Kings Make Seven Selections on Day 2 of NHL Draft

The LA Kings made seven total selections in the 2022 NHL Draft. All seven picks were chosen on Day Two after the team traded its first-round selection (19th overall), along with defenseman Brock Faber, to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Kevin Fiala.
The Kings opened Day Two of the draft by selecting forwardJack Hughes 51st overall. The 18-year-old forward skated this past season with Northeastern University, tallying 16 points (7-9=16) in 39 games while earning Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors and helping the Huskies capture the 2021-22 Hockey East regular-season title. Prior to Northeastern, the 6-0, 170-pound forward from Westwood, Mass. spent two seasons (2019-21) with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, where he tallied 72 points (22-50=72) in 87 games with the U.S. National Under-17 Team (2019-20) and U.S. National Under-18 Team (2020-21).

In the third round, the Kings traded the 86th overall pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 103rd and 169th pick. In the fourth round, the Kings chose forward Kenny Connors from the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL with the 103rd selection. Over two seasons (2019-21), the 6-1, 190-pound forward tallied 74 points (28-46=74) in 111 appearances. The Glen Mills, Pa. native is committed to skate with the University of Massachusetts for the 2022-23 season.
Also in the fourth round, the Kings selected defenseman Angus Booth with the 116th pick. This past season, the 6-1, 175-pound Montreal native posted 23 points (1-22=23) in 42 appearances with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL and added four points (2-2=4) in 16 playoff outings to help the Cataractes capture the QMJHL President's Cup as playoff champions.
In the fifth round, the Kings chose defenseman Otto Salin148th overall from HIFK of the U20 SM-sarja league in Finland. Over the past two seasons (2020-22), the 5-11, 205-pound blueliner tallied 22 points (7-15=22) in 30 games. He also made six appearances with HIFK in the Liiga, tallying one assist. Internationally, the Helsinki native has skated for Finland in one IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship, tallying two assists in four outings.
The sixth round saw the Kings use its two draft picks to take forward Jared Wright 169th overall before adding defenseman Jack Sparkes with the 180th selection. Wright, a 6-1, 180-pound native of Burnsville, Minn., spent the 2021-22 season with the USHL's Omaha Lancers, tallying 34 points (15-19=34) in 59 games and adding three points (1-2=3) in four playoff outings. Sparkes skated the 2021-22 season with St. Michael's Buzzers of the OJHL, posting 12 points (5-7=12) in 37 games. The 6-8, 235-pound native of Ottawa is committed to Michigan State University for the 2023-24 season.
After a trade with the Boston Bruins saw the Kings acquire the 215th overall selection in exchange for a 2023 seventh round pick, the Kings selected forward Kaleb Lawrence from Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. The 6-7, 230-pound Ottawa native has skated parts of three seasons with the Attack, posting eight points (5-3=8) in 41 appearances.