LA Kings add physical defenseman Giorgos Pantelas in fifth round

With their second and final pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings selected Brandon Wheat Kings OHL defenseman Giorgos Pantelas with the 153rd overall pick.

After taking the offensively gifted Finnish defenseman Vertti Svensk earlier in the fifth round today, the Kings added a different type of blue-liner in Pantelas. While Svensk's game involves high-level playmaking, skating ability, and offensive creativity, Pantelas profiles as a much steadier and more physical defenseman whose defensive instincts and reliability give him intriguing long-term potential in more of a shutdown role on the blue line.

Pantelas doesn't overwhelm opponents with his offensive production, but he consistently makes smart decisions when the puck is on his stick, and he does a good job of keeping the play moving in the right direction.

Just because Pantelas isn't the most dynamic defenseman in the offensive zone doesn't mean he doesn't play a smart and efficient game on both sides of the ice.

He started this past season red-hot on the stat sheet from the blue line, registering over 20 total points in the regular season's first 30 games. But he finished up with just two assists and two total points in the season's final 15 games in Brandon.

Many scouts and media members projected Pantelas to be selected as early as the second round of this draft. Anchored by his physicality and defensive game, Pantelas could be a really potent shutdown defenseman at the next level.

The way that Pantelas moves with and away from the puck and the type of smart and physical hockey he plays in the defensive and neutral zones make him a prospect that was well worth taking a chance on for the Kings and general manager Ken Holland. If the Kings can work on improving his offensive game in the next couple of years, he could be an intriguing third-pairing defenseman at the next level.

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