One of the biggest stains in the Los Angeles Kings' recent drafting history is the selection of Alex Turcotte fifth overall.
Drafting someone like Dylan Cozens, Trevor Zegras, Matt Boldy or even taking a swing like the Detroit Red Wings did on Moritz Seider could have completely changed the organization's trajectory.
Instead, the Kings went with Turcotte. I've talked about this pick plenty in the past, and I don't blame the Kings for this pick.
Fifth overall was a fine range for Turcotte, who has arguably the second-best player on the USNTDP behind Jack Hughes and was maybe the most complete forward in the draft.
Injuries and a few bad development decisions, coming out of Wisconsin a year too early, have ravaged his early career though.
Last season, Turcotte proved he could stay relatively healthy and compete in the NHL, earning himself 20 games with the Kings and grabbing his first NHL points.
Combine that with 29 points in 35 AHL games and Turcotte has earned himself a three-year extension with an AAV of $775,000 in LA.
I've seen a lot of talks about his ability to replace Blake Lizotte as the 4C, and he could, but that is aiming far too low.
Turcotte should be getting a look in the Kings' top nine this summer.
Taking skilled players and plugging them into the bottom of the lineup has been a problem for the Kings and they shouldn't make that mistake with Turcotte.
They have two openings in their top nine with the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade and Viktor Arvidsson likely walking, and one of those spots should be for Turcotte.
The Kings' top nine is in a perfect spot for Turcotte too. Assuming we see pairs in Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield-Kevin Fiala and Phil Danault-Trevor Moore, the Kings are looking for complementary wingers.
Insert Turcotte. He's the perfect complementary player for any of these lines. Someone who plays a responsible 200-foot game, can retrieve pucks on the forecheck and has the skill to make plays with the puck.
I've always said the Kings should look to recreate Turcotte's success with the US U20 team playing as the engine for Zegras and Arthur Kaliyev and he can do that in LA's top nine.
Whichever line he's on, he could be a fit. I'd understand if LA doesn't want to trust their LW1 spot to Turcotte, but Kopitar likes predictable "trusting" wingers and Turcotte is that.
A more talented version of Alex Iafallo isn't an unfair comparison and we've seen Iafallo work on Kopitar's wing.
It's time for the Kings to start giving more significant roles to young players and Turcotte can be a part of that.
He would also be on one of the league's best contracts if he snags a top-nine role.