Speculation 2024 Draft Thread

Looks like the Athletic projects us to take Trevor Connelly in the first round which seems like a great choice. He would add offensive punch, has speed and decent size and, as an extra bonus, is from Tustin.


 
Looks like the Athletic projects us to take Trevor Connelly in the first round which seems like a great choice. He would add offensive punch, has speed and decent size and, as an extra bonus, is from Tustin.


Was looking for this thread a few days ago when I saw that athletic article pop up. Do we actually think Blake would risk the PR backlash for drafting Connelly, if he happens to still be around late in the 1st round? If he’s still available, that will likely mean he’d already been passed over by several other teams due to his bad press and reported attitude issues. I can’t see the Kings taking that sort of risk.
 
Was looking for this thread a few days ago when I saw that athletic article pop up. Do we actually think Blake would risk the PR backlash for drafting Connelly, if he happens to still be around late in the 1st round? If he’s still available, that will likely mean he’d already been passed over by several other teams due to his bad press and reported attitude issues. I can’t see the Kings taking that sort of risk.
Ah that is interesting, I wasn't aware of the situation until you mentioned it. We know Bergevin would not shy away, but yeah I don't see him being a fit for the Kings.

Here's the related article I found.

 
Was looking for this thread a few days ago when I saw that athletic article pop up. Do we actually think Blake would risk the PR backlash for drafting Connelly, if he happens to still be around late in the 1st round? If he’s still available, that will likely mean he’d already been passed over by several other teams due to his bad press and reported attitude issues. I can’t see the Kings taking that sort of risk.
Not a chance in hell Blake drafts Connelly. If he’s available at 21 and some other team wants him enough I can see Blake trading down for additional draft picks.
 
Does anybody have an opinion on Trevor Connelly? He's a local kid from Tustin & plays forward for the Tri-City Storm. He's ranked everywhere from the mid-teens to early 20's. On the ice he's offensively gifted but not really a 2 way player. However, he's got "off ice issues." Which if you don't know, he & a friend made a swastika out of blocks & took a photo of it. He's since apologized & also taken diversity courses & volunteered.

Normally a player like this would be gone by 21. But there's a lot of talk of him sliding, which means the Kings have to make a decision on him. I don't know what's in his heart or head. I don't know why he thought that was a good idea or if his apology is sincere. I hope it is. I just don't think it's a good idea to take him. The problem is, we have Marc Bergevin in the front office. And he's the one who drafted Logan Mailloux. Who did way worse than Connelly. So it's a real possibility the Kings draft him. I just wanted to get people's thoughts on him. Maybe someone even knows him or what his story is & has more insight than what's online.

I didn't realize while crafting my post that this was already addressed.
 
Not a chance in hell Blake drafts Connelly. If he’s available at 21 and some other team wants him enough I can see Blake trading down for additional draft picks.
Would a team trade up to pick him though? Do they want the controversy of not just picking him but using capital to get him? I just think they'd let him fall naturally & if they get him just say he was the BPA & then do some PR stuff. I do think trading down might be a good idea if we get 2 of either a 2nd or 3rd for that 1 pick.
 
Would a team trade up to pick him though? Do they want the controversy of not just picking him but using capital to get him? I just think they'd let him fall naturally & if they get him just say he was the BPA & then do some PR stuff. I do think trading down might be a good idea if we get 2 of either a 2nd or 3rd for that 1 pick.

All this is overblown, even in my leftist eyes. Teens do stupid things, especially regarding politics which they do not get yet at those ages. I remember wanting to vote for a nationalist politician as my first vote when turning 18 because I felt edgy and because that particular politician was such a disruptive caricature. It took me a few years of becoming interested in politics to realize how such toxic characters have no business being elected for that exact reason - because they bait younger generations that seek to stand out in some way, and tend to oversimplify issues a lot.

Trading uo to get him would be a bit of a reach, but if he's available he should be picked. This article seems to be quite positive about his reconciliation process and all that:

Bottom line is - he IS getting picked at some point and IMO it's better to do it without too much of charade.
 
All this is overblown, even in my leftist eyes. Teens do stupid things, especially regarding politics which they do not get yet at those ages. I remember wanting to vote for a nationalist politician as my first vote when turning 18 because I felt edgy and because that particular politician was such a disruptive caricature. It took me a few years of becoming interested in politics to realize how such toxic characters have no business being elected for that exact reason - because they bait younger generations that seek to stand out in some way, and tend to oversimplify issues a lot.

Trading uo to get him would be a bit of a reach, but if he's available he should be picked. This article seems to be quite positive about his reconciliation process and all that:

Bottom line is - he IS getting picked at some point and IMO it's better to do it without too much of charade.
I see your point. But I do think we can pass up on him without it being a big deal. Guys get passed up all the time & there’s no alleged baggage with them. Now if you’re at 25th & up you seriously have to think about getting him. And if he falls to the 2nd round those teams have to pick him.
 
I see your point. But I do think we can pass up on him without it being a big deal. Guys get passed up all the time & there’s no alleged baggage with them. Now if you’re at 25th & up you seriously have to think about getting him. And if he falls to the 2nd round those teams have to pick him.
I think it comes back to your earlier point - the interview (which would allow a team to get a pulse on him). I agree with Bollocks that it is likely overblown as kids due stupid/ignorant things but usually wise up later in life - but without having a chance to talk to him who knows.

That said, I think there is nearly a 0% chance the Kings have an appetite to touch that situation (potentially alienating fans in the process).

What would be interesting is if he is still available when Anaheim's 31st or 32nd overall pick comes up. It would be hard to pass on him at that point (dependent on the interview).
 
Would a team trade up to pick him though? Do they want the controversy of not just picking him but using capital to get him? I just think they'd let him fall naturally & if they get him just say he was the BPA & then do some PR stuff. I do think trading down might be a good idea if we get 2 of either a 2nd or 3rd for that 1 pick.
Of all the radioactive 1st round talent prospects that have either been picked or gone undrafted over the past few years it seems like this kid is the most talented and his story is the easiest to spin into a redemption tale. So yeah I do think there’s more than one organization out there willing to move up to grab him if he falls to 21.

That being said the Kings post Voynov, Richards and the Vegas Pool Party have gone out of the way to be model citizens and color within the lines. So I don’t see them doing anything other than selecting a player with their pick. They should get a pretty good one too. Lots of 1st round talent available.
 
I could see Blake trading up in the second round to pick Connelly, provided he is comfortable to see where he falls.
 
Pass. Not big enough, doesn’t back check, off ice problems (Which I know enough about since my son is only a year older). All that drama back in the day was bad.
 
Of all the radioactive 1st round talent prospects that have either been picked or gone undrafted over the past few years it seems like this kid is the most talented and his story is the easiest to spin into a redemption tale. So yeah I do think there’s more than one organization out there willing to move up to grab him if he falls to 21.

That being said the Kings post Voynov, Richards and the Vegas Pool Party have gone out of the way to be model citizens and color within the lines. So I don’t see them doing anything other than selecting a player with their pick. They should get a pretty good one too. Lots of 1st round talent available.
And Trevor Connelly goes #19 to Vegas.
 
Back
Top