LA Kings (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
Regardless of the 2021 season results, the LA Kings are expected to add a big-name defenseman in the draft next year. Enter Carson Lambos.
Given how top-heavy the LA Kings prospect pool is with offensive talent, the organization is missing a true blue-chip defensive prospect to grow and develop to become the next Drew Doughty. The Kings haven’t taken a defenseman with their first pick in the NHL Draft since Kale Clague, and he was a second-rounder back in 2016.
As noted, players like Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Alex Turcotte, and Quinton Byfield have led the way in terms of recent first-round picks — all on the offensive side.