The 2025 NHL Draft is a long way away for the Los Angeles Kings but mock drafts like the one Bleacher Report put together recently are fun to talk about during a time when there isn't much to talk about. In their latest mock draft, they have the Kings selecting forward Justin Carbonneau out of the QMJHL.
The 17-year-old is 6'1" and 190 pounds and is coming off a breakout season last year with 31 goals and 28 assists in 68 games with another three goals and three assists in seven playoff games, according to Elite Prospects.
What should Los Angeles Kings fans take away from this mock draft?
These way-too-early mock drafts aren't usually right on the player but there is still plenty of notable information to take away. The first is where the Los Angeles Kings are picking and in a season with plenty of question marks, Bleacher Report still believes they should be a playoff team as they are picking in the back half of the first round at 20th overall.
Lyle Richardson does note that the biggest concern for the Kings right now is on defense however this late in the first round, it is tough to find a difference maker for that part of the roster. In that scenario, the Kings have gone with the best player available.
if the Kings were to select Carbonneau, it would be the second straight year they added a wing in the first round after selecting Liam Greentree this past NHL Draft.
Regardless of who the Kings pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, they are going to have to get it right. Every year teams hope they get the picks right but the Kings are under even more pressure as they don't have a second-round pick currently. That pick currently belongs to the Tampa Bay Lightning as it was part of the Tanner Jeannot trade.