The Los Angeles Kings are one of the best defensive teams in the NHL this season but in the latest mock draft by Bleacher Report, that fact didn't dissuade them from strengthening that part of their franchise. In the latest mock draft, Lyle Richardson the Kings selected defenseman Charlie Trethewey with the 24th overall pick.
The 17-year-old Trethewey has been a part of the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program for a few years now and is set to play at Boston University starting in 2026. According to Wes Crosby of NHL.com, Trethewey has tried to model his game around Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy.
Greg Moore, coach of the National Team Development Program, noted that McAvoy was a good play to study, "A lot of using their skating to defend plays up ice, their gaps. It's definitely a player that we've targeted for him to watch and study, model his game after."
Los Angeles Kings have not drafted defensemen in the first round often
If the Los Angeles Kings were to draft a defenseman in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, it would be the first time selecting Brandt Clarke with the eighth overall pick in 2021. This season Clarke has stepped into a full-time role for the Kings and played in every game with an average ice time of 17:29
However, prior to Clarke the last time the Kings drafted a defenseman in the first round was between 2011 and 2020 with the selection of Tobias Bjornfot in 2019. He would only play 117 games for the Kings over five seasons but has struggled to find a consistent role since then. During the 2023-24 season, he played in only four games with three different teams and this season has played in one game with the Florida Panthers.
The Kings though should be looking to add more to this part of their roster with players like Drew Doughty getting towards the end of their career. In a few years, they could be trying to replace a big hole and adding high-end talent like Trethewey, especially someone who excels as a two-way player, makes sense.