Where are they now? The LA Kings 2013 NHL draft class
The 2013 LA Kings draft class is one in recent memory that didn’t yield terrific results. They were without a first-round pick going into draft night, sent to Columbus in the Jeff Carter trade in February 2012.
If you recall, the 2013 NHL Draft saw Nathan MacKinnon go number one overall, Aleksander Barkov number two, Seth Jones number four, and Bo Horvat ninth overall. If it helps, the Blue Jackets selected Marko Dano with their pick, who would later be included in the Artemi Panarin deal with Chicago.
Regarding the Kings draft class, let’s review where they are now.
Round 2, 37th overall: Valentin Zykov
Valentin Zykov put up a monster year with the Drakkar of the QMJHL in his draft year, tallying 40 goals and 75 points in 67 games. It was his first year on a North American rink after making the transition from Russia the year prior. He failed to take his game to the next level with the Ontario Reign during the 2015-16 season, scoring seven goals and 14 points in 43 games before he was traded to Carolina in exchange for Kris Versteeg. He spent last season with MODO Hockey of HockeyAllsvenskan, potting two goals and four points in seven games.
Round 4, 103rd overall: Justin Auger
Auger was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 OHL Priority Draft by the Guelph Storm. He set career highs in points during his NHL draft-eligible season, accumulating 16 goals and 33 points in 68 games. After being taken by the Kings in the fourth round, Auger spent the following season in with the Storm, tallying 23 points during the regular season and seven points in the postseason en route to Ross Robertson Cup Championship.
He played quite well at the AHL level, recording a career-best 36 points for the Ontario Reign in the 2015-16 season. Auger was recalled to the Kings for two games during the 2017-18 campaign before being sent back down. An RFA heading into the offseason, the Kings non-tendered the 24-year-old. He last played for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL during the 2019-20 season, scoring 26 goals and 46 points while serving as an alternate captain.
Justin Auger with his second of the weekend makes it 5-2 Reign! pic.twitter.com/d10Gj8xWU8
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) January 7, 2018
Round 4, 118th overall: Hudson Fasching
In Fasching‘s NHL Draft year, the Apple Valley, Minnesota native racked up four goals and seven assists for the US National U18 in USHL play. He also chipped in 10 goals and 33 points for the USDP. Not even with the Kings’ organization for a full season, Fasching’s rights were traded to Buffalo in the Brayden McNabb trade package. He made his Sabres debut on March 26, 2016, scoring his first goal in the opening period.
He spent the majority of the 2017-18 season with the Sabres’ AHL outfit, accumulating 12 goals and 30 points in 69 games. Fasching was traded to Arizona in the offseason and was limited to seven games last season, registering just one assist between the NHL and AHL levels.
Round 5, 146th overall: Patrik Bartosak
Bartosak looked like a steal coming out of the 2013 NHL Draft. The Czech goalie finished with the fifth-best GAA (2.26) and second-best SV% (.935) in the WHL during the 2012-13 season. He rose through the ranks, accumulating a 2.14 GAA and a .919 SV% for the Manchester Monarchs during the 2014-15 season. However, he played in just two games the following season before he was suspended indefinitely by the Kings.
In February 2016, Bartosak returned to the Czech Republic, playing in ten games for the HC Vítkovice Steel, logging a 3.04 GAA and .894 SV%. Last season, the 28-year-old netminder played for the Lahden Pelicans of Liiga, recording a 2.19 GAA and a .913 SV%.
Round 5, 148th overall: Jonny Brodzinski
After spending part of two seasons in the USHL, Jonny Brodzinski attracted the attention of the LA Kings during his freshman season at St. Cloud State. There, the young forward compiled 22 goals with 11 assists in 42 games. After his junior year, the Blaine, Minnesota native joined the Ontario Reign for the 2015-16 season, accumulating 15 goals and 28 points in 65 regular-season games.
He made his Kings debut in March 2017, recording two assists in six games. Interesting note, he was the first member of the 2013 Kings draft class to debut with the team. After three seasons that saw him consistently recalled and demoted, Brodzinski signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent, spending one year with the team. Most recently, he signed with the Rangers organization, scoring a goal and playing in five NHL games last season.
Jonny Brodzinski just scored his first career NHL goal and we can't stop watching it. pic.twitter.com/hzb54lWvSt
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 18, 2017
Round 6, 178th overall: Zachary Leslie
The second player drafted from the Guelph Storm of the OHL in this Kings class, Zac Leslie was a scoring machine at the OHL level, accumulating 39 goals and 155 points in four seasons. However, he failed to score consistently with the Ontario Reign, racking up just five assists in 30 games during his AHL rookie season.
The Ottawa, Ontario native was traded to the Chicago Wolves during the 2017-18 season and spent the following year with the club as well. After the 2018-19 season, Leslie signed with the Stockton Heat in July. He’s spent the last two years there, most recently scoring three goals with seven assists in 30 games in the shortened 2021 campaign. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
Round 7, 191st overall: Dominik Kubalik
The one that got away. However, it remains to be determined what the LA Kings have in Finnish defenseman Kim Nousiainen. Kubalik played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL in his draft year, tallying 17 goals and 34 points in 67 games. After being drafted, Kubalik wasn’t too keen on signing with the Kings, and he was traded to the Blackhawks in January 2019 for a fifth-round pick – later becoming Nousiainen in the 2020 draft.
Kubalik signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks and scored 30 goals in his rookie season, finishing third in Calder Trophy voting. He followed a promising rookie season with a 17-goal, 21-assist campaign, playing in all 56 games this past season.