Kings went off the board a little at pick No. 35, selecting European defenseman Helge Grans.
We’ll have more on this pick as the day develops (adding to this article). For now, this is what you need to know.
Early Notes
Notes from NHL scout on Grans – Was a fwd, converted to D at 15yrs old. Tall defender w/ reach. Still work ahead on power and body control. Defending still needs a bit work at the SHL level because of lack of power and short course skating speed. Long stick in defending. PP guy.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) October 7, 2020
Kings at 35 select right defender Helge Grans. Don't mind my ranking. It's all there in the report. But a big kid who can skate, join the rush, and wire it. Off to a good start with Malmohttps://t.co/aeEoj6U85T pic.twitter.com/ocYB4QTYGE
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 7, 2020
The LA Kings take Helge Grans #35. We had Grans as a first rounder. A strong producer from the back end who relied quite a bit on the PP. However, he has some great comparables including Leafs star Morgan Rielly. pic.twitter.com/3y2Ly235ze
— GTAnalytics (@GTAnalytics_) October 7, 2020
Vitals
Height: 6’3
Weight: 192 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Team: Malmö Redhawks
League: SHL
Position: Defense
Statistics
Regular Season
2019-20 Season: 21 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 Pts
Tournaments
Hlinka Gretzky Cup: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt
Awards for 2019-20 Season
Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal
J20 SuperElit (South) Most Assists by Defenseman (19)
Scouting Reports:
From The Draft Analyst
Still, Grans reveals an intriguing combination of size and speed, plus the ability to run a power play and execute clean breakouts. When all aspects are humming, Grans can be the best player on the ice well beyond simply taking the puck for a skate or slinging pucks on net. Granted, he holds a significant size advantage over most teenage opponents and plays in a league not necessarily known for a physical forecheck.
From McKeen’s
Grans’ explosiveness and forward stride are not strong suits, which limit his consistency as a puck mover. His agility, on the other hand, is excellent, a quality more integral for high-end stay-at-home blueliners. This allows his gap control to be excellent as he is very difficult to beat off the rush. And with his reach (he is 6-3”), he gets his stick in passing and shooting lanes and does well to mitigate damage done down low and near the crease. He also is strong on his skates and shows well as a physically aggressive player, something that is likely to improve further as he matures physically.
From Future Considerations
Grans is a defender with an offensive mind and good speed making him a strong puck carrier, using his body well to cover the puck as he transports it zone-to-zone. Despite his frame, he is a mobile defenseman that can move in every direction on the ice. Even if he isn’t the fastest skater out there, he has long powerful strides and terrific balance. Defensively, he has an active stick, good gap control and uses his long reach to poke check effectively.
Highlights: