Fresh off a gold-medal-winning performance that saw him lead the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship in scoring, first-round pick Elton Hermansson has officially signed his entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Los Angeles Kings have officially locked up one of the organization's most exciting young prospects.
Just weeks after making Elton Hermansson a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Kings announced Thursday that the Swedish forward has signed a three-year entry-level contract that runs through the 2028-29 season. While fans won't see him in Los Angeles this fall, the organization is making a long-term investment in a player it believes has the potential to become a key piece of its future.
The 19th overall selection in June, Hermansson is expected to remain in Sweden for the 2026-27 campaign and will not attend Kings training camp. Instead, he'll continue his development with MoDo Hockey in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest professional league.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward spent most of last season skating for MoDo's senior club, producing 11 goals and 21 points in 38 games while finishing with a plus-nine rating and 22 penalty minutes. He also suited up for MoDo's U20 team, contributing nine points (three goals, six assists) in 13 games against Sweden's top junior competition.
Before joining MoDo, Hermansson enjoyed a breakout season with Örebro HK's U20 club in 2024-25, where he totaled 17 goals and 36 points in 41 games. His combination of size, offensive instincts and skating helped establish him as one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2026 draft class.
Hermansson's stock soared even higher on the international stage.
Representing Sweden at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, he led the entire tournament with 12 points, collecting four goals and eight assists in just seven games while helping his country capture the gold medal. His dominant performance earned him a spot on the tournament All-Star Team and Best Forward honors.
Although another season in Sweden awaits, the Kings have made it clear they view Hermansson as an important part of the organization's future. Signing him to his entry-level contract is the latest step in that development path as Los Angeles continues building around one of the NHL's deeper prospect pools.
