2 LA Kings defensive prospects make key decisions on where they'll play next season

Rink Royalty · Jul 22, 2026 00:25 · 3 min read

2 LA Kings defensive prospects make key decisions on where they'll play next season — Los Angeles Kings | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Los Angeles Kings defense prospects Will Sharpe and Giorgos Pantelas made key decisions for the upcoming season in this past week.

Two late-round defense prospects in the Los Angeles Kings' organization have made their important decisions about their immediate futures for the upcoming 2026-27 season this summer.

While the Kings' 2025 seventh-round draft pick Will Sharpe is making the jump from the WHL to the NCAA, 2026 fifth-round draft pick Giorgos Pantelas has opten to continue his development in major junior.

Sharpe will take his talents to the NCAA in the 2026-27 season after he split this past season in the WHL between the Kelowna Rockets and Vancouver Giants. He registered five goals, 24 assists, and 29 total points in 59 games played in the WHL this past season.

Will Sharpe makes the jump from the WHL to St. Cloud State

Sharpe announced on his Instagram page this past week that he is committing to play this upcoming season at Division 1 St. Cloud State University.

I’m very proud and honoured to announce my commitment to play division 1 hockey and further my education at St Cloud State University. Huge thanks to my Family, Friends, Teammates, Coaches, Training staff and everyone who’s been in my corner over the last few years. Excited for this next chapter of my hockey career.Will Sharpe on IG

Deciding to go play college hockey will give the Kings a longer period of time to sign Sharpe. He was the seventh-round draft pick of the Kings (216th overall) in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

By moving to college hockey, Sharpe also gets additional time to develop before the Kings have to make a decision on signing him. As a seventh-round pick who remains a longer-term developmental project, that extended evaluation window could benefit both Sharpe and the franchise as Los Angeles monitors how his game translates to the collegiate level.

Giorgos Pantelas opts to continue his development in the WHL

The Province's Steve Ewen reported on July 17 that Pantelas has decided to stay in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings for this upcoming season. This comes after he was expected to play in the NCAA this upcoming season with St. Cloud State.

Pantelas was selected 153rd overall by the Kings in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

He registered six goals, 31 assists, and 37 total points in 68 games played for Brandon in the WHL this past season. Pantelas also played five games for the Canada U18 team in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this past year.

Staying for another year in the WHL gives Pantelas another season to build on an impressive offensive showing this past season from the blue line while continuing to develop his overall game against major-junior competition. As a fifth-round draft pick who is only 18 years old, there isn't any need for the Kings to rush his transition to college hockey or the professional ranks.