In the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings continued adding skilled and intriguing offensive talent to their prospect pool by selecting Flint Firebirds winger Alex Kostov with the 177th overall pick.
By the sixth round of the draft, most teams are searching for prospects that stand out with a couple of traits that could translate into NHL success in a few years. With Kostov, the Kings are taking a swing at a skilled winger whose offensive instincts, proven experience and production, and scoring curve make him an appealing value pick in the later rounds of the draft.
The LA Kings select Flint winger Alex Kostov with the 177th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft.
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) June 27, 2026
2025-26 (45 GP):
-24 goals
-31 assists
-55 points pic.twitter.com/18jYWE7e49
Kostov has re-entered the draft multiple times. In this past few years, he was passed over in the draft two years in a row. But his play with the Firebirds this past season forced scouts and teams to reconsider passing over him in this draft class for 2026.
He scored at over a point-per-game clip for the Firebirds this past season, including a career-high in the OHL of 24 goals in just 45 games played. At 6-foot-4, Kostov was able to command the play and set the tone offensively in multiple games for long stretches of time this past season for Flint.
Kostov participated in rookie camp this past year for the Nashville Predators and he represented the Firebirds at the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game this past January.
He uses his size and length well to control the puck, pull the puck off the boards in contested situations, and he has sneaky speed and agility for a player that has his big frame.
Defensively, Kostov still has room to grow and develop. He can be slow to react away from the puck, which leaves him out of position or late arriving to battles and loose pucks in his own zone.
The Kings are taking a risk that Kostov will parlay his size, reach, and offensive skill with improved skating ability and defensive awareness. He will play in college hockey for Quinnipiac in the 2026-27 season, where he has the chance to develop into a depth forwards in the NHL one day.
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