Ryan Sikes 
Photo Credit: Terry Wilson/OHLImages
Having traded away the 40th overall pick in the second round, we look at a few players the LA Kings can take at 49th overall.
After picking eighth overall, the LA Kings won’t make another selection until the 49th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. They would have had two picks in the second round, but the 40th overall selection was sent to Nashville as part of the Viktor Arvidsson deal.
If you missed the first part in our series, take a look at three players the Kings should consider at No. 8.
The @NHL has announced the order of selection for the 2021 #NHLDraft.#LAKings picks
Round 1: 8th overall
Round 2: 49th
Round 3: 72nd
Round 3: 89th
Round 4: 109th
Round 5: 136th
Round 6: 168th#GoKingsGo #NHLDraft— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) July 14, 2021
With the 49th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the LA Kings select…
Stanislav Svozil, LHD
Vitals
- Age: 18
- Height: 6-foot-0
- Weight: 172 lbs
- Shot: L
Rankings
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Ranked #32 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
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Ranked #18 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
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Ranked #35 by FCHOCKEY
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Ranked #34 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
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Ranked #34 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
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Ranked #16 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
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Ranked #23 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
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Ranked #29 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
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Ranked #32 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
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Ranked #19 by SMAHT SCOUTING
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Ranked #28 by THE PUCK AUTHORITY
Production
Quotables
Svozil’s game is built around his fantastic passing ability and his high-end hockey IQ. In the defensive zone, he uses this ability to produce mesmeric outlets that freeze neutral zone defenses and send his forwards into the offensive zone with speed. He attempts passes that others don’t even see. Offensively he utilises his vision and touch well to pick out seams in coverages and thread passes cross-ice onto tape, regardless of how narrow the gap is. As a result, he can make what appears a “nothing” situation on the cycle into a scoring chance.- Smaht Scouting
Svozil is a bit of a raw defenseman who has the potential to round out into a do-it-all, minutes eater on the back end. He possesses very good mobility overall with a good skating stride and the ability to move in all directions, he stays in front of defenders and uses his stick to disrupt play. He works well with his teammates in transition, reading when and where to jump into the play without making many mistakes in that regard. The offensive upside in his game exists, and he isn’t a black hole offensively by any means. He has a good shot from the blueline, thanks to a heavy release and the ability to just hit the net. He is a skilled passer in the offensive zone as well. – Dobber Prospects
Svozil’s superb vision and above-average skating help him succeed offensively and defensively. His offensive totals lacked in his professional season in the Czech league. As a youngster playing professionally, he makes safe decisions at the offensive blueline, rarely ever causing a turnover. – The Hockey Writers
Video
Watching his film, Svozil is often the last player out of the defensive zone. He’s entrusted to facilitate the puck up-ice, and he has good instincts to prevent odd-man rushes the other way. His defensive game is certainly a lot further along than his offensive game, but you can see flashes of the latter becoming part of his game.
Svozil has a quick release from the blueline, and he’s shown the ability to jump into the rush. As he continues to develop, the Prerov, Czech Republic native has the potential to become a formidable dual-threat defenseman in the NHL.
He’s been rising up draft boards over the last couple of months. However, should he slide in this unpredictable draft, the LA Kings have to seriously consider taking the Czech blueliner with their second-round pick. Perhaps they’ll find themselves in a situation similar to last year, moving up to grab Brock Faber with Svozil.