NEWSLETTER
The 2024 NHL Draft begins tonight! That means we have one more chance to break down who the Los Angeles Kings might be taking in round 1 at number 21 overall. Let’s look at potential options for the Kings.
More: See our final mock of the first two rounds
Mock: No. 21 – Terik Parascak – RW (WHL, Prince George)
Parascak is a great fit as he blew up this season to become an intriguing prospect. He led WHL rookies with 105 points and 43 goals. He also had 12 power-play goals. He is an intelligent player with great vision that allows him to contribute on power plays and penalty kills.
Parascak is ranked around 15-20 on most boards so he might not be available but the Kings would love to add him to their prospect pool if he falls to no. 21 overall.
Los Angeles Kings Team Needs
When talking about needs, it’s always an interesting conversation because you are drafting a player that might be 3-5 years away from being a legitimate NHL option. The Kings are going to draft the best player available at number 21 hoping that an elite talent slips in the draft.
At no. 21, it looks like the best available will be wingers and centers. The goaltenders in this draft are not looking like that great of prospects so that is not going to be an option.
More Options in Round 1 for Kings
No. 21 overall could come down to whatever player falls in the draft. Check out a few more options for the Kings in the first round.
Jett Luchanko – C (OHL, Guelph)
Luchanko has a high hockey IQ and knows how to use it. He had 74 points last season. He’s just 17 years old and is tenacious on pucks. He had 33 power-play points in 68 games. Luchanko can play center or wing and is looking like a legitimate prospect.
Liam Greentree – RW (OHL, Windsor)
While Greentree has seen his stock take a slight hit, he’s got great skills, the ability to score, and plenty of size. His play without the puck will have to improve but he looks like he could be a potential upgrade down the line for Arthur Kaliyev. There are questions about his speed but he had 90 points and is always in the middle of the action.
Ryder Ritchie – RW (WHL, Prince Albert)
Ritchie would be a great addition to LA as he elevates his game around high-end talent. He also has shown he can turn it up a notch when playing for Team Canada. He would be a sneaky addition to the prospect pool. He had 44 points in 47 games which doesn’t seem like much but he’s a well-rounded dual-threat wing and a great skater.
2023-24 Kings Season Recap
It was a first-round exit for the Los Angeles Kings after a 44-27-11 regular season. They fell 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers who went on to reach the Stanely Cup Finals and almost complete a 3-0 comeback but fell short vs the Panthers.
Adrian Kempe had 75 points while dishing out a team-high 47 assists while Kevin Fiala was second on the team with 73 points. Trevor Moore was the top goal scorer with 31 goals and put up 57 points on the year.
In goal, Cam Talbot started 52 games with a record of 27-20-6 and a save percentage of 91.3%. David Rittich started 22 games going 22-13-6 with a save percentage of 92.1%.
The Kings have been bounced from the playoffs in the first round each of the last three seasons. They haven’t been out of the first round since they won the Stanley Cup in 2014. It was Los Angeles’ second title in three years.
