Who's your pick?

I'm with you Rich - I say the Kings pick Alzner. Maybe they'll trade down though.

The pick gets traded!

I am going with Alzner, defensive prospects are needed for the Kings. I am fine if they go with Voracek. If not I hope they trade down with Edmonton or Boston and maybe we get lucky and Alzner will still be available.

With me...it would ideally be an ABC draft...ANYBODY but Cherepanov...and the transfer deal has very little to do with this... It's his work effort...or lack of it that's setting off the red flags...

I would prefer Voracek...Alzner or Van Riemsdyk (in that order) to be wearing Kings colors...but if the right deal comes our way...the pick can be traded away...

They'll trade up to #2 and take Turris! ;)

.....or they'll take Alzner at #4.

Voracek - Defensemen take time to develop and with the FA expected to be at 27 there are going to be plenty of D-men avail -

Scoring wingers are hard - The Kings were gifted with Anze last season - Voracek is a DL type of player, Cherepanov, is not (just see DL's comments in Rich's blog)

Watch, they'll take Esposito!

LOL

I'm soooooo tempted to wear my Pronger jersey to the event just to rile a few feathers :)

Voracek.

Alzner seems a little high for #4, and Cherapanov is risky.

I went on record on Wednesday evening predicting they'll select Alzner...

Pulling for Turris, but if we stand pat, I suspect Dean Lombardi will cause a slight stir with the selection of Cherepanov, who is considered to be the most NHL-ready by Pierre McGuire from TSN and widely viewed as one of the most talented albeit inconsistent players in the draft pool.

The Kings will select Alzner. Personally, I would rather see them select Voracek or Cherepanov. If the Briere rumors are true, the Kings will surely select Alzner. He is an excellent skater who makes great decisions. NHL ready? Probably not. There are aspects of his game that need improvement. He is the highest rated defenseman in this draft, and the Kings say they want to build that reserve list. So, Alzner it is.

Anze needs a wingman. Voracek.

I agree, 4th pick is a little high for an Alzner who I consider a Aaron Miller type player, steady D in his prime but not a 4th pick in the draft. I say gamble with Voracek.
DL seems like a gambler to me.

In a mock draft done by moderators at Hockeys Future, the Kings took Alzner at #4 and TJ Brennan and Jeremy Smith in the second. But Alzner was taken with the caveat that the Kings would try to trade down and still get him a few picks later. I believe that they like Kane and Cherepanov the most, but won't want to risk the transfer issues with Cherepanov. Turris and van Riemsdyk probably would go ahead of Alzner if available at #4 and they keep the pick. But what do I know? Can't wait for tonight.

CBGB - Is that a Sean Pronger jersey you're referring to? Haha...

Cherepanov broke Pavel Bure's record for goals by a rookie in the Russian Elite League.

From ISS: Alexei is a very talented player, something that is obvious the moment you see him. His dynamic skating, vision, knack for scoring and great speed shows that he will be able to be make a "big" impact when he goes to an NHL training camp.

Did they say big impact. Not possible impact. A big impact.

That makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The draft is a gamble. The kid is 18. What kind of work ethic did we all have at 18. He will come around. Think NHL sniper. Goals. Lots. I like Goals.

I have my fingers crossed for the gamble.
Cherepanov with the #4 pick.

Like I've said before, They will take Cherepanov. The skill is there and the reported character issues just aren't true and can't be confirmed.

Alzner at #4. JMFJ pairing partner for the next 10+ years. The most NHL ready player in the draft (by most reports), not a high ceiling, but a defensively responsible D-Man who'll make the good first pass. If not, Voracek. Strong 2-way #2 center. But, with Lewis, & Sully, D is a bigger need.

I think it is Alzner. Assuming the top three are Kane, Turris, and Van Riemsdyk and judging by Lombardi's comments, I think the other prospects are all ranked pretty close together. That being said the Kings greatest need is defense, so Alzner will be the guy.

For what it's worth Bob McKenzie has Alzner ranked number 4 on his top 60, so I don't think it is that much of a stretch for him to be picked at 4.

I wonder how many people talking about Cherapanov have actually seen the kid play. I know I haven't, so I have to go with the scouting reports which place him pretty high even considering the risks.

I have to think the Kings want a defender. I also have to think DL wants to maximize the return, so ideally if a deal can be made to swap the #4 for a pick in the 7-12 range with some additional return, they'd like to go that way.

If they move the pick, I think they're hoping to land Alzner, Ellerby or another defender like McDonagh or Shattenkirk.

If they select at the #4 spot, Alzner is a strong possibilty still, but they may go with Cherapanov or Voracek.

Yeah, there's kids like Gagner and Esposito out there that could also be the pick, but without any inside view on who the team likes in particular with this being such a "shotgun" type draft (as DL described), there's not much way of figuring that out other than geussing.

Assuming they do select at #4, I'll go out on a limb and say Cherapanov. DL seemed to be under emphasizing him in the interview, so I'll take that as a tell.

I agree, it will be Alzner. Him and Johnson will be a great defensive tandem for years to come.

Pick traded for Hossa maybe? hmmmmmmmmm.

I agree, trade down and then take Alzner or Ellerby.

If no takers for a trade. Take Cherp - I watched the WJC and he was by far the best player at the tourney.

I think the Kings will trade down with the #4 pick and obtain other draft choices (to go along with their own draft choices) to get defensemen Karl Alzner and Nicholas Petrecki.

Possibilities:
Edmonton = #6, #15, #30
Washington = #5, #28
St. Louis = #9, #24, #26
Montreal = #12, #22

Example:
Trade #4 and maybe something else to Edmonton for #6 (take Alzner) and #15.
Trade #15 and something else to move up (take Petrecki).

Alzner is to high at #4. They will only take him if they trade down a few spots. At #4 you have to try for a home run and take Voracek or Cherepanov. Top line scoring wingers are much harder to come by in the NHL than solid Aaron Miller type defensemen, so you don't waste a top 5 pick on a player like that.

I've been hoping for Cherepanov since April. His stats amazing. Not to mention that Lombardi seems to be patient enough to go through trouble of transfering him from the Russian League. Also, I think he would be a great match with Kopitar.

I am hoping the kings pick up Cherepanov. He has all the tools and is already playing against great competition in the Russian League. However, I've read somewhere that Lombardi kinda shies away from the Russian born players for some reason combine that with the complications of the lack of an agreement with the Russians makes voracek or alzner an easier pick.