LA Kings Draft: Brandon Coe is an aggressive forward to target

Projected to go in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the LA Kings should target winger Brandon Coe.

Ranked as the 35th best prospect in the upcoming draft by NHL.com, Brandon Coe would be a fantastic selection by the LA Kings with their second-round pick, which happens to be 35th overall. Holders of three second-round picks, the Kings are expected to take Quinton Byfield in the first round with an emphasis on defense in the second round.

However, Coe’s skillset is going to be awfully hard to pass up. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound winger is a right-handed shot from Toronto, Ontario. He’s spent the past three seasons playing in the OHL for the North Bay Battalion, tallying 25 goals with 32 assists for 57 points this past year.

Coe has come a long way offensively since his first year in the OHL. During the 2017-2018 campaign, he tallied ten goals with 13 assists for 23 points in 63 games. Since then, he’s doubled his point total over the same sample size.

He is a big-bodied forward who moves very well on his feet, and he plays aggressive around the net. He can create his own shot, while also having the timing to fit a pass into the tightest of windows. He’s not the fastest guy on the ice, but he can lead a rush through the neutral zone fitting well between the gaps without losing the puck.

The 18-year-old has terrific vision with a pro-ready shot. Coe finished with the second-most points for North Bay this past season and has all the makings of a top-six forward in the NHL with the ability to play a 200-foot game.

Coe was one of the few bright spots on a North Bay team that won 17 games all year. He had little talent around him to work with, which perhaps makes his offensive leap forward that more impressive. On March 1, Coe tallied a hat-trick on five shot attempts. He’s your prototypical forward.

Several media sites have him mocked in the third round of the draft, but there is not a chance teams let him fall beyond the second. He has NHL talent and will be a big-time point producer at the next level. Coe should only get better as he physically matures.