The Los Angeles Kings have no shortage of young talent to keep an eye on, but Henry Brzustewicz is starting to separate himself from the pack. At 19, the defenseman has already given plenty of reasons to understand why Los Angeles took him in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Brzustewicz went 31st overall to the Kings, and his stock has only climbed since then. NHL.com currently has him pegged as the organization’s No. 1 prospect heading into the 2026-27 season, which tells you how much belief is behind him.
He backed that up with a strong 2025-26 season for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, finishing with 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 59 games. Among London defensemen, he led the way in goals and points and finished second in assists.
The offense is what jumps off the page first. Brzustewicz fired 231 shots last season, the most among OHL defensemen, and scored nine power-play goals.
That kind of production is exactly why the Kings are intrigued. He can push the puck, get pucks on net and help create offense from the back end.
The area that still needs the most work is his defense.
At 6-foot-2, the Michigan native is still getting comfortable on that side of the game, and that will matter more as he climbs toward the pro level. The good news for Los Angeles is that he already has the scoring touch. The next step is becoming a more complete player.
Brzustewicz also got a small taste of the next level late in the year, appearing in five games with the Ontario Reign in 2025-26 after his OHL season ended. He didn’t register a point, but the experience still mattered. In April, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings, giving him a clear lane inside the organization.
That transition is going to be a major test. He’ll have to adjust to bigger, stronger and more experienced players, and the game moves faster with less room for error. How quickly he handles that jump could shape how soon he becomes an NHL option.
The Kings have the luxury of time. Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson and the rest of the blue line can carry the load while the younger defenders continue to grow.
And there’s another reason Brzustewicz is worth tracking closely: Brandt Clarke has already shown what a young puck-moving defenseman can mean for this team. Clarke broke out last season and is expected to take on an even bigger role.
If Brzustewicz develops into another blue-liner who can drive offense, the Kings could be looking at a very intriguing future on defense.
It’s far too early to put Brzustewicz in the same conversation as anyone else or expect immediate NHL impact. But 54 points in 59 OHL games is impossible to ignore, and the tools are obvious.
If he keeps sharpening his skating, his shot and his defensive game, he could become one of the more interesting defense prospects in the Kings’ system. For now, the mission is simple: keep developing and get comfortable at the pro level.
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