"Close Call in the NHL Draft: A Glimpse into What Could Have Been for the LA Kings" In a fascinating twist of fate, the Los Angeles Kings came perilously close to drafting one of the greatest defensemen in NHL history. Phil Housley, a future Hall of Famer, was nearly a King, but a trade changed the course of history. The Buffalo Sabres, who ultimately selected Housley, had originally acquired the rights to the defenseman from the Kings through a draft-day trade. The deal, which sent a first-round pick to Los Angeles, had far-reaching consequences, shaping the trajectory of Housley's illustrious career and potentially altering the Kings' fortunes.

Phil Housley nearly became an LA King as a player. The pick that Buffalo used to take the future Hall of Fame defenseman was once Los Angeles’ first-round selection, though it was traded to the Sabres ...