LA Kings: Seven-round mock draft 1.0
By Ryan Sikes
3rd Round, 65th Overall: Hayden Fowler, LW
Taken with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 OHL Draft, Hayden Fowler’s rights were traded to the Erie Otters halfway through the 2017-2018 campaign. At that point, he had just two goals with two assists in 33 games, but the change of scenery saw Fowler dominate the competition over the final few months, tallying ten goals with 12 assists in 28 games.
He was slowed by injury the following season but returned this past year with conviction. In 52 games, Fowler scored 20 goals with 22 assists for 42 points and was named an alternate captain for Erie. He finished with a career-best eight power play goals. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with stickhandling and puck-controlling abilities. Fowler has a terrific shot and started off the 2019-2020 campaign scoring a goal in four-of-five contests.
3rd Round, 82nd Overall: Thimo Nickl, D
A big defenseman with room to grow, Thimo Nickl is a master on the power play, finishing fourth in the QMJHL with six goals on the man advantage. As noted, he’s 6-foot-2 and 176 pounds and should fill out his frame as he physically matures. The Klagenfurt, Austria native scored ten goals with 29 assists for 39 points in 58 games for Drummondville this past season. In the World Juniors, Nickl tallied three assists in five games.
He’s fast for his size and is a physical defenseman, despite his offensive categories lighting up the box score. His best attribute might be reading the play and gap control, which is vital in the NHL that seems to get faster every year. He projects to be a Brent Seabrook-like player from a stylistic perspective and is a sneaky-good find for the Kings in the third round.