The Los Angeles Kings are set to pick in the top-10 of the NHL Draft once again this year, which will begin on July 23.
The Kings hold the eighth-overall pick but there’s quite a bit of uncertainty as to where different players could land within the first 10 picks. However, there does seem to be a group of players who are consistently named at the top of the rankings, though seemingly always in a completely different order. That group features three forwards, four defensemen and a goalie, being Matthew Beniers, Brandt Clarke, Simon Edvinsson, William Eklund, Dylan Guenther, Luke Hughes, Owen Power and Jesper Wallstedt.
There are five players in that group especially who seem to be locks to go before the Kings pick, being Beniers, Power, Eklund, Clarke and Hughes. This leaves three options for who may still be available at eighth overall and there’s probably a decent chance that the Kings could take whichever player ends up being available when it’s their turn to pick.
Below, I'll go over those three players, along with two other players the Kings could consider selecting with the eighth-overall pick.
SIMON EDVINSSON
While the top of the draft features four good defenders, the next 10 picks or so could be dominated by forwards. If one of the top defenders in the draft was to fall to eighth though, it could be Edvinsson.
He’s a 6-foot-5 defender who’s good in his own end, has very good agility and could develop into a top-pairing defender. He split the year between Sweden’s top professional league, second-highest league and top junior league.
If Wallstedt is taken before the Kings pick, it means one of the top defensemen (Power, Clarke, Hughes, Edvinsson) or one of the top forwards (Beniers, Eklund, Guenther) is still available at eighth overall. If he was still available, Edvinsson would be a steal for the Kings.
DYLAN GUENTHER
Like Edvinsson on defense, if there was a top forward to slip to eighth, it could be Guenther, rather than Beniers or Eklund.
Guenther averaged two points per game with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings in just 12 games this year, but also posted above point-per-game numbers in his rookie season as well. He’s a goal scorer and would be a great option for the Kings, if he’s still available.
JESPER WALLSTEDT
Wallstedt could very well end up being the highest goalie selected in an NHL Draft since Carey Price was taken by Montreal 16 years ago.
While Cal Petersen has been very good for the Kings, he's also turning 27 years old for the start of next season. Wallstedt could develop into the Kings’ starting goalie for the foreseeable future, as the young core starts to contend. Wallstedt posted a .908 save percentage in 22 SHL games this year as just an 18-year-old.
Wallstedt, in a way, could be the player to track in this draft class for the Kings. If he’s off the board by the time the Kings pick, it means one of the top seven skaters has slipped and will be available for Los Angeles. If he hasn’t been selected though, the Kings could jump on the opportunity to take the high-end goaltending prospect.
KENT JOHNSON
I think the Kings probably only look at taking Johnson if the other seven skaters mentioned above are off the board and they’re going to pass on Wallstedt.
Johnson played on a team with Beniers and Power at the University of Michigan this season, scoring an impressive nine goals and 27 points in 26 games. He also averaged nearly two points per game in the BCHL during the 2019-20 season, scoring 41 goals and 101 points in 52 games.
He could be used on the wing if selected by the Kings, given the team's center depth.
MASON MCTAVISH
McTavish opted to play overseas this year, with the OHL season being cancelled. He scored nine goals and 11 points in 13 games while playing in Switzerland and in his first OHL season in 2019-20, McTavish managed 29 goals and 42 points in 57 games.
McTavish has been able to score at a great pace and is likely to still be available when the Kings are picking. Again though, I think McTavish is likely only the pick if the top skaters are off the board and the Kings don’t want to go with Wallstedt.
I’ll list some honourable mentions as well, with Chaz Lucius, Fabian Lysell, and Cole Sillinger all as potential options, if the Kings wanted to go slightly off the board.
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Who do you see the Kings taking with the eighth-overall pick?
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