What The Experts Are Saying About Pick #21

Who could the Kings draft at 21st Overall?

The Kings are set to draft in the first round for the first time in three years during the NHL’s upcoming 2024 Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with Day 1 set to begin at 4 PM tonight. Having traded away their 2022 first-round pick in the deal to acquire Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild and their 2023 first-round pick to acquire Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the last first round selection the Kings made was is 2021, when they took Brandt Clarke eighth overall.

Now set to pick at 21st in the 2024 Draft after their third consecutive playoffs appearance, the Kings will look to add to an upcoming young core in a consensually deep 2024 draft eligible prospect pool. A look below at some names to look out for, based on external and internal intel, with bios included from draft analysts who have forecasted certain players to the Kings.

Jett Luchanko (Center, Guelph Storm — OHL)
NHL.com, Mike Morreale
Standing 5–11 and weighing in at 187 pounds, the 17-year-old, right-handed centerman Jett Luchanko has played his OHL hockey for the alma mater of Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown, the Guelph Storm. Coincidentally, Luchanko matched Doughty’s second season offensive output in his own second year, posting 74 points (20-54-74) in 68 games during the 2023-24 season. Looked at as more of a set-up guy than a goalscorer, Luchanko provides value in all phases of the game as he was a valuable asset on the power play and a trustworthy and smart defender on the penalty kill. Notably, almost half of Luchanko’s offense came on the man advantage, collecting 33 power-play points (3-30-33). His 74 points this season led the Storm. Luchanko has been described as an explosive skater who is smart and tenacious. The London, Ontario native can play both center and wing.

*Luchenko was also the selection on The Athletic’s Draft podcast, released earlier this week.

Terik Parascak (RW, Prince George Cougars — WHL)
NHL.com, Adam Kimelman
Blossoming this past year, Terik Parascak comes into the 2024 draft off of the best rookie season in WHL history since Pavel Brendl’s 134-point freshman campaign way back when. Parascak tallied 105 points (43-62-105) in 68 games this season at the age of 17 and despite being a rookie, ranked eighth in the WHL in scoring. Joined by two fellow Prince George Cougars, Parascak was just one of 10 skaters to reach the century mark in points in the WHL this season. At 5–11, 179-pounds, Parascak shoots right-handed and is touted as a smart and fearless player with a knack for getting himself in front of the net despite his smaller stature. His elite hockey sense and IQ allowed the Alberta native to play in all situations, contributing on the power play, at even strength and on the penalty kill. Sportsnet’s and NHL Network’s draft expert and analyst Sam Cosentino described Parascak by saying “his success is driven by how well he thinks the game and how quickly he processes it.”

Liam Greentree (RW, Windsor Spitfires — OHL)
The Athletic, Corey Pronman
Sportsnet, Sam Cosentino
TSN, Craig Button
Another player linked to the Kings with the 21st pick is the Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 captain Liam Greentree. At 6–3, 215-pounds, the big left-handed right winger posted 90 points (36-64-90), 24 more points than the Spitfires’ second leading scorer. Greentree’s 90 points ranked 11th in the OHL in overall scoring. Don’t let the large-framed power-forward of Greentree fool you as the Ottawa native is fleet of foot, agile and very skilled with the puck. Greentree protects the puck well with his size and has a knack for creating offense around the net. Yet to fully fill out his frame, Greentree has a potential to be a menace on skates in the coming years at the NHL level.

Michael Hage (C, Chicago Steel — USHL)
Sportsnet, Jason Bukala
Uber talented on the offensive side of the puck, Michael Hage ranked fourth in the USHL in scoring with 75 points (33-42-75). Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, Hage turned the scouts heads in the latter half of his season with the Chicago Steel, notching 27 points (10-17-27) in the team’s final 14 games of the regular season. With a solid frame at 6–0, 188-pounds, Hage had a very important bounceback season after playing just 13 games during the 2022-23 campaign due to a shoulder injury that he sustained on the first day of training camp – he ultimately missed six months. Hage has elite skill and is a tremendous skater, a great tandem for creating offense and playing a two-way game at the center position.

Trevor Connelly (LW, Tri-City Storm — USHL)
The Athletic, Scott Wheeler
Outscoring Hage by three points during the USHL’s 2023-24 season, Connelly’s 78 points (31-47-78) in 52 games ranked second in the league. Furthermore, Connelly’s 1.50 points per game this past season led all USHL players who played at least 30 games. The 6–1, 161-pound left-handed left wing has top-ten talent and skill in this draft, though has been found all over the Round 1 rankings due to off-ice situations earlier in his career.

Emil Hemming (RW, TPS — FIN)
ESPN, Rachel Doerrie
Shaping up to potentially be the second Finnish player off of the board in the 2024 Draft behind Konsta Helenius (no relation to Samuel Helenius), Emil Hemming is a pure sniper with a great arsenal in his offensive tool bag. At 17 years old, Hemming impressively played 40 games in Finland’s top professional league, Liiga. There, the 6–1, 205-pound notched seven goals and four assists while averaging 10:04 of ice time. Playing against his age group for 13 games in the U20 SM-sarja Finnish league, Hemming totaled nearly a goal-per-game with 18 points (11-7-18).

Cole Beaudoin (C, Barrie Colts — OHL)
Chris Peters, Flo Hockey
Coming out of an OHL organization that the Kings are familiar with, Cole Beaudoin could follow the footsteps of former Colts captain and current Kings prospect Brandt Clarke if the Kings choose to select the 6–2, 210-pound center. Like Clarke, Beaudoin also grew up playing youth hockey in the Ottawa area. Unlike Clarke, Beaudoin is a forward. As an assistant captain for the Colts, the 18-year-old skilled two-way center notched 62 points (28-34-62) in 67 games, good for second on the team. A forward who excels on the forecheck, delivering a strong and aggressive brand of hockey, on top of his overall, 200-foot game.

Sacha Boisvert (C, Muskegon Lumberjacks — USHL)
USA Today, Kyle Woodlief
Another prospect projected to be taken in the area of the Kings first round slot at 21 is Sacha Boisvert. The Trois-Rivières, Québec native took the road less traveled as a French Canadian and opted for the American route for development. Instead of eventually working his way up to playing in his home league the QMJHL, Boisvert came to the States as a 14-year-old and played AAA hockey. Boisvert just completed his second season in the USHL with Muskegon Lumberjacks and finished second on the team in points with 68 (36-32-68) in 61 games. At 6–2, 183-pounds, the skilled center has a great shot – whether it’s wrist, slap or one-timer – making him dangerous from everywhere in the offensive zone. With a high hockey IQ, Boisvert is also lethal off of the rush and has tremendous passing skills. Boisvert has commonly been referred to as a player with a very high ceiling that has untapped potential. The very hockey-focused left-hander is a gritty, tough hockey guy, with lots of likeable traits.