Joined: Mar. 2019
Posts: 2,315
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Cal Peterson is taking over the King's net next year. He's 25, so the Kings are hoping for 5-6 good years out of him. Villalta (AHL), Ingham (OHL), and Parik (WHL) are all under 20 and playing very well in their respective leagues.
There's 0% chance that LA uses a top 5 pick on a goalie in the deepest draft since 2015. Their offensive pipeline is very good, but they are still looking for a surefire winger to slot on the top line. Kaliyev COULD be that guy, and us Kings fans hope he is. But they want depth on the wing to go with their depth down the middle.
LA is looking to change the theme of their game. Known as the defensive powerhouse of the decade, LA brass wants to change to a more "exciting brand of hockey" according to Rob Blake and Lucky Luc. In this scenario, the Kings will not pass up on Stutzle. And even if they did, it would be for one of the sniper wingers, not a goaltender. As even more evidence of a Stutzle pick, the Kings LOVE forwards that can be dual threats on center and wing. Thomas, Kupari, Vilardi, Kempe, Carter, JAD. Their only two "true" centers at the moment are Kopitar and Turcotte. I have a feeling they turn Vilardi into one as well, but he's an option on the right wing for them at the moment.