Kings Lose Stamkos but Earn Right to Best Defenseman Available

[Carla Muller]

Tampa Bay wins Stamkos. Los Angeles and the Kings now have the right to whomever the brain trust deems the best defenseman available. Hickey recently had a chance to weigh in on his hopes as to who the Kings would draft when questioned by a letsgokings.com contributor, Brasspucks, where Hickey hoped to see Schenn in a Kings jersey.

Brasspucks found himself at a Seattle Thunderbirds game and became an unofficial roving reporter for Kings' fans where he spotted Hickey in the stands:

". . . I told him how we're looking forward to seeing him in a Kings uniform in the near future. I then asked if there was anyone in particular he hoped the Kings would select in this year's draft and he said one word...

SCCCCCCHHHHHEEEEEENNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!

Not that it is really a surprise but Hickey feels they have great on-ice chemistry and played well together whenever they were partnered in the past, both at the under 18s and, of course, at the WJC's this year.

When I pointed out that Schenn could keep an eye on things on the back end and let him roam, you could just see his eyes light up at the very thought."

Hickey's Hopes for Kings' Drafting

Over the coming weeks, I will be providing previews to all the defenseman available, so whether Lombardi gets creative (or not), we will be a whole lot better informed who the possibilities are.

Knowing how much the lottery could effect this organization, and wanting to have an opportunity to see it live, I rushed home to watch the lottery up close and personal. Even though my head knows the Kings need defense more than forwards, admittedly my heart skipped a beat watching the envelopes open and pondering the possibilities.

TSN showed 'Lucky Luc Robitaille' Monday and suggested Lombardi sent him to represent the organization as a good luck omen; or as TSN inferred whether he could earn (yet again) his moniker.

When the #1 envelope showed Tampa Bay, my heart sank. Over time, I anticipate Stamkos delivering on his well earned reputation. Once my head chimes in on the equation, the sobering truth is that the Kings need the best defenseman more. There is no real shot of Los Angeles becoming the next coming of the Gretzky led Oilers. Defense wins championships and that is now the biggest hole of this team by a lot. Lombardi now avoids the biggest PR nightmare outside of the Cloutier debacle by all accounts due to two things:

1. Atlanta beat Tampa Bay this weekend;
2. Tampa Bay won the lottery.

The tie breaker between Tampa and Los Angeles had the nod going to the Bolts if it got that far. So Lombardi dodged a major bullet Monday -- whether he admits it publicly or not.

Carla Muller

carla.hockeygal@att.net

[Maverick]

What a terrible week for Robitaille. Ovechkin breaks his record, Kopitar beats him at Kings Madness, and he doesn't get us the first overall pick and has his nickname made fun of on the NHL Network. At least we have a possible franchise defenseman who could potentially be NHL ready by next season coming our way.

[emmacamilla]

I Can't Believe We Lost Out On Stamkos!!!! A Possible Franchise Defensemen Doesn't Come Close To A Marquee Centerman!

[Jester91]

Ok, we have a great young defensive core upcoming, but who was the last defensemen to score 50 goals or more in consecutive years? Sorry, but we need a scoring forward to make a third line, Nikita Filatov could be that guy I choose him.

[Carla Muller]

Originally Posted by Jester91

Ok, we have a great young defensive core upcoming, but who was the last defensemen to score 50 goals or more in consecutive years?

In all seriousness, who is the great defensive core, much less youthful core? The team is so weak on the back end. A forward would add to the depth there; while a defenseman might just make the difference between wins and losses since the team's GAA has more to do with losses than offense.

[khanon81]

knowing the kings, they will draft the smallest, wimpiest defensemen

[Maverick]

Originally Posted by khanon81

knowing the kings, they will draft the smallest, wimpiest defensemen

LoL, as much as I wanted to build a rebuttal against what you said, I can't help but laugh and agree. It would be amusing 10 years from now if we get an Aki Berg and another team like Atlanta gets a Pronger. With so many top defenseman here, it is kind of like playing roulette, but I have to trust in Dean, he so far has a fantastic scouting record. In Dean we trust! GO KINGS!

[borinka99]

Originally Posted by CarlaMuller

Lombardi now avoids the biggest PR nightmare outside of the Cloutier debacle by all accounts due to two things:

1. Atlanta beat Tampa Bay this weekend;
2. Tampa Bay won the lottery.

The tie breaker between Tampa and Los Angeles had the nod going to the Bolts if it got that far. So Lombardi dodged a major bullet Monday -- whether he admits it publicly or not.

You can't seriously believe that Lombardi dodged a MAJOR BULLET by LOSING the lottery???? Even if he didn't want Stamkos, he could have traded the #1 pick for a kings' (heh) ransom.