LA Kings: Three-round mock draft with emphasis on defense
In this particular mock draft, we have the LA Kings bolstering their blueline.
The LA Kings have the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. You may have heard by now. In our last installment, we focused on a mock draft that added dynamic offensive playmakers. Today, we focus on the blueline.
As a quick refresher, the LA Kings have five picks in the first three rounds.
- 1st Round: 1 pick
- 2nd Round: 2 picks
- 3rd Round: 2 picks
Using FC Hockey’s Mock Draft Simulator, we bolstered the LA Kings D men in the prospect pool. Let’s begin.
Related Story. Three-round mock draft with emphasis on scoring. light
Dylan Guenther, LW/RW
I’ve been on the Dylan Guenther train for quite some time now. This particular mock draft focuses on defense, but, per the simulator, Brandt Clarke, Luke Hughes, Owen Power, and Simon Edvinsson are off the board when the Kings are on the clock.
I like Corson Ceulemans from the perspective that he projects as an offensive blueliner, but Guenther is too good and too fast to pass up here.
I don’t need to go into his statistics and scouting report anymore here, as we previously covered him. See below.
Related Story. Dylan Guenther 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile. light
And for what it’s worth, after a run of forwards off the board, Carson Lambos went 26th overall.
Daniil Chayka, D
Chayka had a difficult 2020-21 season. With the OHL season canceled, he played in three different Russian leagues, accumulating just two goals and seven points in 26 games. With the Guelph Storm the previous year, Chayka finished with 11 goals and 23 assists, leading all defensemen in points.
He already has great size at 6’3″, 185 lbs, with room to fill out his frame. Chayka’s biggest assets are his massive shot from the point and long reach, making it nearly impossible for the opposition to beat him in the defensive zone.
In the defensive zone, his play is quite similar to University of Michigan defenseman Owen Power. His defensive strategy is to play a more relaxed game until the puck crosses the perimeter. At that point, Chayka plays a bit tighter along the half-wall to eliminate lanes for the attacker to shift towards center ice. – Smaht Scouting
Related Story. Daniil Chayka 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile. light
Jack Bar, D
Jack Bar could have been a first-round pick had he played the whole season with the Chicago Steel. He spent the fall playing in the BCHL before Chicago acquired his rights in January 2021. The 18-year-old D man tallied five goals and ten assists in 34 games.
He’s an opportunistic blueliner who takes care of his own end but isn’t afraid to jump into the rush or crash the net. Bar stands at 6’2″, 194 lbs, and loves the physical side of the game. He fits everything the Kings are looking for at the back end.
And shameful plug, but check out my interview with his former Prep School coach.
James Malatesta, LW
A forward from the QMJHL, Malatesta is great value in the third round. He’s slightly undersized at 5’9″ 179 lbs, but forwards like Brayden Point and Alex DeBrincat prove you don’t have to be the biggest player on the ice to make an impact.
The Pointe-Claire, Quebec native, tallied 23 goals and 45 points in 59 games during his rookie campaign with the Remparts. He didn’t take the next step in his draft year, recording 10 goals and 23 assists in 32 games this past season.
Regardless, there’s a lot to like about his game. In addition to being an excellent skater, Malatesta is so versatile in how he scores. He has a precise shot from distance, and he cleaned up a fair amount of pucks in front of the net.
Malatesta has speed to burn, great overall mobility, and a motor that never stops running. His speed pressures the opposition in multiple ways, whether it be getting in to disrupt a play on the forecheck, backing off defenders to create space in transition, or simply blowing by a defenceman on the rush. – Dobber Prospects/Richard
David Gucciardi, D
Gucciardi is committed to Michigan State for the 2021-22 season. The Toronto, Ontario native stands at 5’11” and 161 lbs, with room to fill out his frame. He’s a left-shot defenseman who played with four different USHL clubs in the last two seasons. Gucciardi found the most success this past season after being traded from Youngstown to Waterloo.
There, the 18-year-old put up career numbers, with seven goals and ten assists in only 29 games. He finished third in points among Waterloo blueliners, despite playing in half a season.
Gucciardi is an excellent skater, but he has the propensity to make some key mistakes with the puck, turning the puck over in his own zone or making a poor pass. He’s a powerplay specialist, accumulating three goals and four assists during his time in Waterloo. His tendencies to turn the puck over can be cleaned up as he continues to develop under head coach Danton Cole in East Lansing.
Gucciardi is a talented offensive defenseman, who can make crisp passes, has a strong shot, and isn’t afraid to play tough along the boards even though he is just 5-foot-11. On the negative side, when he is put under pressure, he will sometimes panic and make an ill-advised pass or shot that kills the momentum of his team. – The Hockey Writers/Helfrick
Would you be happy with this draft?
