There’s an old phrase of ‘leave no stone unturned’ that comes to mind when thinking about what the Kings are doing in advance of this year’s Development Camp. Looking to find some hidden gems in the college free agent market, we’ve already reported on three high-end players the Kings have secured as camp invitees. Now, they’ve added another intriguing name to that list — defenseman Ty Hanson.
If Cole Caufield has taught the hockey world just one thing of late, don’t be scared of size.
Sure, Hanson is an undersized rearguard, checking in at 5-foot-9. However, as one scout put it to us, he’s built like a fire hydrant. Don’t sleep on this player, as he’s an absolute warrior who will lay it all on the line to win.
Having just completed his sophomore season at Minnesota Duluth, the right shot defender was the second-best scoring player at his position in the NCAA this season. The Hermantown, MN native finished with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 40 games — trailing only Denver’s Eric Pohlkamp who had 39 points in 43 games. He was also near the top of the leader board in points-per-game, right alongside names like Boston’s Cole Hutson (32 pts in 35 GP).
Hanson is good in transition and adds to the offense of his team. He’s also a gigantic minutes eater in all situations. His high compete level often has scouts refer to him as sort of like a pitbull.
This past season, he ran the point on UMD’s third-ranked power play alongside Hobey Baker winner Max Plante. Hanson averaged the most time on ice for UMD (skating over 25 minutes a night), his second straight campaign of never missing a game across two collegiate seasons (76 straight). Unfortunately, UMD’s hope of a long playoff run ended early, when they fell to No. 1 Michigan in the regional final. Oh, and Hanson scored during a third-period comeback attempt that came up one goal short.
For a brief demonstration of what he can do:
What a pass by Zam Plante to Ty Hanson for the goal!
1-1 in the 1st
pic.twitter.com/2cBJM7j0Ei
— EVERYTHING COLLEGE HOCKEY (@TeamECH) January 24, 2026
Textbook!
Power play perfection leads to Ty Hanson's first career goal and a tie game for @UMDMensHockey
: NCHC.tv#NCHChockey // #BulldogCountry pic.twitter.com/6p9SsxCQZV
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 17, 2024
It’s quite possible that Hanson will follow in the footsteps of another undersized defenseman from UMD: Neal Pionk. Ironically, also from Hermantown, also a former Sioux City Musketeer (USHL), also undrafted out of UMD under coach Scott Sandelin. He signed with the Rangers as a college free agent — after being heavily pursued by the Kings — and now carries a $7 million cap hit in Winnipeg. Nobody’s pretending size isn’t a concern, but undersized defensemen who can move the puck are finding success in the league. Hutson is another recent example. At 5-foot-10, he signed with Washington just last month and already has 10 points in 13 games. If the talent is there, the size becomes less of a conversation topic.
People who have coached him, played with him, and coached against him all praise his game.
Sioux City head coach Jason Kersner, who had Hanson for two full USHL seasons, didn’t mince words: “I think Ty was the best player in the league and I don’t feel bad saying that.”
Warroad head coach Jay Hardwick, who coached against Hanson in high school: “He is in your face and he skates very well.”
And UMD teammate Aaron Pionk — Neal’s brother — called him “the definition of a dog.”
At some point, you run out of ways to say he is a special player.
Hanson will most likely return to Duluth for his junior year, so this is purely an evaluation opportunity for both sides. But the Kings’ right-shot defensive pipeline is thinner than the left, and it never hurts to have talented players potentially interested in signing via free agency.
Joining him at Dev Camp in June will be the nation’s top prospect at center, a forward who scored more goals than anybody else in college hockey this season, and a really big right-shot defenseman. See articles below for more on those players.
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