Dempsey
Mark it zero
Since they didn't win their division or go to the finals this year, the Kings actually selected a few spots earlier than usual when they held the 20th overall pick in the 2018 Entry Draft. We had all of our picks except for our fourth rounder. For the third year in a row, the Kings were looking to add skilled forwards to a system that already includes a glut of defensemen both on the roster and upcoming through the system.
Round 1, 20 overall - Jonatan Berggren, RW
A skilled and energetic winger with speed to burn, Berggren had a little smaller of a frame (5'11" than the Kings' other main target, Dominik Bokk, but we like his skating, skills and smarts. We feel this is the most pure raw skill pick the Kings have had in the first round since taking Travis Sanheim late in the first round of 2014, and it's always good to get a guy who think can really break out and out-perform their draft position in the coming years.
Round 2, 51st overall - Jonathan Davidsson, C
A draft re-entry who is part of the NHL's Blue Jackets organization where they have gone out of their way to rave about his abilities and expect him to be an NHLer for them in the coming year or two. Davidsson is 5'11", 185 lbs and put up 31 points in 52 GP in the SHL as a 20-year-old. He already has NHL level, is tenacious on the forecheck and has excellent vision and hockey sense.
Round 3, 82nd overall - Bulat Shafigullan, W
The first real enigma for the Kings on draft day, and the Kings do like their enigmas. Shafigullan put up 36 points in only 22 games in the MHL and that includes 20 goals. He owns an amazing set of hands and his ability to find the puck in the offensive zone is uncanny. A bonus is his 6'1" frame to build on, but it's clear Shafigullan is the very definition of 'boom or bust'.
Round 4 - No pick
Round 5, 144th overall - Maxim Golod, W
Drafted out of the OHL, we feel Golod has some real untapped potential to break out next season. He's an excellent skater with very good puck skills and improved a lot as the season went on last year. For many reasons this is a player who checks a lot of boxes for what the Kings always look for in their draft picks.
Round 6, 175th overall - Dennis Cesana, D
The Kings drafted this 5'10", 195-pound defenseman out of the AJHL Jr A league after he reached a new level in his game this past season. Originally playing high school hockey and getting passed over in the draft, Cesana went to the AJHL and played with Cale Makar as a rookie and put up big numbers but was still undrafted. This past season, Cesana hit another new level when he lead his team in points by 17, and was 4th in league scoring as a defenseman with the next dman ranking 50th. Committed to the U of Michigan and has excellent skating, work ethic and leadership to go with great vision and an excellent outlet pass.
Round 7, 206 overall - Karel Plasek, W
We had Plasek quite high on our day 2 list and were able to get him with one of the last picks in the draft. His game is built around speed and skill. There's a lot to like here as he's a very smart and creative player with a great shot as well. At 5'11" and only 172 pounds he has room to get stronger but will never be a big player, and his consistency from game to game has held him back. Still, he is a young player in this draft and the skills and overall package here are nice. He split his season all over various levels in the Czech league, including 9 goals in 18 Czech2 games.
Overall the Kings are really happy with our draft thus far. I say "thus far" because perceptions can really change when the real scouts/GMs select this weekend and players go much higher or lower (or sometimes undrafted) than you expected. The Kings are hoping with their attention to grabbing a lot of forwards in the last few drafts that they will have a nice flow of upcoming depth in the years ahead to go with the strength of their blueline. Time will tell.
Round 1, 20 overall - Jonatan Berggren, RW
A skilled and energetic winger with speed to burn, Berggren had a little smaller of a frame (5'11" than the Kings' other main target, Dominik Bokk, but we like his skating, skills and smarts. We feel this is the most pure raw skill pick the Kings have had in the first round since taking Travis Sanheim late in the first round of 2014, and it's always good to get a guy who think can really break out and out-perform their draft position in the coming years.
Round 2, 51st overall - Jonathan Davidsson, C
A draft re-entry who is part of the NHL's Blue Jackets organization where they have gone out of their way to rave about his abilities and expect him to be an NHLer for them in the coming year or two. Davidsson is 5'11", 185 lbs and put up 31 points in 52 GP in the SHL as a 20-year-old. He already has NHL level, is tenacious on the forecheck and has excellent vision and hockey sense.
Round 3, 82nd overall - Bulat Shafigullan, W
The first real enigma for the Kings on draft day, and the Kings do like their enigmas. Shafigullan put up 36 points in only 22 games in the MHL and that includes 20 goals. He owns an amazing set of hands and his ability to find the puck in the offensive zone is uncanny. A bonus is his 6'1" frame to build on, but it's clear Shafigullan is the very definition of 'boom or bust'.
Round 4 - No pick
Round 5, 144th overall - Maxim Golod, W
Drafted out of the OHL, we feel Golod has some real untapped potential to break out next season. He's an excellent skater with very good puck skills and improved a lot as the season went on last year. For many reasons this is a player who checks a lot of boxes for what the Kings always look for in their draft picks.
Round 6, 175th overall - Dennis Cesana, D
The Kings drafted this 5'10", 195-pound defenseman out of the AJHL Jr A league after he reached a new level in his game this past season. Originally playing high school hockey and getting passed over in the draft, Cesana went to the AJHL and played with Cale Makar as a rookie and put up big numbers but was still undrafted. This past season, Cesana hit another new level when he lead his team in points by 17, and was 4th in league scoring as a defenseman with the next dman ranking 50th. Committed to the U of Michigan and has excellent skating, work ethic and leadership to go with great vision and an excellent outlet pass.
Round 7, 206 overall - Karel Plasek, W
We had Plasek quite high on our day 2 list and were able to get him with one of the last picks in the draft. His game is built around speed and skill. There's a lot to like here as he's a very smart and creative player with a great shot as well. At 5'11" and only 172 pounds he has room to get stronger but will never be a big player, and his consistency from game to game has held him back. Still, he is a young player in this draft and the skills and overall package here are nice. He split his season all over various levels in the Czech league, including 9 goals in 18 Czech2 games.
Overall the Kings are really happy with our draft thus far. I say "thus far" because perceptions can really change when the real scouts/GMs select this weekend and players go much higher or lower (or sometimes undrafted) than you expected. The Kings are hoping with their attention to grabbing a lot of forwards in the last few drafts that they will have a nice flow of upcoming depth in the years ahead to go with the strength of their blueline. Time will tell.
