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The Los Angeles Kings made seven selections at this year’s NHL Draft, which took place on Thursday and Friday.
The Kings notably didn’t have a first-round pick, after dealing it as part of the Kevin Fiala trade with the Minnesota Wild. However, they did acquire extra picks with the 103rd pick and 169th pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 86th pick, and also acquired the 215th pick from Boston Bruins, in exchange for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft.
Here’s a recap of their selections.
JACK HUGHES (2ND ROUND, 51ST OVERALL)- With their first pick, the Kings selected Jack Hughes, the son of Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. The forward played NCAA hockey with Northeastern University this year, scoring seven goals and 16 points in 39 games.
KENNY CONNORS (4TH ROUND, 103RD OVERALL)- Connors, who was passed over in last year’s draft, was the second forward selected by the Kings. He scored 25 goals and 56 points in 61 USHL games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints this season.
ANGUS BOOTH (4th ROUND, 116TH OVERALL)- The Kings took their first defenseman of the draft with the selection of Booth in the fourth round. The left-handed defender managed 23 points in 42 QMJHL games with the QMJHL Champion Shawinigan Cataractes.
OTTO SALIN (5TH ROUND, 148TH OVERALL)- Salin is a right-handed defenseman from Finland. This season, he managed 12 points in 11 games in Finland’s U20 league, while also playing in six Liiga games.
JARED WRIGHT (6TH ROUND, 169TH OVERALL)- Wright is one of the older players drafted and will be turning 20 years old in November. The forward spent this past season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, scoring 15 goals and 34 points in 59 games.
JACK SPARKES (6TH ROUND, 180TH OVERALL)- Sparkes is a huge defenseman, standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 234 pounds. He spent the season with the OJHL’s St. Michael’s Buzzers, scoring 12 points in 37 games.
KALEB LAWRENCE (7TH ROUND, 215TH OVERALL)- The Kings made a deal to acquire this pick from the Bruins, selecting Lawerence from the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. The defenseman has barely played over the last two years, as a combination of the OHL’s 2020-21 season being cancelled and then suffering an injury this year.
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