The 2026 NHL Draft in Boston turned into a strategic chess match for the Utah Mammoth, who decided to trade up and claim the 17th overall pick. By sending picks #19 and #83 to the Los Angeles Kings, Utah cleared a path to a player many analysts had pegged as a top‑10 talent.
The Trade Mechanics
The transaction was straightforward: Utah relinquished two future selections to move ahead of several teams and land the coveted slot. The Kings, who had originally held the 17th pick, accepted the trade and used the demoted pick to add another prospect to their pipeline.
Ethan Belchetz, a 6‑foot‑5 winger from the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, was celebrated for his blend of size, skating speed and a heavy shot. Draft pundits had repeatedly listed him among the best available forwards, and his physical presence made him an attractive target for a Mammoth team looking to bolster its top six.
Belchetz’s draft year was marked by a setback in March when a broken collarbone ended his season prematurely, but the injury did little to dim the enthusiasm surrounding his potential. He finished the campaign with a strong second‑man‑in role, consistently contributing on both ends of the ice.
Before turning professional, Belchetz committed to Michigan State University, where he will join a program known for rotating its offensive lines. That environment should give him ample opportunity to develop chemistry with teammates, including 15th‑overall pick Nikita Klepov, and to refine the skills that made him a projected top‑10 talent.
A Different Path for Los Angeles
With the pick they received after the trade, the Los Angeles Kings selected Swedish winger Elton Hermansson. Hermansson entered the draft after leading the World U18 Championship in scoring, posting 12 points in seven games, a performance that highlighted his playmaking instincts and offensive flair.
The Kings’ decision reflects a willingness to pivot when presented with a trade opportunity, turning a potential loss of a higher pick into a chance to acquire a different type of prospect. Hermansson’s international experience and scoring pedigree add a new dimension to Los Angeles’ developing forward group.
Beyond the immediate trade, the moves underscore a broader trend in the draft where teams are willing to reshuffle assets to target players whose skill sets align with their strategic vision. For Utah, the acquisition of Belchetz represents a calculated gamble on size and offensive upside, while Los Angeles leverages its repositioned pick to capture a high‑scoring international talent.