NHL draft: What will the Kings do with their first-round pick?
The Kings maintained ownership of their first-round pick for the first time in three years, and they will need to make good on No. 21 overall if they expect to maximize a crop of players that presently projects to include just four prospects.
The Kings don’t possess a second-round, third-round or fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, leaving them with a selection on Day 1 on Friday and just one above the sixth round on Day 2 on Saturday. In a draft renowned for its scintillating, top-tier promise on the blue line, the Kings will first be selecting in a range that’s heavier on forward talent.
Though trades would not be beyond the realm of possibility, either out of the draft for a roster player or down in its order to diversify assets in a draft in which the Kings are thin on picks, here is a quick glimpse at six prospects that the Kings might consider with what’s currently their highest selection by a staggering 97-pick margin.
Michael Hage, center, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Hage lost his father to a swimming-pool accident and dedicated his draft season to him. He closed the campaign with 51 points in 30 games, being held scoreless in just four of those contests. Hage also recovered from a torn labrum that cost him much of the previous season. There’s a fluidity and effortlessness to his play with the puck that stands out a bit more with each viewing. He’s a threat to shoot or pass, a balance that shines through more saliently in his power-play minutes.
Jett Luchanko, center, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Luchanko’s first name is fitting since his speed can break the sound barrier, with elite acceleration and economical strides to take full advantage of his wheels. He has produced offensively at the junior level, where he tested out as the fastest player in Canada earlier this year, but isn’t known for his shot or hands. Instead, he uses his legs predominantly to back up defenses and set up teammates. That same speed is a tremendous asset when applying pressure on the forecheck or retrieving pucks.
Trevor Connelly, winger, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
A Tustin native, Connelly finished ranked sixth by Central Scouting among North American skaters. Like Luchanko, his skating is the top-line item on his bio, enmeshing blazing straight-line velocity with physics-defying edgework. Connelly has soft hands and a respectable shot to boot, yet his physique and defensive game are very much works in progress. He also has to surmount some character concerns due to an incident in his adolescence where he and a teammate photographed themselves with a swastika made out of children’s blocks.
Cole Beaudoin, center, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Like Luchanko, Beaudoin is an offensive star in junior whose traits could translate to more of a checking role in the pros even if his offense doesn’t carry over. His vision and shot have been effective at the junior level and he’s addressed concerns about his skating, to a degree. He’s got size, strength, athleticism and tenacity to spare, projecting him as a middle-six forward who could define his game in several different ways as a pro.
Sacha Boisvert, center, North Dakota (NCAA commit)
His wrist shot, one-timer, trench play and offensive instincts all scream goal-scorer, and he scored 19 more goals to bring his total to 36 in his second season in the USHL last year. Boisvert plays a mature game and one that’s fairly complete. He can key or accelerate rushes with his passes. His defensive game and maturity level are considered to be beyond his years while his frame could fill out formidably.
A right-handed defenseman
The Kings have more of an organizational need at left defense, but the area where they’ll be selecting skews toward righties, for whom general manager Rob Blake has shown quite an affinity over the years. Dominik Badinka, Charlie Elick, E.J. Emery and Adam Kleber are among the possibilities. Badinka’s hockey sense is his calling card at both ends of the ice. Emery and Elick combine physicality with mobility, with Emery’s reach and athleticism being especially alluring. Kleber towers above most of the competition at 6-foot-5 while playing a controlled, efficient game in his own zone.