Los Angeles Kings Top Prospects: Brzustewicz Leads the Pipeline
NHL.com just rolled out its Los Angeles Kings top prospects list for 2025-26.
And the name at the front is 2025 first-rounder Henry Brzustewicz. The system around him is heavier on goaltending than most people realize. And one late-signing forward just made things interesting. Here's what the ranking tells us about where the Kings' development track actually stands.
Brzustewicz Leads the Kings Top Prospects
The Kings took Henry Brzustewicz with the No. 31 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, per NHL.com. That's the final slot of the first round, which sounds like an afterthought until you remember how often those picks turn into real contributors.
A late first-rounder landing atop a team's prospect ranking says two things.
First, Los Angeles didn't have an obvious blue-chip name pushing him down the board. Second, the organization believes in his upward trajectory enough to slot him above everyone else in the system.
For a Kings roster built around established veterans and trade-deadline moves, a homegrown first-round pick climbing to the top of the pipeline carries real weight. Brzustewicz is the player they're betting on to eventually move the needle from within.
How Deep Is the Kings Goaltending Pipeline?
The most compelling thread in the Kings' prospect pool isn't a skater. It's the net. Erik Portillo sits squarely in the middle of that conversation, and his 2024-25 split tells a story worth unpacking.
Portillo posted a 1-0-0 record with a 1.02 goals-against average and .966 save percentage in Los Angeles last season, according to NHL.com.
That's a tiny NHL sample, but it's a wildly efficient one.
Down in the AHL with Ontario, he went 15-5-3 across 24 games played, with a 2.82 GAA and .889 save percentage.
The AHL line tells you he's a legitimate pro. The NHL line, even in a single appearance, tells you the Kings trusted him enough to give him the net. Portillo originally came over when he was traded by the Buffalo Sabres for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft on March 1, 2023, per NHL.com. That deal is looking like a quietly sharp piece of business.
The broader takeaway is goaltending inventory. Teams that stockpile multiple legitimate netminding prospects buy themselves flexibility, trade chips, and injury insurance all at once.
Portillo is the most NHL-tested piece in that group. And the fact that he's still classified as a prospect means Los Angeles is in no rush.
Why Does Kenny Connors Matter?
Kenny Connors is the name that rounds out the picture.
ESPN's Kings transaction log shows he was signed to a two-year, entry-level contract on April 2, 2025.
An entry-level deal in early April is standard timing for a player wrapping up his season elsewhere. The two-year term is the detail worth flagging. It gives the Kings a short evaluation window before Connors reaches restricted free agency, which means he has to make an impression quickly.
When a player with an AHL-level resume lands in a team's top prospect conversation, it usually signals the organization sees a path to the NHL roster rather than a long minor-league career.
The Kings clearly like what they've seen from Connors.
Kings Top Prospects: What to Watch
Who was the Kings' first-round pick in 2025? Henry Brzustewicz, selected No. 31 overall. He headlines NHL.com's prospect ranking for the organization.
When did the Kings acquire Erik Portillo? March 1, 2023, via trade with Buffalo for a third-round pick. He's since posted strong numbers in both the NHL and AHL.
Which Kings prospect just signed an entry-level deal? Kenny Connors inked a two-year ELC on April 2, 2025.
Here's what ties it together. The Kings' prospect pipeline isn't flashy, but it's functional. Brzustewicz gives them a developmental centerpiece at the top of the board. Portillo gives them goaltending flexibility with real NHL exposure. Connors adds a forward with something to prove on a short contract.
None of these players are locks, but the system is deeper than it gets credit for.
The question worth tracking this season: does Brzustewicz develop fast enough to justify his top-prospect billing, or does Portillo's goaltending push him into a bigger NHL role and reshape the depth chart from the net out? Keep an eye on how many starts Portillo gets early in Ontario. If the Kings are managing his workload carefully, it's because they're protecting an asset they think they'll need.