Ben Shelley: Who should Seattle select from the Kings?

Clauge or Grundstrom

I think Clague makes sense if you look at the Kings roster in isolation -- but when you consider there are so many young defensemen for Seattle to select (Bean, Fleury, Foote, etc) -- it might make more sense to pick a bottom six forward with some experience and some upside.

The Seattle Roster will likely be filled with a lot of players with either very little NHL experience or a whole bunch of NHL experience. Lemieux is 25 and Grundstrom is 23 -- both were 2nd round selections and both can add some tenacity and energy to a line up. Both could be part of the middle group of players that grow into leadership roles.

Clague is also 23, and also selected in the 2nd round. And not able to crack the defensive lineup of the LA Kings. I'm a Kings fan, but their defense is pretty Cabbage. So not cracking that lineup isn't a great a sign.

Take a player with some NHL experience who will bring some energy into the building. No need to make a hope pick on D when they are going to be stocked at that position.

-Kings

I think Clague makes sense if you look at the Kings roster in isolation -- but when you consider there are so many young defensemen for Seattle to select (Bean, Fleury, Foote, etc) -- it might make more sense to pick a bottom six forward with some experience and some upside.

The Seattle Roster will likely be filled with a lot of players with either very little NHL experience or a whole bunch of NHL experience. Lemieux is 25 and Grundstrom is 23 -- both were 2nd round selections and both can add some tenacity and energy to a line up. Both could be part of the middle group of players that grow into leadership roles.

Clague is also 23, and also selected in the 2nd round. And not able to crack the defensive lineup of the LA Kings. I'm a Kings fan, but their defense is pretty Cabbage. So not cracking that lineup isn't a great a sign.

Take a player with some NHL experience who will bring some energy into the building. No need to make a hope pick on D when they are going to be stocked at that position.

-Kings
- Cabbages and Kings

Two things.

First -- are you saying that Seattle should select C. Foote over Y. Gourde? That's crazy.

Second -- Although the consensus pick is Clague, I still think AA is the way to go.

-Cabbages

I took AA over Grundstrom in my mock draft for the same reason K&C mentioned about other good young dmen being exposed. If Vegas viewed themselves as the "Misfits" then the Kraken can be the "Outkasts"

Hoven is saying his sources are saying Wagner is leading person to be taken. I cant wait for this stuff to pop off.

Hoven is saying his sources are saying Wagner is leading person to be taken. I cant wait for this stuff to pop off.
- poisondhearts37

I read a couple of articles saying this,I'm good with that pick.easier to replace wagner imo.

Here's Hoven's article, which is a pretty good read:

https://mayorsmanor.com/2...n-select-from-la-kings-2/

He agrees with Shelley that they should pick Clague, but thinks that there's a 50% chance that they'll take Wagner or MacDermid. I'll be delighted if they take either. The player that I'm worried about losing is Grundstrom, but he thinks that there's only a 4% chance of him being taken, which is surprising, but comforting.

From a Kings fan perspective, the player Seattle should take is probably the player that I would be most upset if they did take. For me that's Clague.

Maatta and MacDermid will never play a game on the Kings blue line ever again (MacDermid to LW?), leaving an opening on the Kings blue line. Those two guys had to stick around last season for expansion draft exposure reasons, so even though Clague was a better option for the blue line and looked good during the games he did play, the Kings couldn't risk exposing Maatta or MacDermid to waivers. Clague's waiver exemption made him the odd-man out. With the expansion draft out of the way, and Clague's waiver exemption expiring, there's no longer any such factors to worry about. If not selected by Seattle, M&M will be traded or waived and Clague will take the 3LD spot. The fact that he can play both sides makes him even more invaluable, as he can move to the right side to cover injuries if necessary.

I'd be disappointed if the Kings lost a guy like Quick, Lizotte, Wagner, or Grundstrom. I'd be upset if they lost Clague. To me, that makes him the likely choice by Seattle.

From a Kings fan perspective, the player Seattle should take is probably the player that I would be most upset if they did take. For me that's Clague.

Maatta and MacDermid will never play a game on the Kings blue line ever again (MacDermid to LW?), leaving an opening on the Kings blue line. Those two guys had to stick around last season for expansion draft exposure reasons, so even though Clague was a better option for the blue line and looked good during the games he did play, the Kings couldn't risk exposing Maatta or MacDermid to waivers. Clague's waiver exemption made him the odd-man out. With the expansion draft out of the way, and Clague's waiver exemption expiring, there's no longer any such factors to worry about. If not selected by Seattle, M&M will be traded or waived and Clague will take the 3LD spot. The fact that he can play both sides makes him even more invaluable, as he can move to the right side to cover injuries if necessary.

I'd be disappointed if the Kings lost a guy like Quick, Lizotte, Wagner, or Grundstrom. I'd be upset if they lost Clague. To me, that makes him the likely choice by Seattle.
- tkecanuck341

Wagner is hot trash. All wheels and nothing else. He cant shoot a puck to save a life.

From a Kings fan perspective, the player Seattle should take is probably the player that I would be most upset if they did take. For me that's Clague.

Maatta and MacDermid will never play a game on the Kings blue line ever again (MacDermid to LW?), leaving an opening on the Kings blue line. Those two guys had to stick around last season for expansion draft exposure reasons, so even though Clague was a better option for the blue line and looked good during the games he did play, the Kings couldn't risk exposing Maatta or MacDermid to waivers. Clague's waiver exemption made him the odd-man out. With the expansion draft out of the way, and Clague's waiver exemption expiring, there's no longer any such factors to worry about. If not selected by Seattle, M&M will be traded or waived and Clague will take the 3LD spot. The fact that he can play both sides makes him even more invaluable, as he can move to the right side to cover injuries if necessary.

I'd be disappointed if the Kings lost a guy like Quick, Lizotte, Wagner, or Grundstrom. I'd be upset if they lost Clague. To me, that makes him the likely choice by Seattle.
- tkecanuck341

Hard to argue that logic,m&m gone,clague is the guy to pick,defenecemen are a valuable commodity even 3rd pairing d.unless blake has made a side deal for a pick to sweeten not taking clague.id love to see him stay and be valuable to us.

Wagner is hot trash. All wheels and nothing else. He cant shoot a puck to save a life.
- poisondhearts37

I honestly don't care if he scores or not. He plays a solid physical game and draws a lot of penalties with his speed. He's an ideal 4th line player. The fact that he can't score will only help to keep his contract value down. It's also very fun to watch him blow by defensemen like they're standing still.

If he gets 5 goals and 10 points per season, he's exceeding expectations IMO.