The LA Kings selected forward Elton Hermansson with their first pick, and the 19th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. The pick, along with the 83rd overall selection, was acquired as part of a trade with the Utah Mammoth in exchange for the 17th overall selection.
Hermansson, 18, spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with MoDo Hockey of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league, where he recorded 11 goals and 21 points (11-10=21) in 38 games with a +9 rating and 22 penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-1, 180-pound forward also appeared in 13 games for MoDo Hockey U20 in U20 Nationell, Sweden’s top junior hockey league, posting nine points (3-6=9) in 13 games. Prior to joining MoDo, Hermansson notched 17 goals and 36 points (17-19=36) in 41 games with Orebro HK Jr. (U20 Nationell) in 2024-25.
Internationally, the Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, native represented his home country at the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s Under-18 World Championships where he recorded a tournament-best 12 points (4-8=12) in seven games to earn a gold medal. As part of his efforts, Hermansson was selected as the tournament’s All-Star Team and named Best Forward.
