Los Angeles Kings 2023 NHL Draft grade: Corey Pronman analyzes every pick

June 01, 2024

Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Los Angeles Kings’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.

2023 Draft Grade: C+

Los Angeles didn’t pick until No. 54 and then picked Jakub Dvorak and Koehn Ziemmer. They’re both good players with flaws that may keep them out of the league. Dvorak is a Day 1 talent if healthy, which he hasn’t been for years, so his progress will be interesting to follow. If the Kings get an NHL player from this class, it will likely be him.

Draft Class

54. Jakub Dvorak, LHD, LIBEREC (CZECHIA)

May 25, 2005 | 6′ 5″ | 210 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Background: Dvorak is a player with a lot of medical questions. He’s had two operations this season on his clavicle and has had other injury issues in recent seasons that has limited how much hockey he’s played. When healthy, he’s been a top defenseman in his age group and a leader on the Czech ’05s wearing the captain’s “C” for that team.

Analysis: Dvorak was having a strong season up until a broken clavicle kept him out for a few months, including missing the world juniors. His offensive totals don’t jump out at you, but Dvorak is a solid two-way defenseman. He’s a big, smart defender who makes a lot of stops due to his reach, brain and work ethic. He’s not a punishing physical player, but Dvorak doesn’t shy from using his body and gives a strong effort defensively. He can pass pucks up ice well, but his pure skill/speed doesn’t stand out from a puck-transporting perspective. He’s a boring good player, and a potential late first-round type of player, if healthy, which is the biggest “if” currently with Dvorak.

78. Koehn Ziemmer, RW, PRINCE GEORGE (WHL)

December 8, 2004 | 6′ 0″ | 210 pounds

Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Background: Ziemmer was one of the top-scoring forwards in the WHL this season although his first half was better than his second half. He was a late addition to Canada’s U20 camp in the summer. He was the fourth pick in his WHL Bantam Draft.

Analysis: Ziemmer is a highly-skilled and creative forward who has played center and wing but is likely a winger as a pro. Ziemmer has high-end hands and beats a lot of defenders one-on-one. He has the brain to run a power play and makes tough plays consistently at even strength. Ziemmer has the offensive touch, it’s all about whether his style of play will work in the NHL given his skating stride. His skating is quite upright and rigid, somewhat like Jason Robertson’s, and creates concerns on his pro projection. Ziemmer has some physicality in his game, and can play around the net, but I wouldn’t call him a high-energy type. I think he plays games but the skating questions will remain until he proves they don’t in terms of projecting him having a long NHL career.

118. Hampton Slukynsky, G, WARROAD (HIGH-MN)

July 2, 2005 | 6′ 1″ | 179 pounds

Analysis: Slukynsky is a very athletic goalie, but he’s not that big at 6-foot-1. He’s been a national-team goalie for USA.

150. Matthew Mania, RHD, SUDBURY (OHL)

January 11, 2005 | 6′ 1″ | 180 pounds

Tier: Has a chance to play games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average

Background: Mania was a quality player for Sudbury this season and scored at a good rate for a U18 defenseman in the OHL. He was a fourth-round pick in his OHL Draft who tendered with Fargo in the USHL but left shortly afterwards for Sudbury.

Analysis: Mania is a talented offensive-minded defenseman. He has the skating, skill and vision to make plays at higher levels. Mania is able to skate pucks up ice at a strong clip, and creates a lot of controlled exits and entries. He is a creative puck-mover, who can find openings to create chances for others. He is good at holding onto pucks at the blue line, and can evade pressure with his skating. He has NHL offense, but whether he can defend at the highest levels is a big question. Mania can be overly aggressive offensively and overall lack compete in his own end. I think there’s enough talent to possibly get some games, but he will need to round out his game to actually have an NHL career.

182. Ryan Conmy, RW, SIOUX CITY (USHL)

October 23, 2004 | 5′ 10″ | 188 pounds

Analysis: Conmy has one of the best shots in the draft. He’s a true threat to score with his wrist shot or one-timer from the dots. He has good hands and works hard enough. Conmy’s pure athletic traits don’t look like those of an NHL player, though, as he is barely 5-foot-10 and lacks speed. I do like how, despite his size, he doesn’t show fear of going to the net, though.

(Photo of Koehn Ziemmer: Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)

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