The Kings were busy on Day 2 of the NHL draft, making eight selections across six rounds on Saturday after they snagged defenseman Henry Brzustewicz with the penultimate pick of the first round on Friday.
Here’s a quick glimpse at each new member of the royal family.
Vojtěch Čihař, 59th overall, forward, 18, 6-foot, 181 pounds
Having played in the Extraliga last year, Czechia’s top senior pro league, Čihař’s skating and energy popped even against more seasoned opponents. Kings scouting guru Mark Yannetti said that Čihař projects as a middle-six forward trending more toward a third-line role, though he could creep onto a second line or power-play unit, potentially. Čihař will likely return to his Czech club to expand his role and continue refining his game.
Kristian Epperson, 88th overall, forward, 19, 6-foot, 185 pounds
As one of two University of Denver commits, Epperson won’t be at the upcoming development camp per Pioneers program protocol, but the Kings got plenty of looks at him while he was putting up 80 points in 58 games in the Canadian junior system last year. The Kings’ scouting department amplified the chorus of observers who lauded Epperson’s relentlessness and ability to recover pucks, meaning he could one day excel as either a bottom-six forward or a support player on a scoring line.
Caeden Herrington, 120th overall, defenseman, 19, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds
While the draft is dominated by first-year eligible prospects, the Kings continued their longstanding trend toward players who had been passed over in previous drafts. Herrington was one such player, but after his first full season of U.S. junior competition and before his freshman year at the University of Vermont, the Kings scooped up a defender known primarily for his vision, passing and playmaking ability.
Jimmy Lombardi, 125th overall, forward, 18, 6-foot, 174 pounds
Lombardi is a University of Michigan commit but won’t begin competing for the Wolverines until the 2026-27 season. His hockey sense and competitiveness are his main draws, and he’s not as undersized as the last Kings center who fit that bill, Blake Lizotte. He projects as a bottom-six pro, but will have to prove if that’s in the NHL or the American Hockey League over time.
Petteri Rimpinen, 152nd overall, goalie, 19, 6-foot, 176 pounds
Rimpinen excelled in both World Juniors U20 competition, where he nearly stole a game from the heavily favored Americans for his Finns. Scout Christian Ruutu watched his efforts in Liiga and implored Yannetti to select Rimpinen. He aligned with Yannetti’s view that older prospects have better odds of panning out in later rounds, but it wasn’t congruous with the Kings’ needs after they built a formidable goaltending stable within two years. Still, the value was too good to pass up this late.
Jan Chovan, 184th overall, forward, 18, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Simple, effective, direct and tenacious, the Slovak national who has been competing professionally in Finland has the makings of a bottom-six forward who can provide energy and not leave his coach wanting when the opportunity to score presents itself. The Kings have had difficulty finding fourth-liners they can trust, let alone trust to produce, and much of this draft reflects that need.
Brendan McMorrow, 196th overall, forward, 19, 6-foot, 190 pounds
Another University of Denver commit and yet another bottom-six profiled forward, McMorrow has good strength for his size, a high motor and a little agitation in his game. In the United States Hockey League last season, he was a driving force on his team’s run to the Clark Cup Final, elevating his production to 14 points in 15 playoff games.
Will Sharpe, 216th overall, defenseman, 18, 6-foot, 194 pounds
His offensive production increased fourfold year-over-year in the Western Hockey League but did so playing with two different clubs, one of which was the rebuilding Kelowna Rockets. With them, he posted an acrid-41 rating in just 31 games while seeing his production plummet as well. The Kings shot their shot late in the draft, even if his value was still largely undefined.