Henry Brzustewicz Is an LA Kings Prospect Worth Watching – The Hockey Writers – Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have plenty of young players to be excited about, but Henry Brzustewicz is someone I think deserves a lot more attention. The defenseman is only 19 years old, but he has already shown why the Kings selected him in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Ahead, let’s dive deeper into how he could help the organization and compete for a chance at a roster spot.

Quick Rundown of His Stats

Brzustewicz was selected 31st overall by Los Angeles, and since then, he has continued to show that he could be a really important part of the organization’s future. In fact, NHL.com currently ranks him as the Kings’ No. 1 prospect heading into the 2026-27 season. That alone says a lot about how highly the organization views him. Brzustewicz had a really strong 2025-26 season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He finished the regular season with 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 59 games. He also led London defensemen in goals and points while finishing second among the team’s defensemen in assists.

What He Can Bring

What stands out most is that Brzustewicz isn’t afraid to shoot the puck. He had 231 shots last season, the most among OHL defensemen. He also scored nine power-play goals. The Kings could use that offense in the future. He can move the puck, get shots on net and create scoring opportunities for his team. His defense is probably the biggest area he needs to work on.

The 6-foot-2 Michigan native is still learning the defensive side of the game, which will be important as he moves up to the professional level. That is not a bad thing because he is still young and has time to improve. He has already shown that he can score. Now, he just needs to become a more complete player.

Why the Kings Believe in Him

Brzustewicz appeared in five games with the Ontario Reign in the 2025-26 season after finishing his OHL campaign. He did not record a point in those games, but getting that experience is still valuable. He also signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings in April, giving him a clear path within the organization. I think the next step is going to be really important for him. Brzustewicz will have to get used to playing against bigger, stronger and more experienced players. The pace is different, the mistakes are made more often and there is less time to make decisions. How quickly he adjusts to that could determine how soon he becomes an option in the league.

Los Angeles already has defensemen who can handle the workload while Brzustewicz develops. Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson and the rest of the group can give the Kings some stability while their younger defensemen continue to develop. There is also another reason I think his development is worth watching closely. Brandt Clarke has already shown what a young defenseman can bring to the Kings. Clarke had a breakout season and is expected to have an even bigger role moving forward. If Brzustewicz can eventually develop into another defenseman who can move the puck, the Kings could have a really interesting young group on the blue line.

A Bright Future Ahead

Obviously, it is way too early to compare the two players or expect Brzustewicz to become an NHL star right away. He still has a lot of work ahead of him but the potential is there. Considering he produced 54 points in 59 OHL games last season is hard to ignore. If Brzustewicz can round out his defensive game while continuing to develop his skating and shot, I think he could eventually become one of the more exciting defensemen in the Kings’ farm system. But that is what makes him such an exciting prospect. For now, I think the best thing for Brzustewicz is simply to keep developing and getting comfortable at the professional level.