Where are they now? The LA Kings 2013 NHL draft class
By Ryan Sikes
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.