A couple clarifications

So Mr CBGB's "he's not signed now everyone shut up and take it" was wrong.... Way to go big guy!

Just use some common sense here. The Kings badly need a defenseman. There are great defensemen available at the top of the draft. Why would they trade.

Hey Rich,
Will you be attending the Kings draft party this Friday? If so are you going to be doing the live blog again?

Rich, I agree whole-heartedly the Kings would be silly to trade the 2nd pick away. But if they moved up, wouldn't they have to be in the top ten to get one of the top tier defenseman. Getting two top prospect (Def.) would be a coup. I don't think the rest of the owners would allow that, do you? So therefore, trading picks for a young, talented NHL defenseman would make sense. What do you think of that possibility?

Just as a sidenote, at the right price, I wouldn't mind seeing Malone come our way. Add some grit and edge to our lineup. I think he would fill in anther hole the Kings have, rather nicely. Money of course would be the issue

Hi Rich, As always, your blog remains the only place to go for the hard core fans. Thanks so much for making the summer months bearable. Between you and XM radio, I take less mood enhancements in the summer! I think you're right about the 2nd pick, and I, for one, will be totally bummed if there's another Hickey kind of surprise. Obviously the jury is out on Hickey, but let's take a premier defenseman from this group which is so impressive. Beyond that, I have a feeling the Kings are going to be doing quite a bit of wheeling and dealing at this draft, and I will be glued to the TV for sure. Thanks again Rich, and keep up the great work.

Rich, thank you. This is a welcome post by you. Idiots, turn your sleazy rumor-mills down a notch or two.

Just use some common sense here.

LOL, obviously you've mistaken the majority of your readers for people who have common sense. Shame on you, Rich Hammond :-)

Meanwhile, while it's virtually improbable that the Kings would trade down, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't consider trading down a couple of places, still get one of the big 3 defensemen available, and being able to pick up a tangible asset from one of the teams picking 3rd or 4th that may really have designs on that #2 pick. There has to be a pretty high level of intrigue as to who will go 2, 3 or 4... and with Lombardi's erratic thinking, there could be a GM who has his mind made up and is willing to broker out a small piece (player or later round pick) to make sure he gets the guy at 2 that Lombardi may grab prior to that 3rd or 4th pick... Hell, after Stamkos, despite the quality of the defensemen, it's all a damn loss anyway... idiot Kings...

I don't see a reason why we couldn't have 2 pics in the top six via trade. We have #2 & take Doherty (imho because he WANTS to be a King.) Here's the next 4:

3-Atlanta
4-St Louis
5-N.Y. Islanders
6-Columbus

There is no reason why any one of these 4 wouldn't take Camalleri, a 3rd & 4th (or 2nd & 3rd depending on the team and their position) for their pick here. Like none of these four could use a speedy 2nd line center with leadership abilities?

If we get the 3rd or 4th, I'd want Bogosian. 5th or 6th we take Schenn. Really, Schenn is the more logical choice of the 2 for us as we need a pounder on the blueline.

Of these 4 teams, the one that makes the most sense to do this with (Again IMO) is N.Y. Rumors about Yashin returning are telltale signs they're desperate. Mike Comrie is a 3rd liner at best and their using him on the first line I believe. He's a poor man's Camalleri, so why not get Cammi and put Comrie on the 3rd line? With the extra pics, they could maybe find another center to give them 3 solid ones without going back to the soft Russian. With the 5th pick we take Schenn and get the 2 defensemen we need.

What's your take? Am I missing anything???

I agree with your proposal Paincorp.
The problem is that Lord Cammi's value has gone to $h_t of late. And there's no certainty that he'll sign a long term contract after the 09 season.
A lot of the GM's know what you and I know about this puck hog.

The other teams are gonna want more.
Now, you throw in Patrick O'Sullivan, instead of His Highness, you'd have a done deal in a second.
Thoughts.

Rich, I'm a little fuzzy here on what is opinion and what is reporting.

1. Is it your opinion that they won't trade the pick or did they specifically tell you that?

2. Did they tell you that they are trying to acquire another high pick or is that also an opinion?

"Common sense" tells me that the Kings can't overlook ANY opportunity. Realistically, any defenceman they draft this weekend won't be ready for the NHL for several seasons, but there are a number of high quality young d-men that might be available under the right conditions. As an extreme example, if Calgary offered Phaneuf and a scrub for the 2nd pick and Cammalleri, the Kings would be foolish not to consider it

Why would anyone want to trade for Cammy who is a
restricted free agent at the end of the year unless
they could get him to sign an extension. I think
Cammy is now dedicated to test the open market.
Why trade for Sully since any other team could give him an offer sheet since he is a n RFA and make the Kings match it. See what Lowe offered Dustin Penner
last year.
Why would Ryan Malone want to leave his hometown team
to come to the Kings who are not going to pay big
bucks for a free agent anyway.

Paincorp, I like your enthusiasm and I also like your picks. I am also a Schenn fan and feel he would be a perfect fit for the Kings. I hope we do get 2 picks in the top ten, but I don't think thats going to happen.

PSP, makes a good point, in the fact of NHL readiness in the draft picks, so trading for a proven young player is probably the way to go.

I agree with your proposal Paincorp. But I don't think those 4 team will trade the pick without get a first round pick back. so my propose would be Camalleri, dallas pick, 2 third pick for 3 or 4, or 5 pick overall and the 2 round pick also.

"Like none of these four could use a speedy 2nd line center with leadership abilities?"

You lost me after speedy.

Also, there's no way.