Every team wants a Kristian Epperson. Playing with some additional flair to his game, Epperson racked up 80 points in just 58 games last season with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League. Outside of his offence, he brings it all to the table. A very tenacious player on the forecheck, Epperson does everything he can to get the puck. Stick lifts, board battles, funneling pucks through traffic and to the point, you name it. While he will never be the star of an NHL team, Epperson has fan-favorite written all over him if he can reach a fraction of his offensive potential while maintaining the tenacious edge he plays with.

Selected 88th overall, Kristian Epperson is now a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

Passed over in 2024 after a poor season for the USNTDP, Epperson immediately found a cushy role in Saginaw supporting Michael Misa’s transcendent season. Epperson’s speed and focused mindset quickly got to work, whether that was driving the net to knock in a rebound or tracking down pucks in the corner.

Final Rankings – Epperson rebounded in Saginaw after a tough year with the NTDP, reminding us of his strong forechecking, high energy, and transition skills. Though his poor stick discipline and underdeveloped offensive game are troubling, his pace and competitiveness make him a valuable, pesty third-line winger.—

There was a reason Epperson wasn’t drafted last year. Despite marked improvements, all things being equal, playing on a line with the OHL’s most dangerous man (or, two of them, following Igor Chernyshov’s arrival) is perhaps not the best indication of his true talent. Epperson has speed in spades and a workmanlike mindset, but expecting him to fill a top-6 role like he did this season might be a step too far. A top-9/bottom-6 utility player is a fair expectation.—