Kings Select Defensemen in NHL’s Waiver Draft

The Kings acquired defensemen Dale Degray from the Toronto Maple Leafs and James Hofford from the Buffalo Sabres but lost defenseman Ken Hammond to the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League waiver draft Monday .

Hammond was one of 11 players the Kings left unprotected for the draft. Each club was allowed to protect 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders.

The Kings picked Hofford in the fifth round and Degray in the sixth. Degray became available late in the draft after Toronto made a selection and had to drop a player from its protected list.

Degray, 25, a 3-year NHL veteran, started last season with Toronto’s American Hockey League affiliate in Ontario, and was recalled after scoring 2 goals and 10 assists in the first 8 games. He scored 6 goals and 18 assists in 56 games with Toronto and had 63 penalty minutes.