The Los Angeles Kings’ first fifth-round pick will hope to follow Alec Martinez, Derek Forbort, Kevin Gravel, and Paul LaDue in forging a path from the NCAA to the blueline at Staples Center. Cole Hults was taken #134 after an impressive (and pugnacious) third season with the USHL’s Madison Capitols, and he’ll get plenty of seasoning at Penn State.
SB Nation’s Penn State blog, Black Shoe Diaries, wrote about Hults after his commitment last month, making a note of the penalty minutes he racked up during his time in Madison. This year he nearly doubled his PIM, from 65 to 112, but he also racked up 6 goals and 26 assists in 59 games after getting 10 assists (and no goals) in 62 games over the previous two years.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Led team in both points and penalty minutes
- NHL frame with offensive upside
- brother Mitch plays for San Diego Gulls, under contract with Anaheim Ducks
- Unranked by most scouting services/