Fansided

Re-Drafting the 2006 NHL Draft

By David Rouben

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 24: (L-R) Second overall pick Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues, and third overall pick Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for a portrait together backstage during the 2006 NHL Draft held at General Motors Place on June 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images for NHL)
VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 24: (L-R) Second overall pick Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues, and third overall pick Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for a portrait together backstage during the 2006 NHL Draft held at General Motors Place on June 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images for NHL) /
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Mar 18, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Michael Frolik (67) during the face off against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Colorado Avalanche won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames right wing Michael Frolik (67) during the face off against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Colorado Avalanche won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Right wing. HC Rabat Kladno. Michael Frolik. 17. player. 67.

Original pick: Trevor Lewis

For a team that has built itself through the draft, the Kings had a real opportunity when they acquired two first round picks. They could’ve made off with a real haul in what proved to be a historically great class but instead, their most notable picks turned out to be backup goalie Jonathan Bernier and fourth liner Trevor Lewis.

Michael Frolik could’ve served them better, especially considering they were struggling offensively. Central scouting listed Frolik as the second best European forward behind Nicklas Backstrom, but it turned out that the gap really was that large. The Panthers ended up being the team that fell in love with him, and he had some good years with them, putting up 40 points in his first two years.

While he has bounced around with several teams since then and has seen his production drop off, Frolik has proven to be a serviceable role player wherever he’s gone. When he was with the Chicago Blackhawks, for example, he was playing bottom six minutes most of the time, but he was an unsung hero in their Cup run in 2013. He put up 10 points in that playoff run, including scoring a game-winning penalty shot against Detroit, and recording an assist in the last three games of the Cup Final.

Frolik nearly equaled his career high in points when he moved to the Jets, then had a good, albeit injury-plagued, season for the Flames.

LA’s offense was very much a top heavy one, and while Trevor Lewis addresses that need of shoring up the team’s depth, Frolik is a much better option in that scenario. While he was taken 10th overall in real life, in this re-draft, 17th overall is more suitable for him.

Next: 18. Colorado Avalanche

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