Broom hockey, whiches of Denver?uh...this
The Pacific Division Thread
- Thread starter Clif
- Start date
Based on the recent drafting, I'd rather see a 86 game season. Our last few high picks have been questionable.
Clif
Super Star
NSH is on fire and UT is solid. VGK have won 7 of their last 23 games.
DryKing
Power Forward
I disagree, last draft our two top picks were Henry Brzustewicz (D) and Vojtech Cihar (F), both of which look really good so far. 2024 we only had 4 picks and drafted Liam Greentree (F), Carter George (G), and Jared Woolley (D) - all of which look good. 2023 looks weaker, so far, but we did pick up Hampton Slukynsky (G).
We have traded a lot of picks away, but the picks we have kept, and used, have gone pretty well as of late.
hokiecat
Super Star
Vegas is paying Adin Hill over 6 million to suck.
Edmonton is also hot garage with terrible goaltending.
The Pacific is going to be a battle over who wants it less.
Hockey53
TEAM LGK
Sad that with an update of the WC2/playoff race,there are now 5 teams from the Central Division and only 3 teams from the Pacific Division in the playoff picture 
On the somewhat bright side,the Kings are only 4 points out of third place and 5 points out of second place in the Pacific Division with 13 games left as of Saturday 3/21/26
On the somewhat bright side,the Kings are only 4 points out of third place and 5 points out of second place in the Pacific Division with 13 games left as of Saturday 3/21/26I mentioned high picks, and I was specifically thinking of players like Turcotte and Byfield, that should be better based on where they were in the draft. My point was that we've had success with players that were late in the 1st, or in the 2nd round, so dropping a few spots in the draft to get more games isn't a deal killer for me.
Clif
Super Star
Nice thing is this year’s draft is said to have top-end talent available as late as pick 15, so if the Kings miss the playoffs they should be in good position wherever they land. That’s also the funny thing about the Eastern conference teams outside the playoffs having more points than teams like the Kings who might still make it.
DryKing
Power Forward
Yep I agree. Those picks were solid but haven't yet panned out as expected.
My counterpoint is if we drop into the lottery and actually manage to pull off a top-3 pick. All top three in this draft appear to be franchise changers, and that is what the Kings Org desperately needs. Like you mentioned, we have also had good luck in the 2nd round, within which we have 3 picks and could get lucky.
Granted it's a long shot, but I can't think of a time in which the Kings have had a Grade-A superstar in their prime since the Gretzky days (and look how much Gretzky changed the presence of the sport in California).
Clif
Super Star
Adding further irony to this is considering which teams will have those top 3 picks. The Pacific is going to be littered with young superstars
It still amazes me how few "Elite" goalies out there compared to how shooters.
Bollocks
Super Star
Should make the Kings' goalie prospects a bit more valuable one would think. All three are playing really well in their respective leagues.
ICE24
Super Star
That's true
DoubleMinor
Top Forward
For years and years I felt there was a belief that a team couldn’t win a Cup without a star goalie. I’m not sure it’s just me but I think the last decade has shown that you don’t need an elite goalie to win the Cup. A solid defensive system and a consistently good goalie who doesn’t let in bad goals is enough.
It is odd though that the shooters are better but the goalies don’t necessarily need to be.
JC6388LAKings
Super Star
The 2010s Rangers and Predators, and 2010-21s Canadiens are an unfortunate case of teams with star goalies (Lundqvist, Rinne, Price) that couldn't get over the hump when it came to winning the Cup.
On the other side of the spectrum, the 90-00s Red Wings show that you can win the Cup even with a mediocre goalie (Osgood). The 24-25 Oilers came closest to emulating those Cup-winning Red Wings teams only to come up short.