are loaded with centers and the depth on D is pretty good and they have a 30 min a game d-man under contract for 7 more years and they took a pretty safe player with the #5 pick, I'd like to see a dice roll on a goal-scorer here.

 

[SFKingshomer]

I'm not that high on Brink but I saw him in a playoff game against our team that won it all. Kaliyev sounds good...

 

[Rommel]

Heinola to Jets

 

[kovacro]

Just go on pornhub, I didn’t see this lady either but I promise you’ll be satisfied

 

[Steve Zissou]

Winnipeg taking Ville Heinola - we better go forward

 

[Scottkmlps]

Don't do it Pittsburgh. Just....don't...do it.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Need to go forward, that's where the value is at this point

 

[RocketKing]

Kaliyev or Lavioe or Thomasino would all be good to take a shot with at this point

 

[ru4reals]

That's his mom thought that was his sister!!! Daaaayem!!!

 

[KingsHockey24]

Give us Brink or Kaliyev

 

[LAKings88]

Bjornfot my guess for Pitt.

 

[CanadianKingsFan14]

Kaliyev or Tomasino to the Kings at 22 is my guess. Either one is a solid pick.

 

[Choralone]

Tomasino for us

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Kaliyev please.

I said a couple months ago if he falls to the Toronto pick you take him and run.

 

[kovacro]

I'm not that high on Brink but I saw him in a playoff game against our team that won it all. Kaliyev sounds good...

Kaliyev plays in my hometown so I get to see him often. Kid has a nose for the net and is good at finding space in the offensive zone.

Has a nice shot.

 

[dman3474]

come on pit, take someone besides kaliyev

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Bjornfot my guess for Pitt.

I like Bjornfot at 33 ! or Beecher or Grewe...or if Hoglander falls

 

[kovacro]

That's his mom thought that was his sister!!! Daaaayem!!!

That is his sister. She said “I’ve been painting since mom put a paintbrush in my hands”.

 

[funky]

Kaliyev just screams Pittsburg. With them trying to move Kessel this could be a future replacement

 

[McIce Whole]

This draft in general has been pretty boring. For all the rumours and chatter that was supposedly happening around the league, this was disappointing

 

[Steve Zissou]

Arthur Kaliyev. Do it.

 

[kilowatt]

From The Athletic's mock draft, so ignore the teams stated:

Suzuki:

Vegas fans, don’t throw those Suzuki jerseys away quite yet. This name is a familiar one for the Golden Knights, as they drafted Ryan’s older brother Nick with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He has since been traded to Montreal for Max Pacioretty, but George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon will be interested in Ryan Suzuki. He has elite vision that rivals the players atop the draft, but his point totals in junior haven’t been as impressive as many expected when he was taken with the first-overall pick in the OHL draft. His shot isn’t as good as his brother’s, but his skating is better, and he’s a creative playmaker in the offensive zone — something Vegas is sorely lacking in its prospect pool. The Golden Knights have always liked smart, two-way players and would get both by taking their second Suzuki in three years. Another fantastic option on the board who would check all of the boxes is Newhook, who tore up the BCHL this season. – Jesse Granger

Pronman: I’d be fine with either Suzuki or Newhook here for Vegas. I’d prefer Newhook, but Vegas has done a lot of homework likely on the Suzuki family. After Cody Glass graduates, its system will really lack scoring punch so either would provide that.

Lavoie:

The Rangers, who traded away a big, skilled center in Kevin Hayes to get this pick (and Brendan Lemieux), select a similarly sized Lavoie (almost 6-foot-4, 196 pounds). With Kakko taken earlier in the first round and last year’s first-rounder Vitali Kravtsov set to arrive in the NHL, and very likely an addition (or two) in free agency, the Rangers’ forward list has quickly filled up. But having selected six defensemen in the draft in 2018, the Rangers are replenishing up front, and you can never have enough scoring. Lavoie, a right-handed shot, scored 32 goals and 72 points in 62 games for Halifax in the QMJHL this season, and a remarkable 20 goals, 32 points in 23 playoff games. – Carpinello

Pronman: Adding a top scoring talent at No. 20 will be important for the Rangers, who don’t have a ton of high-end skill types in their system right now outside Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov. Lavoie brings skill, speed and goal-scoring ability to the table in a big frame.

Brink:

The faint hope was that Seider would still be there for the taking, but, there are plenty of other needs the Kings must fill, and the skilled and gifted Brink of the Sioux City Musketeers has high offensive awareness. In talking this past season with Sioux Falls defenseman Ryan Johnson, I asked him who his toughest foe was in the USHL. Johnson didn’t even hesitate to answer Brink. “He plays chess, at the speed of checkers,” added a former NHLer. The red flag could be Brink’s skating, but he was named the USHL’s forward of the year (35 goals, 33 assists in 43 games). “What he did this season in the USHL as a first-year player put him in a class above a lot of players who have gone on to have success at the highest level,” said one NHL scout. – Dillman

Pronman: A 5-foot 8, not very physical, average speed but highly skilled winger going to the Kings is a sign of the times changing, as I do believe that organization has slightly changed its preferences at the draft. After going Byram at No. 5, the Kings need skill in the organization, especially with 2018 first-rounder Gabriel Vilardi a question mark.

Tomasino:

Tomasino’s high-end skill and skating check a few boxes for the Islanders. He’s a center, which they desperately need more of in their organization. And he’s a playmaker, something the Isles also need. The Isles quickly locked up Brock Nelson to be their No. 2 center behind Mathew Barzal for the near term, but long term there isn’t anyone in the middle that has Tomasino’s skill set. He doesn’t turn 18 until July 28, so he’s got time to grow and improve, as well. If he’s available here, it’ll be a home run for a team that never expected to be picking so low in the first round. – Arthur Staple

Pronman: I would love Tomasino at No. 23, with the Isles getting the very last top-end center in the draft and a player who projects as a top-six forward. After going wing and defense heavy in the previous draft, getting a true top center prospect would be important for their farm system.

Kaliyev:

The Coyotes take a long hard look at defenseman Philip Broberg, but with nine defensemen selected in the past two drafts, a dearth of high-end forwards in the system and a forward of Kaliyev‘s potential still on the board, they can’t resist. Kaliyev’s combination of goal-scoring, playmaking ability, hockey sense and his cannon of a shot give the Coyotes a chance to upgrade the aforementioned system that holds Barrett Hayton as its only probable impact forward. Kaliyev finished fourth in the OHL with 51 goals, second with 20 power play goals, second with 320 shots and sixth with 102 points for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was tied for sixth in points with 102. The main concern with Kaliyev is his compete level. It’s a legitimate concern and there are others, but as one NHL scout said recently, “you have to be careful not to write off players too soon.” That goes double for a 17-year-old whose main flaw does not appear to be a character issue. – Craig Morgan

Pronman: Kaliyev would provide a scoring touch the Coyotes currently lack in a big way. Whether Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz or Hayton, they have plenty of players to get Kaliyev the puck and let him pot 30-plus goals.

 

[kovacro]

Jeebus, nothing on the trade front again during the 1st round.