Kings take Kyle Clifford

I was hoping for Klingberg but Atlanta just beat us to him. Oh well, Clifford looks like a good pick and a LWer!

I wanted Zack Budish :(

He went a bit high. I think DL could have waited a round to get him though.

WTF, quite disappointed with this pick at 35th. This guy cold easily have gone 3rd or 4th, even 5th round. Would much rather have had Morin, Chiasson, or Buddish at 35.

I'm hoping that the slots are filling up for the team. We just need to find some scoring for next season.

Here's hoping Fro signs an extension in the next couple of weeks.

J-

Serious question for ya. I am not trying to be a smart ass. Is your opinion/disapointment on DLs second rounder based on TSN/ISS rankings or do you have an educated opinion on the matter? Have you seen the kid play? I have not and basically am clueless beyond round 1. But so far DL has been right on with is second and middle round picks. Moller, Simmonds, Loki.

with DLs drafting record...I gotta believe he knew what he was doing with this pick.

Rich,
Can you re-post the Hextall quote about what to expect on July 1st? I believe it was from the 2nd "breakfast"post

So where did you guys get your scouting information from to make the judgement over the Kings table full of scouts and hockey professionals that have actually seen these guys play? Of course there will be plenty of players who will have a better career than Clifford and picked after him, but that's the way it is every year. Every team tries to pick the guy they think will make it, but judging a 17 or 18 year old on how he will play at 25 in many ways is a crap shoot. I put my faith in the scouting staff to pick these players. The plucked Moller and Simmonds out and that seems to have been pretty good.

src3- i'm disappointed because there were other players that I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN PLAY that are much more dynamic than this kid is who were still available. I'm not disappointed that they picked him, it's that i think he would still be available in the later rounds.

NMKings fan- I'm not some noob who bitches about every pick the Kings make and bases his info off of scouting reports. I've seen most of these guys play. Scouting is one of my hobbies and has been for years. I fully understand it's a crap shoot, but this guy was taken far too soon IMEO.

J-
You are entitled to your opinion but remember, your hobby is their profession, I will be putting my money on the Kings scouts. Guys might be "dynamic" but that doesn't say anything about their heart. TSN/ISS rankings are based on skill and talent, some teams covet heart and character and draft with that in mind. I am glad the Kings are now drafting like they do, not just going down the TSN/ISS list.

Pavel Rosa, Tukonen, Karlsson, Pushkarev, et al., were all dynamic, but where are they now?

I am sure some of the guys you think are more dynamic will hit it in the NHL, but will they have the character the Kings are after?

Earlier you said "but judging a 17 or 18 year old on how he will play at 25 in many ways is a crap shoot." Funny, i think the same could be said about character/heart.

I'm not privy to interviews and such so you're right i don't know what was said to scouts to turn them on or off to certain players. However, all the guys I wanted went right around 35, so unless other scouts just read down the ISS list and don't do interviews of their own and want players of weak/questionalble character/heart, I can't imagine them being so flawed in character that some 3rd line grinder is chosen over them.

It's fine if you want to faithfully trust the kings scouts. I too think they've done a good job. Doesn't mean they are infallible and didn't jump the gun on this one however.

As for "You are entitled to your opinion", it sure doesn't seem so from you're first post.

Without wasting any more time on this, we both have our points of view and the future will ultimately decide whether the Kings had a good draft or not.
My reply was just to see what you based your opinion on. Good to see we have some knowledgeable Kings fans.

For sure.

okay thanks J

I am ecstatic with this pick because, as I think I said yesterday, I would be ecstatic if DL found a way to grab Schenn AND Kassian. Clifford is Kassian (see video of fight against Kassian). He may not be the total Kassian package, or he may be. He could be better for all I know. But he's exactly the TYPE of player I wanted, and from the looks of many of DL's picks this year, he's going after that type -- gritty, physical, character guys -- over and over. Excellent.

I'm just disappointed they drafted him so early. What was the rush? It's pretty obvious that they could of waited until the 3rd or 4th round. It will be interesting to see if passing on Zach Budish, Ethan Werek and Anton Lander will come back to bite them. What a steal for Nashville to get Budish at #41, he could be their #1 center in 3 years, or even sooner.

It may be easy to say this nos (in October), but after getting a decent look at him this summer, he looks like a good pick.

He is enormously strong and tough (even for his size), and relishes the physical style; His hockey sense is well-above average, as evidenced by his high level of comfort at the summer & training camps scrimmages/exhibitions at only age 18!

His skating is ok, but could use work (foot speed, acceleration, esp). But his good anticipation makes him look a bit quicker.

This guy went in the 2nd round partly because of his smarts, which virtually guarantee him an NHL checking spot someday.

His hands/skill need much work, but this season in Juniors will tell the tale if he has potential to be more than a hard-checking muscle-winger ("Travis Moen-type"), or a player who can possibly ascend
to top 6.

Although realistically, he presently looks like a Travis Moen type with, perhaps, we hope, a
bit more offense.

He will likely play in the NHL by 20.

He probably won't be a scorer.

But he could be a mainstay on our 3rd-4th lines for years, and make us a harder, nastier team to play against, as well as being an above-average fighter who protects his teammates.