The 2025 NHL Draft is quickly approaching, and right now, the Los Angeles Kings are scheduled to have the 24th pick in the first round on Friday night. However, they might not end up picking there and could possibly not pick at all on Friday night.
According to Zach Dooley with LA Kings Insider, the Kings could be looking to trade back in the first round after speaking with Mark Yannetti. The Kings' Director of Amateur Scouting mentioned teams who might have too many picks and are looking to move some of them for a higher pick.
Dooley mentioned two teams that could be trade partners for the Kings in the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks. The Flyers currently have three first-round picks, including 31st overall, along with three second-round picks.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks have two first-round picks, including 30th overall, as well as two second-round picks.
Why would the LA Kings consider trading back in the first round?
Based on the tweet by Dooley, it seems like the idea for the Kings trading back would be to acquire a second-round pick. Both of those teams would be able to help Los Angeles achieve that as they currently have no picks in the second round of this year's NHL Draft.
That pick is currently with the Tampa Bay Lightning as the Kings traded it last year when they acquired Tanner Jeannot.
Another reason the Kings might want to do that is that they don't believe when it is their turn to pick that there is a player with a first-round grade.
With them picking towards the end of the first round, they probably have a group of players that they would be comfortable drafting that they believe could still be available if they were picking 30th or 31st. In that scenario, adding another second-round pick would give them more value.
It will be an interesting topic of discussion and storyline leading up to Friday night for the Los Angeles Kings.