The Los Angeles Kings have selected Hampton Slukynsky at No 118 overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Details to Follow.
KEY NUMBERS AND NOTES
Vitals
Date of Birth: July 2, 2005
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 179 lbs
Catches: Left
Team: Warroad High
League: US High School
Position: Goalie
Statistics for 2022-23 Season
US High School: 30 GP, 28-1-1, 1.47 GAA, .941 SV%
Hlinka Gretzky Cup: 2 GP, 1-1-0, 2.11 GAA, .926 SV%
U18 WJC: 1 GP, 1-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.00 SV%
Awards for 2022-23 Season
U18 WJC Gold Medal
Slukynsky won this year’s Frank Brimsek Award; basically, the Mr. Hockey award for goalies. His only loss while putting together a 28-1-1 record during his senior year at Warroad High School came in double-overtime. And his nine shutouts were second-most in Minnesota.
SCOUTING REPORTS
From Elite Prospects:
He plays with a lot of enthusiasm, and has a fairly aggressive style to match. You will normally see him set up with his heels well outside of the crease on rush chances. He catches many shooters by surprise with just how explosive he is laterally. His flexibility also comes into play, taking away the lower portion of the net with ease while sliding across.
From Draft Prospects Hockey:
Hybrid, butterfly style goaltender. Stays tight in the butterfly, stick in front and pads flushed together tight. Tremendously agile and flexible covering the low portion of the net. Rebound control will have to improve, gives up too many extra opportunities with inability to control some easy rebounds. Recovers quickly to make second and third saves in tight. Active playing the puck. Moves the puck up quickly to try and catch opponents on a line change and create odd man rushes. Incredible at reading and anticipating the play. Exceptional awareness around his crease area knowing when to challenge the shooter. Able to locate pucks through heavy traffic and extremely focused. Plays with terrific poise, calm demeanor, and confidence.
From McKeen’s:
One of the top netminders in the U.S. high school loop, Slukynsky also happened to play for one of the best teams in Warroad High. He didn’t see a ton of rubber, but his composure and maturity stood out. He has a penchant for the highlight reel save because of his play reading ability and because he never quits on a save, always competing for sight lines and to push to make those second/third chance saves. A classic butterfly netminder, Slukynsky does have a tendency to scramble in his crease and can be taken out of position. He will need to improve his rebound control to limit those second/third chance opportunities. For a “smaller” netminder, he could also stand to improve his quickness post to post, as sometimes he doesn’t get enough power on his pushes to cover his angles completely, or quick enough. Next season he will play in the USHL with Fargo before heading to Northern Michigan the following year. NHL teams may wait to see how he plays in the USHL before opting to use a draft selection on him. However, NHL teams may also be incredibly impressed with his mind and maturity in the crease and be eager to work with him to improve other areas.
HIGHLIGHTS
Slukynsky is one of the goalies invited to attend USA Hockey’s Summer Evaluation Camp for the next World Junior Championship. That will be in late July. First up, he’s scheduled to attend Development Camp in Los Angeles next week.
Bit of info regarding #GoKingsGo newly drafted Hampton Slukynsky. Committed to Northern Michigan for 2024-25 season. But next year will be spent with USHL's Fargo Force
— The Armchair Scout (He/Him) (@Davidenkness) June 29, 2023
He’ll eventually be joining his brother Grant Slukynsky at Northern Michigan. This past season, Grant served as captain of the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), where he was teammates with 2023 Kings draftee Ryan Conmy. Strengthening all the ties here is the fact that new Kings scout Andy Johnson had previously served as the General Manager in Sioux City for several years.
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Predictions: LA Kings Selections at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
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