Kings Select goalie Hampton Slukynsky (Round 4, Pick 188)

The LA Kings have made their fourth-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, choosing goaltender Hampton Slukynsky from the Warroad High School in Minnesota with the 118th overall pick!

The Vitals
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
DOB: July 2, 2005
Height: 6-1
Weight: 179
Hometown: Warroad, MN
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 16 (NA Goaltenders)
McKeen’s Hockey: 223
Draft Prospects Hockey: 205
FC Hockey: 262
Stats (Warroad High School): 28-1-1, 1.47 goals-against average, .941 save percentage

What The Experts Said
Warroad Coach Jay Hardwick, per The Rink Live
I think the biggest thing is his focus, his intensity, his compete level. Every puck he’s trying to stop no matter what. He doesn’t want to get scored on. He’s battling every single shift. If they’re going to beat him, it’s going to have to be something good.

DraftProspectsHockey.com
He plays with a calm demeanor and great leadership which is a huge advantage to have in the crease. He plays a hybrid, butterfly style of goaltending. He shows great flexibility, has great anticipation in reading the play and when to challenge shooters. He is active with his stick, will play the puck up and stop pucks behind the net that are dumped in and set it up for his defenseman. He does not always control his rebounds the best, but he does maintain good positioning and focus to make the second or third save. Finished the tourney with a .90 SV%, and a 3.33 GAA. Slukynsky was awarded the Frank Brimsek award the day after the tourney, given to the best senior goaltender in the state. He will continue his hockey future collegiately at Northern Michigan. 2023 NHL draft eligible.

The Hockey Writers
Hampton Slukynsky is a home-run type of pick. On a number of mocks, he isn’t listed, but he has an incredible amount of potential. He was named to Team USA for the 2023 U18s but hardly played to make an assessment. Regardless, it’s impressive for a high school goalie to be recognized as one of the premier young netminders in the country. Along with that honor, he also was invited to the U.S. World Junior Showcase this summer in Plymouth, Michigan

Quick Take – There’s the goalie. You knew that the Kings would select a goaltender in this season’s draft and they opt for Hampton Slukynsky, who played both at Warroad High School in Minnesota and the US National U-18 program. This is a longer-term pick for sure for Slukynsky, who is committed to Northern Michigan University for the 2024-25 season. Slukynsky was a part of the Under-18 program for the US, appearing in a game at the 2023 at the Under-18 WJC, winning a gold medal. One for the future Insiders, one to monitor.