Kings won't trade out of the top 3. I could see them swapping the #2/#3 pick with Ottawa if they're leaning towards Stutzle and want to try to swindle an extra asset, but can't see them moving down to #4 or lower.

Would Lias for Rasmussen work?

Take out Juolevi and Vancouver accepts

Drop the 2nd from the ARI trade. Glendening for Stepan is fine imo. Stepan's the better player but his cap is a bit too big...

You think there’s that much of a gap between stutzle and byfield and perfetti, drysdale, and Raymond? I feel like the kings are in a position where they can afford to draft by position (i.e. on wings) if they can pick up a few nice assets. They are so stacked down the middle

If they draft Stutzle, it's because they want him at LW. They won't develop him at center. If they wanted a center, they'd take Byfield.

Yes, I feel there are 3 tiers of players in the top 7. Lafreniere is in a class by himself, Stutzle and Byfield are in another tier, and Rossi, Perfetti, Raymond, & Holtz are in the 3rd tier. I don't think Drysdale is in the same tier as the rest of those guys, but he has been shoehorned in due to his being a RHD and a skilled skater in an otherwise unimpressive skating class.

No, Rasmussen isn’t going to be a world beater by any means but this offseason should do him wonders as he is pretty lean for his frame. He also played well when not injured last year.

Drafting Stutzle would be drafting for position.

this isn't true at all. Stutzle is a natural center not a wing.
His speed is incredible and the best place to use it is in the center of the ice. He won't play wing in the NHL. He might start there for a year like a lot of young players, but his speed will put him to center ice. where he becomes dangerous taking up more space.

I didn't say he's a natural wing, just that if the Kings draft him, they're going to play him at LW, since they literally have ZERO top six LW prospects in the system. That's the only reason they'd take him over Byfield.

If they want a center, they'll take Byfield. If not, they'll take Stutzle and play him at wing. If they did their scouting and came up with the same conclusion as you, then they're taking Byfield.

Sounds good.

The only part that has a chance is the Wennberg signing and that is if Columbus buys him out, I'm not sure they want to. The rest are bad for 1 of and both teams in some cases.

If they took out the 1st round pick instead would it work?

Yes, but I don't know if Detroit does it if you take out the 1st

Let's expand this then. Would Vancouver be willing to give up Podkolzin as a sweetener with Eriksson and Beagle for a 7th rounder?

Probably not, the value is fair but he's looking like a beast in the KHL and the Canucks are gonna need his cheap contract in a couple years. The Canucks are definitely in cap hell but they really only need to move one of either Beagle or Eriksson.