Kings 2017 draft review

After two days of drafting at the 2017 EHE Draft in Chicago, the Los Angeles Kings walked away with a draft class that looked a little older than usual.  All six of LA's selections were overagers, and all but one of those selections played NCAA hockey.

Let's take a brief look at the Kings' 2017 draft class:

2nd round, 48th overall - W Anders Bjork (Notre Dame)
NHL: Drafted 5th round, 146th overall in 2014 by the Boston Bruins 

The Kings started day one of the draft with a 4th round pick as their first selection, but dealt Miles Wood and later picks to the Rangers in order to select Bjork. A fast, elusive winger with quick hands and great vision, the 21-year-old Bjork was a member of the United States' World Championships roster and is a near-lock for a significant NHL role with the Boston Bruins this season. 

3rd round, 74th overall - D Paul LaDue (Los Angeles / University of North Dakota)
NHL: Drafted 6th round, 181st overall in 2012 by the Los Angeles Kings 

A smooth-skating, intelligent defenseman with two-way ability, former Sioux rearguard Paul LaDue made his debut with the NHL's Kings last season and should see his minutes increase in 2017-18. He's on track to become a well-rounded top-four defenseman in the next few seasons, but will likely start his EHE career with the AHL's Alaska Aces. 

3rd round, 80th overall - W Dylan Sikura (Northeastern University)
NHL: Drafted 6th round, 178th overall in 2014 by the Chicago Blackhawks

Sikura figures to be in the Hobey Baker conversation in college hockey this season, as the dynamic winger is heading back to Northeastern for his senior NCAA year. Though undersized, Sikura has tantalizing offensive skills and skating ability and was singled out by Chicago GM Stan Bowman as the most impressive player at the Blackhawks' development camp this summer. He'll remain on the Kings' prospect list for now. 

4th round, 112th overall - C Shane Gersich (University of North Dakota)
NHL: Drafted 5th round, 134th overall in 2014 by the Washington Capitals.

It's rumored that Gersich's breakout sophomore season at North Dakota -- where he led the Sioux in scoring ahead of names like Tyson Jost and Brock Boeser -- was one of the factors that convinced the NHL's Washington Capitals to part with Zach Sanford in the Kevin Shattenkirk trade. A Chaska, Minnesota native, Gersich was the first overall pick in the 2012 USHL Draft who struggled in his freshman year of college hockey, but is now firmly on the NHL radar. Gersich is returning to North Dakota for his junior season. 

5th round, 133rd overall - D Devon Toews (Bridgeport Sound Tigers / Quinnipiac University)
NHL: Drafted 4th round, 108th overall in 2014 by the New York Islanders

A creative, puckmoving defenseman with excellent speed and transition ability, former Quinnipiac Bobcat defenseman Devon (pronounced De-Vaughn) Toews could be a surprise name in the NHL this season. Toews completed an excellent rookie campaign with AHL Bridgeport in 2016-17, where he was named to the AHL All-Rookie team, won the AHL's fastest skater competition, and finished 10th in league scoring among defensemen with 45 points. He'll likely get some time with the New York Islanders in 2017-18, and will get prime minutes with the EHE's Alaska Aces this season. 

6th round, 158th overall - LW Alexandre Fortin (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
NHL: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016 by the Chicago Blackhawks. First eligible for the NHL draft in 2015.

The lone player in this year's Kings' draft class without NCAA roots, unheralded winger Alexandre Fortin made quite the impression on the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks during their training camp in 2016. Undrafted in 2015, the tenacious, intelligent scoring winger was invited to the Blackhawks' development camp the next year and nearly made the opening-night lineup off the back of his impressive performances during that preseason. He could be an unexpected addition to the Blackhawks as soon as this fall, but will probably have to wait a few years to have a meaningful impact in the EHE.