Prospect Info: Los Angeles Kings Top Prospect Rankings - #1

[King'sPawn]

Hey everyone,

I hope you all had a Happy 4th of July.

I'm bored, and I was working on my own prospect rankings. But, I figured, since it's approaching the slow part of the offseason, let's try to get some more discussion and fun going. It's been a while since we've done one of these, and I honestly have never done a poll on HF in my 16 years on here, so let's remedy both!

Vote for one player, and post who you want to add to the next poll

Only players who are eligible for the 2020 Calder trophy (so no Wagner, Amadio, etc). Calder eligibility is defined as:
- No older than 26 years old as of September 15th, 2019 (so Prokhorkin just makes the cut, if you wish to vote him in)
- Has not played in more than 25 games in one season or more than 6 games in two consecutive seasons. (so Matt Roy, at 25 games, just makes the cut if you want to vote him in)

If someone wants to pick up the slack on days I am not quick on the draw, it's encouraged!

I'll set the poll to close after 2 days initially, but may make adjustments based off of degree of participation.

Click to read more...

 

[johnjm22]

Vilardi is the most talented, but he's not our most prized prospect because of the health concerns. Turcotte is the obvious choice.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Well despite his health concerns, Vilardi is by far our best prospect.

It should be him otherwise it is just better to skip him.

 

[AnThGrt]

Should be Vilardi or if using health then should be left out all together. If ranking him though should be our #1 prospect

 

[King'sPawn]

Should be Vilardi or if using health then should be left out all together. If ranking him though our #1 prospect

Some people feel his time not playing may affect his overall development. Because there has been no news that he's quit playing hockey, I don't feel it's appropriate to leave him off altogether.

Just wanted to explain why I voted as I did, while also explaining why Vilardi's on the poll

 

[kingsboy11]

Vilardi's health concerns drop him from the top spot. But I'm not writing him off. I still think he has the highest potential, highest skill out of all of our prospects, but Turcotte is the safest bet right now.

 

[AnThGrt]

If Vilardi becomes healthy and develops properly (big if) b/w him and Turcotte could literally once again have a Kopitar-Richards like tandem

 

[KopitarFAN]

Some people feel his time not playing may affect his overall development. Because there has been no news that he's quit playing hockey, I don't feel it's appropriate to leave him off altogether.

Just wanted to explain why I voted as I did, while also explaining why Vilardi's on the poll

Agree. However, I don't think I would put him any higher than 3rd or 4th, behind Kupari and perhaps Petersen.

 

[Legionnaire]

Turcotte is more talented than Vilardi and hopefully healthier too.

 

[kings11]

Turcotte is more talented than Vilardi and hopefully healthier too.

Lmfao.... you’re funny but no he’s not
Vilardi is Kopitar-lite so let that sink in

 

[Legionnaire]

Lmfao.... you’re funny but no he’s not
Vilardi is Kopitar-lite so let that sink in

I'll politely disagree.

 

[Basilisk]

Turcotte is more talented than Vilardi .....

Though incorrect, you do possess a cute avatar! ;-)

 

[Legionnaire]

Why thank you. Same one for almost 20 years.

 

[Basilisk]

Why thank you. Same one for almost 20 years.

I know. I was attempting to be silly.

You realize that Vilardi's been compared with Jagr, yes? And that, at this point, Turcotte's only being compared with Mike Richards?

 

[BigKing]

I'd have Vilardi #1 but between him and Turcotte, one guy can actually ice skate which is kind of an important thing when talking about playing hockey.

You have to factor in the injury issue so that drops him below Kupari and probably others as well.

 

[kings11]

I'd have Vilardi #1 but between him and Turcotte, one guy can actually ice skate which is kind of an important thing when talking about playing hockey.

You have to factor in the injury issue so that drops him below Kupari and probably others as well.

That’s the thing, with Vilardi on the list he’s #1. However, I would have excluded him and at which point it’s Alex Turcotte.

 

[KingCanadain1976]

If your just talking talent Vilardi easy for me. I wish to vote to add Prohorkins to this . I think he is going to surprise a lot of people this year.

 

[Reaper45]

I think its Vilardi but going to leave him off until healthy. Turcotte is the clear choice here.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think Vilardi or Turcotte both make sense depending on how you feel about Vilardi's recovery and Turcotte's ceiling. I actually think Turcotte is getting a bit of a raw deal from a lot of folks (not here) regarding his talent level, he's less flash than a lot of other guys but more substance. It's why I love the Toews comparison.

But Vilardi is something else entirely. Even with the injury. I had to go Vilardi. Just watching him dominate in every single facet of the game was something I have only seen from generational prospects. Not at all saying he's going to be that guy, disclaimer. But the guy does everything but burn you with speed. He can play any game. Even on things like faceoffs, he was just toying with people unlike anything I've ever seen Edit: only guy similar was McDavid and it was a totally different kind of game.

 

[Choralone]

I went Kupari, because right now he's the best - not looking at ceilings, or projecting what they'll be in a few years.

 

[ru4reals]

The fact that we actually have any sort of promising prospects is an accomplishment in itself. Remember the days of Jeff Shevalier, Kevin Brown, Justin Hocking, Donald MacLean, Josh Green, Marion Cisar, Peter Hogan, Scott Barney, Andrei Shefer my goodness the list goes on and on and on. I remember thinking man hope one of these guys will pan out for us maybe a diamond in the rough but nope NOTHING. Ahhhhh good times good times. Oh and I voted Alex Turcotte just because he's the new shiny toy I guess. But I'm really really hoping Vilardi will make a complete recovery cuz he may be our best.

 

[kilowatt]

I love me some Turcotte, but I’m going to go out on a huge limb here and say our top prospect is still Vilardi. I believe in the kid, I think he is crazy talented, and if he and Turcotte lead us down the middle for the next decade, I would be so pumped. Add in guys like Kupari, JAD, Kaliyev, and Fagemo and we might have a potent top six.

 

[DoktorJeep]

As of today, I have to vote for Kupari.

He’s accomplished the most for his age, based on playing in the top men’s pro league in Finland on a competitive team.

His ceiling doesn’t project him to be a top 50 player in the NHL. But I think how he turns out will have more to do with how the kings develop him, given the evidence of his growth in Liga.

Some may disagree, but I think the best thing for this kids career with the kings is to play him 18 minutes a night with Kempe and either Wagner or Grundstrom.

 

[Statto]

As of today, I have to vote for Kupari.

He’s accomplished the most for his age, based on playing in the top men’s pro league in Finland on a competitive team.

His ceiling doesn’t project him to be a top 50 player in the NHL. But I think how he turns out will have more to do with how the kings develop him, given the evidence of his growth in Liga.

Some may disagree, but I think the best thing for this kids career with the kings is to play him 18 minutes a night with Kempe and either Wagner or Grundstrom.

I don’t agree with your ranking but I cannot argue with the rest of your assessment.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Vilardi is our best prospect if healthy. If not it's between Kupari and Turcotte. But in the long run...Petersen will be our best prospect looking back on things.

Right now...

1) Turcotte
2) Kupari
3) Petersen
4) M. Anderson
5) JAD

Health exclusion: Vilardi