The LA Kings were rumored to be looking to trade back in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft and general manager Ken Holland was able to get that done. He would work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins while on the clock that brought them back the 31st and 59th overall picks for their pick at 24.
This was not much of a secret that the Kings wanted to move back, and Director of Amateur Hockey Mark Yannetti confirmed as much with Zach Dooley earlier this week. The thought process was that they wanted to add a second-round pick after not having one this year, since they moved it last year during the NHL Draft as part of the Tanner Jeannot trade.
At the time, Yannetti mentioned the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks as possible trade partners but it was the Pittsburgh Penguins who got the deal done. As the night has gone on, the Penguins have been one of the more active teams.
Where do the Los Angeles Kings go with their first round pick now?
While the Kings moved back, they still have a pick on Friday night and will pick 31st overall. The fact that they were willing to move back was probably due to there still being a number of players who could be a good fit for this team.
Two players who immediately come to mind is Ryker Lee, a left wing from the USHL, and defensemen Blake Fiddler, a right-shot defenseman, and Sascha Boumedienne, a left-shot defenseman. If any of these three end up being the pick and the Kings are able to add a second-round pick, that will be a big win for Ken Holland to start his first NHL Draft as general manager of the Los Angeles Kings.