NHL draft: Kings trade back, select defenseman Henry Brzustewicz at No. 31

LOS ANGELES — The Kings selected defenseman Henry Brzustewicz with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday night, having traded back from No. 24 to also add a second-round pick for Saturday.

The 31st pick originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers before passing through the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, who also sent No. 59 to the Kings after acquiring it from the Washington Capitals.

Brzustewicz has been part of a powerhouse in the Ontario Hockey League, the London Knights. They won the Memorial Cup as the top junior team in Canada this year and lost in the final the previous season. His brother Hunter is a prospect in the Calgary Flames’ system who made his NHL debut in 2024-25.

“We went through it at his draft and just seeing what can happen. You’ve got to kind of stay level-headed and not get too worked up,” Brzustewicz said. “Once you get picked, you’re going to go to the right spot, hopefully, and I did, so I’m excited to be here.”

Of note, there were no further developments or deals, with the Kings retaining the negotiating rights to pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and the services of defenseman Jordan Spence, who is in the final year of his contract. New Kings general manager Ken Holland said there had been no change in the uncertain status of either player since his news conference on Wednesday.

The Kings had different opportunities to move back and one to move up slightly, but ultimately they opted for the swap with Pittsburgh. In Holland’s first summer on the job, he could be increasingly active ahead of the opening of free agency on Tuesday in terms of player trades as well.

“We had a few irons in the fire, but obviously nothing has come of it at this point in time,” Holland said via teleconference.