Kings select Kristian Epperson No. 88 overall in 2025 NHL Draft
The Los Angeles Kings selected left winger Kristian Epperson of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit with the No. X overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday.
In his first season with the Spirit in 2024-25, the 19-year-old native of Mequon, Wis., put together a dominant performance that saw him finish fourth in team scoring as he posted 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points coupled with 87 penalty minutes and a team-best plus-45 rating coming in 58 games. And while the Spirit saw an early exit in the OHL playoffs, Epperson continued to flash his offensive talent as he put up another four points, counting three goals and one assist, coming in five games, taking advantage of top-line offensive opportunities.
Prior to joining the Spirit, Epperson spent two seasons with the U.S. National Development Team. In 2023-24, through 32 appearances, Epperson was limited to four goals and seven assists for 11 points, though he also split time between the National Under-17 and Under-18 squads. In all, through two seasons in the USHL, Epperson posted 40 points counting 17 goals and 23 assists in 71 outings, while his time with the NTDP counted 115 games in which he recorded 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points.
Epperson has also seen success in international competition, highlighted by a gold-medal win coming at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where, through six games, he registered three goals and two assists for five points.
After going unselected in the 2024 NHL Draft, Epperson has turned heads with talent evaluators in his second time up, impressing with not only his ability to distribute prime chances to his linemates, but also with his smart play away from the puck. Epperson is also noted for his desirable compete level.
“Epperson is the top re-entry prospect in this draft skill-wise, something that didn’t seem likely heading into the campaign,” said Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis. “He was passed over after falling out of favor with the USNTDP U-18 team and was ultimately loaned to the U-17 team to finish his two-year tenure there. He shifted gears to Saginaw, where he became an 80-point scorer in the team’s top six. He’s a great distributor who plays a smart off-puck game. The University of Denver commit has received criticisms about his attitude, but overall, the skill might be worth it for some teams.”
For the coming campaign, Epperson will join the NCAA’s Denver Pioneers.
SPONSORED BY bet365