Kings select forward Giorgos Pantelas (Round 5, Pick 153)

The LA Kings have selected defenseman Giorgos Pantelas with the 153rd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Vitals
Name: Giorgos Pantelas
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
DOB: April 24, 2008
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: Laval, Quebec
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 45 (North American Skaters)
HPR / Shane Malloy Final Ranking: 38
Daily Faceoff / Steven Ellis Final Ranking: 51
FloHockey / Chris Peters Final Ranking: 67
Sportsnet / Jason Bukala Final Ranking: 70

Stats (Brandon, WHL): 68 GP, 6 G, 31 A, 37 PTS, 50 PIM

Expert Opinions
Chris Peters / FloHockey
A right-shot defenseman with size and strong skating ability, Pantelas still has some rawness in his game. The athletic profile is intriguing, but his puck play needs to be refined and some of his decisions need to be cleaned up, too. There’s enough of a toolkit there to take a chance and see where his development takes him.

Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff
Pantelas was one of the WHL’s most electric defenders earlier in the season but ultimately quieted down with just two assists in his final 15 games between the regular season and the playoffs. At one point, a 50-point pace looked possible, but he only finished with 37. Still, there’s enough to like as a second-round pick. I like how Pantelas never stops moving, has incredible confidence with the puck and sacrifices his body for a play. Pantelas is the type of player who won’t let you down defensively and will continue to improve offensively. He’s a project, by all accounts, but one worth taking a chance on.

Corey Pronman / The Athletic
Pantelas is a 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman who skates well and has solid, albeit unspectacular, puck skills and offensive sense. He gets his points and makes good decisions with the puck. He’s a rangy defender with length and average physicality who makes a lot of stops. He checks enough boxes, even if he doesn’t check any with emphasis, to be a projected useful depth defender.

Quick Take – The Kings add another blueliner who seems to have a few different outcomes here. His offensive production at the junior level was pretty solid but he filled more of a shutdown role when upping in competition with Team Canada at the U-18 level. Seems like he’s a player who is able to skate well and has some offensive ability, as well as the potential of developing into more of a defensive role. Seems like someone who doesn’t have a clear path but a number of different paths that could come into fruition if he develops.