Checking In With The Defensemen From The 2025 Draft Class

We’re three days deep into the Kings 2025 Development Camp, and after three split sessions between the forwards and defensemen and a pair of controlled scrimmages, the organization’s prospects are settling in.

For more on 2025 first-round selection Henry Brzustewicz, see HERE and HERE, with the Kings’ top selection at this year’s draft covered in a ton of depth over the last week or so. Two additional defensemen were selected by the Kings as well and we now turn to the remaining two blueliners who heard their names in last weekend’s draft. Both offensive-minded, fourth-rounder Caeden Herrington and seventh-round selection Will Sharpe spoke to the media earlier today for the first time since hearing their respective names called on Saturday.

Reflecting on the big day, Herrington, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-hander from Manchester, Vermont, explained his excitement in being drafted by an NHL organization

“You have expectations, but I didn’t really have too many going into day two of the draft,” he said. “I just kind of hoped that I’d land somewhere, and I happened to land in a really good place, so I’m happy to be here. I definitely couldn’t be happier to be in LA, it’s an awesome place. It’s a great organization full of great people. What Ken Holland’s doing here as a GM and the coaches, and the defensive development coaching staff with Sean O’Donnell and Matt Greene, I know I’m super fortunate to be here.”

Herrington was a second-year draft eligible player who did not hear his name called in 2024. Certainly heard it this year in a special moment from the player who scored more goals in the USHL last season than any other defenseman.

Touching more on the special moment of hearing his name called, and in a very unique way with a guest super fan Jeremy making the Kings last selection of the draft, Sharpe was the final player who heard his name called during Day 2 on Saturday.

“Pretty crazy,” he described hearing his name called during the draft. “It was a big moment for myself and obviously my family as well. They’ve done everything for me, so for them to watch me get to this point, it’s a pretty big moment for myself, as well as them being proud and excited for me and what the future holds.”

Gary A. Vasquez/Los Angeles Kings

Now five skating sessions into development camp, the two defensemen, who have some similarities in their games, have had multiple opportunities to learn on and off the ice from the defensive development staff of Sean O’Donnell and Matt Greene.

Seemingly a phenomenal fit for both of the prospects because of their areas of need for further development , the pair of newly drafted blueliners raved about the lessons they’re taking in already. Herrington and Sharpe are both scouted as great-skating, puck-moving defensemen who like to join the rush and contribute offensively as often as possible. Coincidentally, the two defensemen, while interviewed separately, both talked about the great value they have found in being paired with the elite duo of the longtime successful NHL defensive defensemen in O’Donnell and Greene.

“Greeny and OD, obviously, they have huge hockey minds and they really know the defensive side of the game,” Herrington said. “It’s been really good to hear from them and learn from them because of how many years they played in the NHL. They’ve lived it. So it’s just been an awesome experience to be able to kind of learn from the best, and learn some things in some areas of my game that need work……even already, they have been able to do a tremendous job helping all the guys here with balancing out their game. They really know the defensive zone well, and I think that marries my game well. Things like being harder in front of the net and some little details, like stick details and closing plays off and stuff that we worked on all week. It’s been really good to be out here and work with those guys, and I think it’ll only help me continue my trajectory and move forward in my career.”

For Sharpe, he’s a pretty keen self evaluator. He spoke to his strengths as a player centering around his skating and his puckmoving, noting that his greatest strengths as a defender come by using his skating. He was also open in saying that the defensive side of his game needs to get better, calling it the “thing I’ve really got to work on if I want to make it to the next level.” Not the type of self reflection you always see from a young player. He pointed to the instruction this week as being very pointed in that area, something which should help him moving forward.

“They’ve been teaching me exactly what I need to do,” he said. “Everything Greeny and OD are doing here, I like a lot, because it’s the things I need to work on the most, so this has been great.”

Both offensively talented, Herrington totaled 34 points (16-18-34) in the USHL for the Lincoln Stars and led all USHL blueliners in goals with 16, while Sharpe tallied 44 points (9-35-44) between two teams in the WHL, finishing out his season with the Kelowna Rockets.

Both have showcased their mobility, puck-moving skills, and offensive vision this week with one more on-ice session to go tomorrow morning. Following development camp, Herrington will head back to his home state of Vermont to begin his freshman season at the University of Vermont in the fall, while Sharpe will return to Western Canada and rejoin the Kelowna Rockets.

As for the experience they’re both taking in this week, both players spoke positively about their first development camp experiences with the Kings organization. One more day to go, but all positive signs thus far.

“It’s been great since the day I got here,” Sharpe added. “Everybody’s been very welcoming and that kind of thing, but I think the main thing I’ve taken away so far is the IQ of the coaching staff. They know their stuff and it’s been a pleasure to learn from some great hockey minds and to get to do that alongside so many great teammates and guys makes it that much better.”

The Kings 2025 Development Camp concludes tomorrow morning with a 10 AM on-ice scrimmage.