Anyone want to bet he'll end up drafting Tyler Meyers lol?

Seriously though, I'm hoping for Doughty or Bogosian. I like Bogosian's two way game and physical style, but there's no doubting Doughty's offensive skill level, underrated defensive game AND the fact that this guy is a horse logging 30+ minutes a night on many occasions.

Either way, we SHOULD be getting a very good defenseman.

We have a solid group of young offensive forwards 25 and younger. We have several key forwards developing nicely in the organization.

We have a group of potential future NHL goalies coming up through the ranks.

What we don't have is depth on D.

Interesting....The best player, at D....that could be one of 4 Dmen....The best player available? That would be Stamkos. Hmmmmm, interesting......

I don't buy it.
He's probably the happiest that we didn't get #1 pick.
Seriously.
All this time he'a been hinting about getting stronger on the blueline.
If we won the lottery, DL would have either traded it, or drafted a defenseman 1st overall.
He would have been bagged on by everyone if he'd done that.
Now, to his delight, he doesn't have to worry about that. He can go ahead and pick the D-Man of his choosing (Peiterangelo please).

So DL, you got what you wanted.
Knock yourself out with the #2 pick.
And make it work.
Don't draft a player ranked #23.
Turn this team around and make us contenders.

I think they had their heart set on Doughty for some time now.

With all that said, I hope DL realizes we need some size and toughness to PAIR with Visnovsky, Johnson and Doughty.

Not getting the top pick is just typical of the Kings and the future of the franchise. We are constantly trying to make something positive out of something negative. The more things change, the more they stay the same. We needed that number one pick.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE

Rich, could you ask Dean about the possibilities of bringing in a gritty forward or defenseman on next years team? If I am not mistaken, we were low in penalty minutes for the past year and the next season seems like it could more of the same if too many holes are in the current line up. If were losing, shouldn't a player leading by example that hates losing be something in a developing/building roster? Cammalleri, showed flashes of it, but he's too small and to skilled for that roll. Brown has also shown it. Johnson will probably develop this in time. Thornton and Army seemed primed for it but were hurt/scratched too often. This nasty steak seems to fire the guys up, Darren McCarty, Jason Smith, Owen Nolan, Jarome Iginla are a few examples, with first two not being all-star players. Mike Peca(too old), Chris Neil(borderline dirty player), Brendan Morrow (locked up by the Stars)seem like they would fit this roll. I know that some of the mentioned couldn't be aquired, but it would be great for the fans with a player or two with a sandpaper edge on the roster. Laperriere sure was great for some of those longer past seasons.

i think we have become the most jaded fans ever. only we can somehow look to losing the lottery as a club failure.

'tis the season to regain optimism.

we'll get a good player, we'll bring up the boys from Manchester, and i think we're probably 2 players extra away from really having something

1) veteran leadership - return of Matty Norstrom? also good from a d-man perspective

2) 2nd line center - maybe we trade one of our goalies and a pick or two?

After that we gotta resign Sully and lock-up Kopi. Bring back Ers/Ice-Berg. I think we actually have a goalie in our system.

See, we have a ton to look fwd to next year. I'm excited. I know I was excited about this year, but you have to admit, the Free Agents we picked up were good, but it was bizarro that they all pretty much didn't pan out

As I said before it is a long road to June 20. But speculation is fun; so I am going to say we get Doughty at #2, then trade Cammi , our second #1, two of our 2nd round picks to Toronto for Kubina and the #7 pick (from which we pick Luke Schenn, Colin Wilson ...or Colton Yellow Horn.)

Send Tampa our #2 Pick, and Cammalleri& the rights to Zatkoff (or some other good prospect) for #1 overall and get stamkos

then send Dallas' #1 pick we have, with the rights to Oscar Moller to Atlanta for the #3 over all pick and get one of the defensemen... bogosian

Sounds like Dean has a plan. Sneeky....

"1) veteran leadership - return of Matty Norstrom? also good from a d-man perspective"

Norstrom had a good career, but unfortunately he is done.

We'll not only draft by need...on D...but BPA... I've been wanting Schenn most of this time...but have been planting some possibilities of hopes that Pietrangelo would also be picked...

I know I've also been touting Filatov this year predicting him top five overall...transfer agreement or no transfer agreement... I will not take my words back on him going top 5...because the kid's that good...

The bottom line is that whoever the Kings get...I'll be happy with...

I firmly believe that Doughty will be our guy. He partnered Hickey at the World Championships and is his close friend. That will amount to a lot come draft day.

Daniel,
Colton Yellow Horn is a free agent, he doesn't need to be drafted. I wouldn't mind the kings signing him. hes got some pretty damn good stats, and has improved them every year. he is only 5'8" though....

Here's my two cents: Trade the number 2 pick, Petiot and Tukonen (who I actually would like to see stay around) to Tampa for their 1st and a third (assuming they have one). Take Stamkos with the #1.

AND/OR

Trade Cammi, Dallas's 1st, and an offensive prospect (moulson or purcell) to Columbus for Rusty Klesla and their 1st. Columbus is desperately in need of scoring so they could potentially move Klesla, a young, experienced, bruising D-man that, along with Harrold, would address the gap in our D depth between 23-30. With the pick, take Schenn or Pietrangelo if still available (Doughty will be gone and i'm not sold yet on Bogosian being a top 10). Otherwise, take Colin Wilson or Nik Filatov (of course DL isn't partial to drafting russians it seems). Both of these guys are pretty awesome offensive talents and along from what i've seen of them at the various WJC tournaments this year and last.

Daniel- are you familiar with Yellow Horn? You should know that he is a 5' 8" 20 year old who has been passed over in the past 2 drafts. Sure, he's fast and can score, but his size will probably limit him to the AHL. Anyways, I'm pretty sure he could just be signed as an undrafted player/ free agent at the end of the year. No reason to use a draft pick, let alone a 1st, on him.

J - YES - I am familiar with Yellow Horn. It was a joke! Just looking at his stats should have tipped you off. He is Jack Black on skates.

"Trade the number 2 pick, Petiot and Tukonen (who I actually would like to see stay around) to Tampa for their 1st and a third (assuming they have one). Take Stamkos with the #1."

Petiot and Tukonen? Seriously? You know Tampa won the Cup 3 seasons ago. Even though they've tanked this year, I don't think they suddenly became totally retarded.

I totally agree with "Shakes", as I often do..

But, I must say that I´m still dissappointed that we didn´t get the first pick, and yes I think Crawford and Dean could have fixed that by loosing some games, at least play with Cloutier in more games. When a player like Stamkos is avaliable it is too important to do everything to get him if you have a chance to, like Kings had..I am very bitter about it and its going to take a long long time for me to get over it, especially when I see him succeed in another team.

But as Shakes said, we have a lot to be excited about next season. Right now I am looking forward to the draft day to see what Lombardi is going to do.

So how do you think the line-ups might look like next year? I really think we need a second line center, and maybe it is Boyle...but is he really ready?

Sully-Kopi-Brown
Frolov-Boyle?-Cammy?
Calder-Handzus-Moulson
Ivanans-Army-Purcell

Blake-Visnovsky
Johnson-
Preissing-

Ersberg/LaBarbera

We really need some big defenseman. Norström is a choice, but I think that he has had his best years. Which players do you think should play in the 3rd and 4th line?

As you can see I dont count in Nagy next year, I think we shall trade him to New Jersey (who was interested in him at trading deadline) for a solid stay-at-home defenseman, maybe Colin White, or Bryce Salvador.

Matt Ellis should be on the roster, definitely on penalty killing.

When can we use Thomas Hickey? Do you guys think he will play in Manchester next year?

Nagy is an UFA agent, it doesn't make sense for NJ to trade quality players for a forward that will have a hard time finding a home anyway....Hickey will be in the AHL next year at best.

If we can't get Cammy to sign an extention by draft day, trade him to the Leafs or BJs for their first round pick and a prospect or Dman.

Draft Drew and Luke.

in other words, Dean didn't want a F (Stamkos) but he knew he was the #1 player available and would have to pick him if they won the lotto. now he gets to pick from all the available D so he's happy...

"is only 5'8" though...."

Foghorn Leghorn or whatever is listed 5'7" by what I read, but I like his stats. might be a good replacement for our other dwarf (Cammi) once we dispense of him.

I really do think Cammi is done in LA

DellaNooch, I forgot Nagy was an UFA, got a little carried away ;) Maybe we can trade Cammy for Kubina.. But seriosly, wouldn´t it be nice to have had Stamkos on the roster, we would have 2 superlines in that way. I dont think we have so much depth at the forwards as everybody is saying, we have many talents but i doubt all of them is going to reach their full potential in the kings uniform..

I'm one of those hoping Doughty is the pick. Him and JJ as our top two dmen would make for a very solid start at fixing the blueline.

I think we should make a trade for Atlanta's 3rd overall pick and take Drew Doughty 2nd and Zach Bogosian 3rd. Defense wins games.

all of you have good points.but if we`re ever going to be a good defensive team, blake must go.give the c to someone with heart and grit.

"PaulCat said:
I firmly believe that Doughty will be our guy. He partnered Hickey at the World Championships and is his close friend. That will amount to a lot come draft day."

Actually, wasn't Schenn the one that was close friends and partners in the WC w/ Hickey?

Tami, yes, Schenn was paired with Hickey in the JrWC. Which brings up a good point that everyone seems to be missing here. You don't pair Hickey with Doughty, or with Johnson, or any other offensively gifted D-man. For every Visnovsky, you need an Adam Foote or Aaron Miller. Some stay-at-home, immovable force. If we get Doughty, we will need to also get to get an anchor for him to pair with.

Tami, yes, Schenn was paired with Hickey in the JrWC. Which brings up a good point that everyone seems to be missing here. You don't pair Hickey with Doughty, or with Johnson, or any other offensively gifted D-man. For every Visnovsky, you need an Adam Foote or Aaron Miller. Some stay-at-home, immovable force. If we get Doughty, we will need to also get an anchor for him to pair with.

You're right Tami. Hickey and Schenn are close friends and were paired at the WJC. Doughty played with Alzner

With how DL shocked us last year with Hickey, you would have to think even if we got the first pick he wouldn't have used it on Stamkos. (…and really upset a lot of people.)
By getting the first pick it would have allowed us to trade it for someone to fill a hole as well as using the second pick to get Doughty. With the way things are now I see Doughty being the logical choice but yet again I will bring up how shocked I was at the Hickey selection.

MacSwede I think you're pretty close there but you definitely left someone off -- Harrold.

so Dean will get us a Modry/Norstrom fill-in type and then we have only one D spot open. so he'll have to sign at least 1 more guy back there. basically they're going to have to replace Stuart then we're comfortable for at least one year while we wait for our first selection '08, Hickey, and all these other picks to develop.

Ok Brianguy,

So basically what you mean is that we have to experience another dissapointing season before we really can challenge a playoff spot. Maybe you´re right.. It depends on how Lombardi play his cards on draft day.

Do you think Harrold will take a roster spot next season? I think he will have to step up a little bit, but he sure have talent..

But if we aquire a Norström/Modry type, and then resign Blake, what would be the difference from this season? Nothing. None of the youngsters are ready, as you mentioned. So who will clear the front of the net and help Ersberg? Klemm? I still think we should aquire more big defenseman, and maybe another defensive forward. We (Lombardi) have to act..