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LA Kings: Justin Barron great two-way defenseman to target

By Ryan Sikes

BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Justin Barron #20 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Justin Barron #20 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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If the LA Kings trade up back into the first round, Justin Barron would be an excellent selection as a two-way defenseman.

We continue our look at several defensemen the LA Kings can take in the 2020 NHL Draft. As we’ve repeated numerous times, after the second overall pick, the organization is expected to focus on the defensive side of the puck. Today, we are looking at Halifax’s Justin Barron.

Measurements

  • Height: 6′-2″
  • Weight: 187 pounds
  • Age: 18
  • Shot: R

Production

  • 2019-2020: 4 G, 15 A (19 points) in 34 games for Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL
  • 2018-2019: 9 G, 32 A (41 points) in 68 games for Halifax
  • 2018-2019: 0 G, 5 A (5 points) in 5 games for Team Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup
  • 2017-2018: 2 G, 19 A (21 points) in 51 games for Halifax

Rankings

  • #71 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
  • #38 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
  • #23 by ISS HOCKEY
  • #26 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
  • #54 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
  • #16 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
  • #29 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
  • #25 by TSN/McKenzie

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Breakdown

Ranked as the 15th best North American skater in this draft class, Justin Barron has widely been projected to be drafted in the mid-20s of the first round. The Halifax native was drafted 13th overall by his hometown Mooseheads in the 2017 QMJHL Draft.

He made the QMJHL All-Rookie Team, and in three years’ time in the league, Barron has averaged 0.53 points-per-game with an aggregate +41 rating. Barron is a terrific puck-moving defenseman with exceptional speed. Watching his film, he demonstrates excellent skating ability with the capability of leading rushes through the neutral zone.

Barron is an extremely physical defenseman, often leveling the opposition’s forwards to break up a rush. Staying on the defensive side, an active stick and well-timed use of the boards help jar the puck away, creating a rush in the other direction.

His shot remains a work in progress, but Barron has excellent vision, making him a terrific puck distributor on the blue line. At age 17, Barron had a breakout year with Halifax, averaging 0.60 PPG, and prior to the shutdown, he was on a similar pace to duplicate those numbers.

As noted, he’s projected to go at the end of the first round, so the LA Kings would have to package a couple of their second-round picks to move up and get him. But if Barron is as good as his projections, the Kings won’t regret the decision in a couple of seasons.

Quotables

“At almost 6-foot-3 and with great mobility and smarts, the Halifax Moosehead defenceman plays a good all-around game. He’s not nearly as dynamic offensively, or high reward/high risk as Drysdale, but what’s not to like about a big, smart, mobile puck mover who can skate or pass the puck out of trouble and plays a solid defensive game as well?”- Bob McKenzie, TSN

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Pro Comparison

Alex Pietrangelo (NHL.com)

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