Kings Draft Elton Hermansson 19th Overall

With the 19th pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Los Angeles Kings have selected Elton Hermansson from MoDo Hockey of the HockeyAllsvenskan.

About Elton Hermansson

Up there with the most skilled prospects in the draft, Elton Hermansson, the 6-foot, 182-pound winger, has been highly touted for his offensive ability all season.

The Örnsköldsvik, Sweden native has been with MoDo Hockey since 2022-23, playing at the under-16 level. In 2025-26, he split his time between the under-20 level, where he put up nine points (three goals, six assists) in 13 games, and the professional level, where he recorded 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 38 games.

Where Hermansson really made a name for himself was on the international stage. It started with him putting up 11 points (six goals, five assists) at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he helped lead Sweden to a silver medal. He then went to the under-18 World Junior Championships and posted 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in seven games, leading Sweden to another second-place finish.

At the NHL Draft Combine, he said he plays a similar game to William Nylander and Artemi Panarin, referencing his skating ability and saying “all the offensive stuff like shooting and passing and the hockey sense like both of them.”

With his skill set, he projects to be a puck-dominant top-six winger that a power play could run through. However, he may need to round out his game before being given a chance in that role.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

Hermansson is a highly anticipated prospect this year. He is heralded for his raw talent on the ice. He seems to have it all: skilled stickhandling, speed, and sharp edgework; a powerful, accurate shot; and great hockey sense and vision. He is a playmaker and consistently finds creative ways to move the puck across the ice, pass to a teammate, or take a shot himself.

While Hermansson does contribute defensively to a degree, he is not quite a fully rounded two-way player. He will need to bulk up to add more power and physicality to his frame, which will be an added advantage to an already skillful player. This season with MoDo Hockey, he played 50 games at both the U20 and HockeyAllsvenskan levels, where he totalled 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists).

While Hermansson is consistently a superior player within MoDo Hockey, he really stood out on the first line at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this year while playing alongside Milton Gastrin and Jesper Olofsson. He and Gastrin each had a two-goal game on the same night. He was chosen to play on the Hlinka Gretzky team with more experienced players because of its lack of offensive depth —a true testament to his offensive abilities. He totalled 11 points (six goals and five assists) in five games and helped Sweden win the silver medal.

Continue reading our full player profile here.

How This Affects the Kings’ Plans

Despite having the 19th pick, the Kings did well, adding to their prospect pool, which desperately needs some talented forwards. In the back half, the Kings are getting one of the more talented offensive players in the class. Any concerns in his game come in other areas, but the ceiling is very high for Hermansson.

He’ll be back in Sweden next season, but surely the Kings will try to get their hands on him as soon as his contract with Modo is up to see how his high-end skill translates to the North American game and will likely get a lot of priority in his development path with the Kings. This is a great start to adding some offensive talent to their prospect pool.