LA Kings: First round targets if NHL Draft started today, Part IV
In Part Four of our series, we look at players the LA Kings should draft if the season were to end today. Up next, D man Carson Lambos.
After taking a closer look at a few forwards the LA Kings could target in the 2021 NHL Draft, we’re jumping back into the defenseman column. If you haven’t looked at Parts I-III yet, see below.
Today, we are diving into left-shot D man Carson Lambos, who has slipped a bit in draft boards recently, but he has some nice offensive upside to his game with a solid defensive game. We will be concluding our series with Part V later this week before doing individual draft profiles.
Let’s begin.
light. Related Story. First round targets if NHL Draft started today, Part I
Related Story. First round targets if NHL Draft started today, Part II. light
Related Story. First round targets if NHL Draft started today, Part III. light
Carson Lambos, D
Vitals
- Age: 18
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 201 lbs
- Shot: L
Rankings
- Ranked #14 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
- Ranked #29 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #22 by FCHOCKEY
- Ranked #2 by NEUTRAL ZONE
- Ranked #37 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
- Ranked #6 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
- Ranked #28 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
- Ranked #20 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
- Ranked #15 by SMAHT SCOUTING
- Ranked #3 by THE PUCK AUTHORITY
- Ranked #15 by TSN/McKenzie
Scouting Report
February 2021 – Lambos’ adjustment to the Jr A SM-sarja has not gone as well as hoped. He has shown some flashes of the player that we saw in Winnipeg but there have been consistency issues since his arrival in the Finnish junior league. Lambos remains intriguing if for nothing else than he still remains a projectable NHL defender who can play solid minutes and play capably in all three zones. His shot remains a strength offensively but his playmaking has been solid yet unspectacular. He can make good crisp passes but the flashes of dynamism that were evident with the ICE haven’t shown themselves this season. His defensive game has been the trait that’s projected best in Finland, yet the consistency issues remain. For the most part, he plays a good gap, leads with his stick and does a good job of getting the puck and moving it up ice. While he is no longer in conversation near the top of the draft, his fall from grace hardly means he is no longer a first-round prospect. He still projects well and has the ability to eat up some minutes, it just may come as a second pair, all-situations guy rather than a top pair guy who can be relied on to drive play in all situations. Dobber Prospects/Ferrari
Production
Video Highlights
Pro Comparison
Final Thoughts
Lambos is an interesting draft prospect. Watching his film, nothing in particular really stands out about his game, but he has a knack for a simple wrist shot that seems to find the back of the net. While waiting for WHL play to begin, he was loaned to JYP U20 of the U20 SM-Sarja, tallying two goals and nine assists in 13 games.
With the Winnipeg Ice last season, Lambos racked up eight goals and 32 points in 57 games, leading all rookie defensemen in the WHL.
He was an asset on the Ice’s powerplay unit in 2019-20, collecting two goals and eight assists on the man advantage. Lambos can skate well, but again, it’s nothing to write home about. He can lead rushes up-ice and displays crisp passing abilities.
Next. Way-too-early mock draft has team taking Carson Lambos. dark
Looking at his pro comparison, if the Kings end up taking Lambos in the first round — which they would probably be reaching for him with the seventh- or eighth-overall pick based on standings — he looks like he brings a little more offensively than Victor Mete.