Hockey’s Future Ranks Kings’ Prospects and I Complain

Here’s what HF has for the Kings‘ top twenty:

1. Brayden Schenn, C
2. Jonathan Bernier, G
3. Thomas Hickey, D
4. Viatcheslav Voynov, D
5. Colten Teubert, D
6. Andrei Loktionov, C
7. Davis Drewiske, D
8. Martin Jones, G
9. Scott Parse, LW
10. Jeff Zatkoff, G
11. Alec Martinez, D
12. Nicolas Deslauriers, D
13. Kyle Clifford, LW
14. Juraj Mikus, C
15. Garret Roe, C
16. Trevor Lewis, C
17. Brandon Kozun, RW
18. Dwight King, LW
19. Patrick Mullen, D
20. Jacob Muzzin, D

The rest, in alphabetical order: * Niclas Andersen, D * Justin Azevedo, C * Drew Bagnall, D * Jean-Francois Berube, G * Constantin Braun, D * Andrew Campbell, D * Marc-Andre Cliche, RW * Rich Clune, LW * Robbie Czarnik, C * Nic Dowd, C * Corey Elkins, C * Bud Holloway, C * David Kolomatis, D * David Meckler, C * Jordan Nolan, C * Martin Nolet, D * Michael Pelech, C * Joe Piskula, D * Josh Turnbull, C * Linden Vey , RW * Kevin Westgarth, C

Now. Before I get to list-making, I want to complain. Hockey’s Future (which I love) ranks all prospects in one top-20, which — while I get the virtue of simplicity — is a little like saying:

Best Cheapest Hippest Most Up and Coming and/or Greatest Cities to Live In:

1. New York
2. Florence, Italy
3. Valley Village, CA
4. Paris
5. Grand Rapids, MI
6. Pompeii
7. London
8. Ann Arbor, MI
9. Casablanca
10. Windsor, ONT

That is to say, useless.

The list wants to be (1) prospects with highest upside, (2) prospects with the most buzz, (3) prospects who are most NHL ready, (4) prospects with the best chance of actually making it to the NHL. It can’t be all those things. Or else you end up with a list that has  Drewiske at 7, Parse at 9, Clifford at 13, Muzzin at 20, and Clune and Westgarth not even ranked.

So let’s not go for simplicity. Who needs it? It’s a blog. You can skim. First up:

Best chance of sticking in the NHL

(note: sticking, not stinking)

Will:

• Brayden Schenn
• Jonathan Bernier
• Thomas Hickey
  Colten Teubert
  Kyle Clifford
• Richard Clune
• Trevor Lewis
• Jake Muzzin
• Viatcheslav Voynov
  Andrei Loktionov
• Scott Parse/

Probably Will:

• Davis Drewiske
• Martin Jones
• Jeff Zatkoff/

I Think They Will

• Jordan Nolan
• Nicolas Deslauriers
• Dwight King
• Linden Vey
• Ray Kaunisto

Might

• Alec Martinez
• Marc-Andre Cliche
• Brandon Kozun
• Corey Elkins
• Kevin Westgarth
• Justin Azevedo
• Andrew Campbell
• Johan Fransson/

I Don’t Think They Will

Juraj Mikus
Patrick Mullen
Bud Holloway
Drew Bagnall
David Meckler
Joe Piskula
I Have No Idea:

• Joshua Turnbull
• Robert Czarnik
• Nic Dowd
• David Kolomatis
• Michael Pelech
• Garrett Roe
• Jean-Francois Berube
• Niclas Andersen
• Constantin Braun
• Martin Nolet/

Upside

Guys You Build a Team Around

• Brayden Schenn
  Jonathan Bernier
  Kyle Clifford
  Jake Muzzin/

When They Grow Up

• Andrei Loktionov
• Thomas Hickey
• Colten Teubert
• Vyacheslav Voynov
  Nicolas Deslauriers
• Linden Vey/

Interesting Long Shots

• Brandon Kozun
• Justin Azevedo
• Garrett Roe
• Juraj Mikus/

Big Bodies I’m Rooting For

• Dwight King
• Jordan Nolan
• Ray Kaunisto
• Andrew Campbell
• Geordie Wudrick (yeah, I know)

Solid

• Scott Parse
  Trevor Lewis
• Richard Clune
• Marc-Andre Cliche
• Davis Drewiske/

Solid When Ripe

• Corey Elkins
• Alec Martinez
• Kevin Westgarth/

Not Much Upside (but what do I know)

David Meckler
Drew Bagnall
Joe Piskula
No Idea

• Johan Fransson
• Jeff Zatkoff
• Martin Jones
• Patrick Mullen
• Bud Holloway
  David Kolomatis
  Joshua Turnbull
• Robert Czarnik
  Nic Dowd
• Michael Pelech
  Jean-Francois Berube
• Niclas Andersen
  Constantin Braun
  Martin Nolet/

NHL Ready (As in, Right Now

• Jonathan Bernier
• Trevor Lewis
• Scott Parse
• Richard Clune
• Kyle Clifford
• Brayden Schenn
• Jake Muzzin/

And, of course, the whole list is going to change over the next twenty-four hours