LA Kings Draft: Three things to know about defenseman Ronan Seeley

Heading into October’s Draft, Ronan Seeley presents an attractive option for the LA Kings in the second round. Here are three things to know about him.

Ronan Seeley was one of the defensive prospects that we mocked to the LA Kings in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. With Quinton Byfield presumed to be consensus second overall pick, the Kings will have to shift their attention to the blue line in Round Two, where the team holds three selections.

While there’s still the outside possibility that the Kings package two of those second-round picks to sneak back into the end of the first round, we’ll assume they’ll hold steady for now. And as I continue to do my homework on Seeley, I’m becoming enamored with the idea of the Kings taking him in the second round.

Let’s look at three key things you need to know about him.

1. Excellent skater who plays fast

Most players’ skating abilities peak at age 18, with little room for improvement, so the fact that Ronan Seeley’s is already considered a plus is a great thing for prospective NHL teams. Backward or forward, Seeley never stops moving, and he plays at an extremely quick pace. He’s agile and can stop, changing directions on a dime.

The 18-year-old has terrific top-end speed that can make it difficult to beat him off the rush. Seeley is a tad undersized, which can make it challenging for him to win the battles on the boards. But that should improve as he continues to fill out his 5-foot-11, 176-pound frame. His speed, alone, will make him a future top-four pairing on the blue line.