20. Xavier Villenueve, D (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL): Utah Mammoth
Regarding his skill and overall production from the blue line, defenseman Xavier Villenueve is a high-profile prospect who can be really exciting at the next level. Villenueve is a versatile and well-rounded defenseman who is extremely fun to watch on both ends of the ice.
The fact that Villenueve is considered a middle-first-round to an outside lottery pick in this draft class just goes to show how deep multiple position groups are next year for these prospects.
This past year in the draft, the Kings picked a potent talent on the blue line late in the first round in Brzustewicz from the London Knights in the OHL. In this mock draft, we have the Kings picking another defenseman late in the first round in the tall and lanky Swede Malte Gustafsson.
The 6-foot-4 and 200-pound defenseman Gustafsson has one of the highest physical upsides of any prospect in this draft class at the position group on the blue line. If he can add 20 or 25 pounds of muscle mass to his frame, Gustafsson has the reach and defensive instincts and IQ to be a top-four lockdown defenseman in the NHL in the future.