Finally some love for Team USA.
In recent years, Team Canada camps for the World Junior Championships have been like mini-Kings camps. Los Angeles has had more prospects there than any other NHL franchise – with names like Thomas Hickey, Brayden Schenn, Kyle Clifford, etc.
On the flip side, Derek Forbort – the Kings first round selection at last summer’s draft – has been the lone guy over on the Team USA side.
That’s about to change.
Dealer Dean was up to his old tricks again, just moments after making the 80th pick in this year’s draft, Lombardi packaged his sixth round pick this year (#170 overall) and next year’s third rounder to nab Nick Shore at #82.
Shore, a center from the University of Denver, was ranked #56 by NHL Central Scouting, so he was a pretty attractive pick when he was still sitting there. During his just completed freshman season he had 18 points in 28 games. Scouts rave about his hockey smarts and say he is strong defensively – both things coach Terry Murray values highly. His skating is said to need serious improvement though.
Forbort’s North Dakota Fighting Sioux downed Shore’s Denver Pioneers 6-1 in this year’s NCAA playoffs, advancing to the Frozen Four.
Both players, along with fellow Kings prospect Kevin Gravel (St Could State), have been invited to participate in the upcoming USA Hockey evaluation camp for next year’s World Junior tournament.
Also of note, Lombardi has been known as a big WHL guy – however, he’s been taking a lot of NCAA players lately.
For a look back at the Kings other draft picks today, start here.
Or skip ahead to their next selections from rounds four through seven click here.
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