LA Kings take calculated gamble by selecting Elton Hermansson after trading down

The Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland have officially made their first selection of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Just before the clock expired on the No. 17 overall pick, the Kings made a deal with the Utah Mammoth to move down two spots in the first round. The Kings received the No. 19 overall pick and the No. 83 overall pick in the third round in exchange for the No. 17 pick in the first round, which gives the front office more valuable Day 2 assets in the draft.

The Kings selected Sweden U20 MoDo Hockey winger Elton Hermansson with the 19th overall pick.

Elton Hermansson gives the Los Angeles Kings another skilled winger with long-term upside

From an asset-management perspective, this move looks pretty good to get more depth in the prospect pipeline this offseason.

The downside, though, is that the Kings gave the Mammoth the chance to pick physical winger Ethan Belchetz, who was widely viewed as one of the most dynamic forwards still available on the draft board. Belchetz could've addressed one of the Kings' biggest roster needs this summer, adding more scoring talent offensively to the prospect pipeline.

While the success of this trade for Holland and the Kings ultimately depends on whether LA's 19th overall selection develops into a quality impact player in the NHL, if Belchetz and center Oliver Suvanto (picked 18th overall by the Washington Capitals) develop into legitimate top-six scoring forwards, the trade will invite more scrutiny down the line.

Hermansson gives the Kings a skilled winger who has really intriguing long-term upside. He's got a wide array of skills in his tool kit offensively and in the neutral zone, including high-level stickhandling, top-notch speed and agility, a quick shot release, and great hockey IQ.

Where Hermansson must improve his game is on the defensive side of the ice. While his hockey IQ and length allow him to at least compete in the zone defensively, Hermansson must fill out his frame more at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds to become more adept at matching up with top blue-liners at the point.

Adding more bulk to his frame will also allow Hermansson to be a more well-rounded player in the offensive and neutral zones.

Over the long-term, Hermansson has the potential to be a playmaking middle-six winger in the roster lineup for the Kings. He'll probably need at least a few years to develop and work on his defensive game and to fill out his frame before he's ready to compete in the NHL. But in a couple of years, Hermansson could be a really valuable and potent prospect in the pipeline for the Kings' franchise.

For the Kings, this pick fits one of the franchise's biggest priorities entering the draft this weekend. After the retirement of center captain Anze Kopitar, the Kings have been needing to strengthen both their prospect pool and adding more depth and talent down the middle of the roster lineup.

While Hermansson doesn't address the Kings' long-term need at the center position, he does give LA another skilled scoring winger with legitimate middle-six or maybe even top-six upside. Adding more playmaking and scoring talent to the forward prospect pipeline was another major priority for the Kings entering the draft this weekend, and Hermansson has the skill set necessary to develop into an impactful offensive forward in the next two or three years.

With Hermansson now in the mix and the Kings having an extra third-round draft pick from the trade with the Mammoth this evening, Los Angeles goes into Day 2 with more opportunities to add talent and strengthen the prospect pool this offseason.

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