2018 NHL Draft: Los Angeles Kings Select G Dávid Hrenák With 144th Pick

The St. Cloud-to-Los Angeles pipeline strikes again: Slovakian goaltender Dávid Hrenák is the Kings’ fifth round pick. Hrenák spent one season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, where he was one of the top goalies in the league. When he moved on to St. Cloud State, there was plenty of competition in net, but Hrenák came out on top, starting 25 games and finishing the season with a GAA of 2.11 and a .919 save percentage. He’s previously earned rookie of the month honors — in February 2018, when he was honored, Hrenák went 4-0-1; he also earned rookie of the week honors multiple times throughout the season. He was also a semifinalst for the Mike Richter Award, honoring the best goaltenders in men’s college hockey, in 2018.

For a Kings connection, it turns out that countryman Peter Budaj was one of the goalies that Hrenák looked up to as a younger player.

Top cap a great month, @SCSUHUSKIES_MH David Hrenak has been picked as the @TheNCHC Rookie of the Month for Feb. 2018! Congrats! #unleashSCSU #StCloudState #NCAAHockey #CollegeHockey pic.twitter.com/E4pUmEZ9kK

— SCSU Men's Hockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_MH) March 1, 2018

Need To Know

• Extensive international experience, shines in the spotlight
• Earned the starter position with SCSU, taking the team all the way to the NCAA tournament
• Quick to bounce back from disappointing games
• After being passed up in the 2017 draft, his play this year with St. Cloud finally earned him attention/

Ranking

HockeyProspect.com: 118

NHL Central Scouting (North American goalies): 12

Scouting Report

Kings pick up David Hrenak at No. 144. Solid goaltender for NCHC regular-season champs St. Cloud State this year. Had one scout mention how he thought Hrenak was underrated among the weaker goalie pool. Was one of the USHL's top goalies in 2016-17, too, and is a major competitor.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 23, 2018

SCSU had a junior goalie, but by the end of the season, Hrenak had taken over as the No. 1... And he played the NCAA tournament game.

— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) June 23, 2018

Highlights

WANTED: David Hrenak
Charge: Robbery. pic.twitter.com/dDTSxnpzX0

— SCSU Men's Hockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_MH) March 12, 2018

✅ Shutout from David Hrenak
✅ Weekend sweep of @MiamiOH_Hockey
✅ 5th straight win for @SCSUHUSKIES_MH
✅ Sole possession of 1st in #NCHCHockey

👀🏒 #UnleashSCSU pic.twitter.com/c4lT3UHVKz

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) February 11, 2018

"Lists fellow Slovakia native Peter Budaj as his childhood hockey idol."

We have good news, David!
And we have a feeling you're going to like being in the LA Kings organization 🇸🇰🙌 pic.twitter.com/zQ1eyr0SSi

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 23, 2018