Brzustewicz signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in April 2026. His deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $1.07M and runs through the 2028-29 season. The 19-year-old defender scored 19 goals and tallied 54 points in 59 games for the London Knights (OHL) in 2025-26. Brzustewicz appeared in five contests for the Ontario Reign (AHL), but did not record any points in those matchups. The mobile defender should have a chance to work his way up the Kings depth chart starting this fall.

The Kings replenished the cupboard on the right side of their defense by taking Brzusetwicz at the end of day one of the draft. Shortly following the selection, the Kings shipped right handed defenseman Jordan Spence to Ottawa, leaving a void on the right side in the next few seasons with Drew Doughty entering the twilight of his career and Brandt Clarke’s ascension in the lineup.

Selected 31st overall, Henry Brzustewicz is now a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

With size, puck-moving ability, and strong defensive instincts, Brzustewicz was a strong companion for Sam Dickinson on a competitive London blueline all season long. While he got pushed down the lineup as the games got more important, he still managed to contribute a critical stretch-pass assist in the Memorial Cup Finals. A larger role next season will be both a test and an opportunity.

His low-risk style of play gives him a clear ceiling of being a second pairing defenceman. He was consistently paired with Sam Dickinson in London and played great as a safety net for a defensive partner who loves to get in on the rush. All of that is not to say Brzusetwicz does not do so himself occasionally, but it is certainly fewer and further between, often opting for a true defensive stalwart on the back end. The ceiling isn’t as sexy as some of the other names in the first round like Matthew Schaefer or Radim Mrtka, but Brzusetwicz figures to become a key fixture in the lineup, and there should be a spot there for the taking by the time he is ready to shoot up the ranks.

Final Rankings – Brzustewicz thrives in London’s structured yet offensively liberal system, showcasing strong puck-moving instincts, physical engagement, and offensive activation, though his stiff skating and pressure-handling limit his consistency. With size, effort, and offensive upside, he has NHL potential, but needs refinement in his defensive adaptability to fully realize it.—