2022 NHL Entry Draft

**Statue4Deano** · June 25th, 2022, 08:09 PM

If the Kings hold onto the 19th selection I would love to see them take a home run swing on a high skill forward, preferably a winger.

Looking at the most recent mock draft from The Athletic they have the Kings selecting Isaac Howard a smooth skating, small offensively skilled winger who's committed to attend UMD this fall.

https://theathletic.com/3374958/2022...ff-mock-draft/

19. Los Angeles Kings: Isaac Howard, LW, U.S. NTDP-USHL
The Kings have one of — if not the — the strongest, deepest prospect pools in the NHL and it puts them in a favorable and enviable spot with their pick, where they can let their current group climb over each other for depth jobs and take a cut on a high-skill, high-upside player for the future. Howard, one of the draft’s most gifted wingers, makes perfect sense for them for those reasons if he’s available. He’s a top-15 talent in this class. He makes a lot of sense for them here. I know he wants to be one-and-done but he could likely be convinced into two college seasons so that he travels along a different timeline than the glut of other kids they’ve got knocking on the door at the moment. —Scott Wheeler

I don't know if this kid will still be available when we pick but if he is he makes too much sense considering his skill set and the lack of high end skill in the current prospect cupboard.

**emsomaso** · June 26th, 2022, 01:24 AM

TSN’s Craig Button has Howard being picked at #32, so hopefully there is a chance we’ll get him!

**DryKing** · June 26th, 2022, 06:03 PM

I'd prefer either Bischel or Pickering. Let's get a big body and fill a couple areas of need at once.

https://thehockeywriters.com/lian-bi...spect-profile/

https://thehockeywriters.com/owen-pi...spect-profile/

**Statue4Deano** · June 27th, 2022, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by DryKing

I'd prefer either Bischel or Pickering. Let's get a big body and fill a couple areas of need at once.

https://thehockeywriters.com/lian-bi...spect-profile/

https://thehockeywriters.com/owen-pi...spect-profile/

I'm not opposed to adding size but we know it's much harder and more expensive to acquire skill vs. size. If you start focusing on size and physicality you end up taking Colten Teubert in the 1st round of 2008 instead of guys who went on to have long NHL careers like Erik Karlson, John Carlson, Tyler Myers, Jake Gardiner, Jordan Eberle; etc...

**DryKing** · June 27th, 2022, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Statue4Deano

I'm not opposed to adding size but we know it's much harder and more expensive to acquire skill vs. size. If you start focusing on size and physicality you end up taking Colten Teubert in the 1st round of 2008 instead of guys who went on to have long NHL careers like Erik Karlson, John Carlson, Tyler Myers, Jake Gardiner, Jordan Eberle; etc...

That's using the assumption that Pickering or Bischel do not have skill, which isn't the case. There is a reason both are rated within the top 30 in the consolidated rankings (right around where Howard is). I wouldn't be opposed to Howard as we need scorers and he could turn out to be a true home run, it just really depends on what Blake feels he can do in the offseason through free agency/trade. End of the day, Blake needs to fill both a top line scoring role and top LD this offseason.

**Clif** · June 29th, 2022, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by DryKing

That's using the assumption that Pickering or Bischel do not have skill, which isn't the case. There is a reason both are rated within the top 30 in the consolidated rankings (right around where Howard is). I wouldn't be opposed to Howard as we need scorers and he could turn out to be a true home run, it just really depends on what Blake feels he can do in the offseason through free agency/trade. End of the day, Blake needs to fill both a top line scoring role and top LD this offseason.

Agreed on that. I’d be real happy with McGroarty and excited about Bischel also. Both bring size and skill. The talk on McGroarty is also a great character player with an edge who has a real shot of panning out as a middle six NHL’er. Would be lucky if either are around at 19.

However, with Chychrun and Fiala on the market and requiring a 1st then one of those is without saying my first choice.

**RagBone** · June 29th, 2022, 02:05 PM

Moot point, now, unless you're looking past the 1st round.

#KevinFialla

**Kurisu** · June 29th, 2022, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Clif

However, with Chychrun and Fiala on the market and requiring a 1st then one of those is without saying my first choice.

Prescient!

**Statue4Deano** · June 29th, 2022, 09:37 PM

Love flipping the pick for Fiala. Great offensive skill winger in his prime. That's exactly the type of move you make if you're trading out of the 1st round.