Will the LA Kings draft for need or take the best available with the 17th pick in the NHL Draft?

The Los Angeles Kings face a pivotal decision with the 17th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft—will they find their next franchise center or target elite scoring talent? With prospects like Oliver Suvanto, Ilya Morozov, Nikita Klepov, and Alexander Command generating buzz, draft experts fiercely debate who fits best as the Kings prepare for a post-Anze Kopitar era. The conversation focused on expert predictions, key center and winger prospects, and the strengths and potential impact of each player's style on LA's roster. A key theme that emerged was the Kings' urgent need for high-end forwards, with scouting reports dissecting offensive upside, NHL readiness, and the possibility of a change in drafting philosophy with new coach Peter Laviolette. Can the Kings maximize this rare opportunity to strengthen their future core and finally address their prospect pool's glaring weaknesses? 00:00 LA Kings #17 Draft Preview Overview of the Kings' draft position, context from past drafts, and initial look at expert mock picks. 12:07 Expert Mock Draft Analysis Deep dive into various draft experts' predictions for the LA Kings' selection, including detailed discussion of top prospects like Suvanto, Morozov, Klepov, and others. 24:39 Consensus Names & Final Thoughts Recap of the most-mentioned prospects, additional analysis of likely picks, and discussion of outlier predictions and possible draft strategies. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonlakings.supercast.com   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! HimsTo get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/LOCKEDONNHL.   Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.