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Prospect Report: Jaret Anderson-Dolan

June 14, 2020June 15, 2020
by KT Nash

Day eight of 10 prospects in 10 days is Jaret Anderson-Dolan, the Kings’ second round, 41st over draft pick of the 2017 NHL draft.

Anderson-Dolan, or JAD for the sake of simplifying his long name, is a center who is simply a leader on an off the ice. After being drafted 14th overall by the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs in 2014, JAD emerged as a mainstay in their lineup during the 2015-2016 season. He had a solid, but not amazing, rookie season posting 26 points (14+12=26) in 65 games played.

JAD first proved his true potential in the 2016-2017 season, also his draft year. He was named the alternate captain of the Chiefs and his production reflected his role on the team. He scored 76 points (39+37=76) in 72 games played. Team Canada took notice of his leadership and playing abilities and named him the captain of their under 18 team that played in the 2017 IIHF U-18 World Juniors tournament. JAD went scoreless in 5 games played and Canada was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Although he did not play well in the World Juniors Tournament, his performance with Spokane earned him high rankings going into the NHL draft. At only 17, JAD was one of the youngest players at the draft; yet, he was consistently ranked to be chosen in the first round. However, he slipped to the second round and the Los Angeles Kings selected him with their second round pick, 41st overall.

In the 2017-2018 season, JAD demonstrated that his offensive leap in the prior season was not simply a fluke. He posted 91 points (40+51=91) in 70 games played. He lead his team to the playoffs, where he scored 9 points (2+7=9) in 7 games played. His ability was noted when he was named to the WHL’s First All-Star Team due to his great season. After this campaign, JAD became viewed as one of the Kings most promising prospects. He was still 18, but he demonstrated the poise and leadership of someone who was much older.

JAD began his career with the Kings much sooner than expected. The Kings sustained several injuries during training camp prior to the 2018-2019 season and, because of his exceptional training camp, JAD earned the opportunity to play 5 games for the team, scoring his first career point, an assist. While he played well and did not look lost amongst seasoned NHL players, the Kings virtually self-imploded and it was not advantageous to use a year of a promising prospect’s contract on a team that simply could not win. JAD was sent back to Spokane where he was named their captain. However, a wrist injury drastically shortened his season.

Despite missing about half of the season due to his stint with the Kings and his injury, JAD still managed to post strong offensive numbers. He scored 43 points (20+23=43) in only 32 games played. He was also able to represent Canada at the IIHF World Juniors Tournament, serving as their alternate captain. He scored one goal in 5 games before Canada was eliminated.

The 2019-2020 season was JAD’s first full professional season. He began the season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, before earning a brief recall to the Kings. With the Kings, he played 4 games, going scoreless. However, he had a very successful rookie campaign with the Reign, posting 28 points (8+20=28) in 53 games played. While this may appear as a poor season offensively when compared to his statistics with the Chiefs, it is important to understand exactly how different the AHL is from major juniors; major juniors is a significantly more offensive league as the players are younger, smaller, and less defensively inclined.

JAD will be searching for an opening night roster spot with the Kings next season and it is likely that he will receive it; he is a hard worker that has already proved that he can compete at the NHL level. Young, unestablished Kings centers need to look out for JAD because he might be taking their job next season. If he does not make the roster out of training camp, he will likely split time between the Kings and the Reign before becoming a Kings regular in the 2020-2021 season and beyond.

Ignoring his statistics, JAD is a good person and a team player. He has faced unfair discrimination due to his parents. He is the son of two moms and, because of this, he has slipped in not one, but two drafts. He was consistently ranked in the top 5 prospects for his WHL draft, where he slipped to 14 and he slipped from the first to the second round in his NHL draft. Despite this, he has reacted with nothing but poise and maturity. He is very young, yet he continues to prove that he is a leader on and off the ice. Just look at the way he talks about his life in the first interview he gave after he was drafted. He was only 17.

His billet parents best articulate his dedication to the game. He was consistently focused on eating well, sleeping properly, school, and training off the ice. He is going to be a leader and, potentially, the next captain for the Los Angeles Kings. He was already an excellent mentor to younger players in Spokane and this is likely to continue when he plays for an increasingly younger Los Angeles Kings team.

JAD’s two-way ability, combined with his pass first mentality will compliment other Kings prospects, including Arthur Kaliyev, well in the future. However, one of his biggest strengths is his versatility; he can play virtually any situation depending on need. He will likely begin his career on the third or fourth line, eventually working his way up to a top 6 spot on a competitive Kings team.

JAD is a strong skater who has a scoring touch and leadership capability. He is simply an all-around excellent prospect with few weak spots. Personally, he is my favorite Kings prospect and I look forward to seeing what he can do at the NHL level in the near future.

Prospects

Prospect Report: Jordan Spence

June 13, 2020June 14, 2020
by KT Nash

Day seven of 10 prospects in 10 days is Jordan Spence. Spence, a defenseman, was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round, 95th overall of the 2019 NHL draft.

Jordan Spence had an unorthodox journey towards professional hockey. Born in Australia, Spence first learned about hockey whilst living in Japan from his Canadian father. He first became serious about hockey when he moved to Canada at age 13.

At 17, he was drafted by the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats with the 20th overall pick. He is a small, offensively minded defenseman who skates well. In the 2018-2019 season, his first season with the Wildcats, also his draft season, Spence had an impressive showing. He continued to demonstrate his offensive capabilities, scoring 49 points (6+43=49) in 68 games played. His offensive ability did not limit his defense as well: he finished the season with an impressive plus/minus of +11 in the extremely offensive QMJHL.

His performance earned him a spot on team Canada’s under-18 roster, playing in the 2019 IIHF under-18 World Juniors Tournament. He continued playing well at the international level, posting 3 points (1+2=3) in 7 games played. However, his plus/minus of +5 is more impressive that his 3 points in this tournament.

At the conclusion of the season, Spence was highly decorated in the QMJHL. He was named to their all-rookie team, he won the awards for best rookie defenseman and best rookie overall, and he also had the most assists as a rookie in the league. These statistics earned him consideration as a solid NHL prospect. However, scouts and experts were divided on where in the draft he would be chosen. Some had him ranked as high as the middle of the second round, whilst others had him being drafted late in the fourth round as they were concerned that he would not be able to compensate for his small size at the NHL level. The Los Angeles Kings drafted Spence early in the fourth round.

Spence was always a sleeper prospect; he was never widely recognized by NHL experts. However, he has continued to play extremely well. In the 2019-2020 season, Spence had another incredible season. He scored 52 points (9+43=52) in 60 games played in the shortened season. He also had a plus/minus of +49, which is simply astonishing in major juniors. He was even awarded the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defenseman.

His continued success earned him a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings upon the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season. Although he will not be ready to play in the NHL next year, he should be able to make the Kings in the coming seasons. He will probably play one more year with the Wildcats before making the transition to professional hockey.

His passing ability will be a welcomed addition to a Kings organization that has been historically starved for offense. The only area of concern is his skating: in order to be successful as an undersized defenseman in the NHL, he will need to be an excellent skater. His skating ability has not held him back as of yet, and it is likely that, with some time with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, he will be able to play well at the NHL level.

It is currently hard to see where his ceiling is; however, he could potentially be a mainstay on the second line of a competitive Kings team within the next four or five years. He will most likely receive significant power play time as well, due to his offensive ability.

Although he has been historically ignored by experts and scouts, Jordan Spence has the potential to be a solid NHL defenseman with his pass-first mentality and technical defensive skill.

Prospects

Prospect Report: Akil Thomas

June 12, 2020June 13, 2020
by KT Nash

Day six of 10 prospects and 10 days is none other than Akil Thomas, the Kings’ 2018 second round, 51st overall pick.

Thomas is an offensively minded forward who is known for his playmaking ability. He played for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs in his draft year, serving as their alternate captain, demonstrating leadership potential. He scored 81 points (22+59=81) in 68 games played in the 2017-2018 season. These were statistics good enough to earn him high praise going into the draft; He was consistently ranked in the middle of the first round, with scouts complementing his skating ability and tenacity.

However, he managed to slip to the middle of the second round. Many believe that this was due to a lackluster performance in the IIHF under-18 World Juniors Tournament of that year. In 4 games played, he had 2 points (1+1=2); he was projected to have a better showing in this tournament. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Kings were able to claim him in the second round.

Akil Thomas can be considered as a steal at 51st overall, especially when noting that some scouts had him ranked as high as 15th. He proved that he was an elite prospect in the season following his draft. In the 2018-2019, Thomas served as the IceDogs’ alternate captain once again and he posted 102 points (38+64=102) in 63 games played. He also had an incredible plus/minus of +42. These numbers are extremely good, even taking into consideration the how offensively minded major junior hockey is. Although team Canada did not name him to their World Juniors team, his spectacular season earned him a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Entering into the 2019-2020 season, Thomas was named the captain of the IceDogs, further solidifying his role as a leader on the team. Before representing Canada in 2020 the IIHF World Junior Tournament, he scored 44 points (15+29=44) in 27 games played. The highlight of his season and his entire young career came during the World Juniors Tournament. Throughout the entire tournament, Thomas did not receive any significant playing time. Before the gold medal game, he only registered one point, an assist. However, with just under four minuets to go in the gold medal game, he scored a beautiful gold medal winning goal.

Scoring the tournament winning goal made headlines in the hockey community. Although he was under the immense pressure of the gold medal game, Thomas managed to score a goal after not receiving significant minuets throughout the tournament. This demonstrates his ability to be an impact player when the stakes are high. He simply leads my example and he rose to the occasion in this situation. His performance caused interest in potential trades within the OHL. Just days after his gold medal goal, he was traded to the Peterborough Petes in exchange for forward Cameron Butler and 4 draft picks. With the Petes, Thomas posted 40 points (9+31=40) in 22 games, before the season was ended due to the ongoing pandemic.

Next season, Thomas should play with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. It is also likely that he will earn a call-up to the Kings sometime during the season. In the future, he will probably play in the top 6 on the Kings. He should convert well to the NHL level, especially when considering his offensive and leadership abilities.

Off the ice, Thomas is an entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of a successful clothing line called Zale apparel. This brand designs and sells street ware. He is also a podcaster; he hosts the “Soul on Ice” podcast alongside Damon “Kwame” Mason and Elijah Roberts. This podcast covers hockey throughout the ages from a modern perspective. It is interesting to see such an elite prospect commit to so many things outside of hockey. I look forward to seeing how he expands on these endeavors once he is playing in the NHL.

Akil Thomas is a character player that has the potential to be a great leader at the NHL level. I look forward to seeing how his natural offensive talent translates to the NHL level.

Ontario Reign

Prospect Report: Rasmus Kupari

June 11, 2020June 12, 2020
by KT Nash

Day five of 10 prospects in 10 days is Rasmus Kupari, the Kings’ first round, 20th overall draft pick in the 2018 NHL draft.

Kupari is a forward who plays with tenacity. He had an excellent draft year, earning him high rankings. He spent the majority of the season playing for Kärpät of Liiga, Finland’s premier men’s league. Taking into consideration that he was a seventeen year-old playing in a men’s league, he had solid offensive numbers. He posted 14 points (6+8=14) in 39 games played en route to a league championship.

Kupari also played for Kärpät’s junior team posting 7 points (3+4=7) in 11 games in the 2017-2018 season. Representing Finland, he played in the IIHF under-18 World Juniors Tournament and the under-20 World Juniors Tournament. In the under-18 tournament, he helped lead Finland to the gold medal, scoring 3 points (2+1=3) in 4 games and he went scoreless with the under-20 team.

Due to his evident offensive capability, NHL experts and scouts placed him in the middle of the first round of the 2018 NHL draft. He slipped a little bit, going 20th overall with the Kings.

After completing development camp with the Kings, Kupari signed a three-year, entry-level deal. He was then loaned back to Kärpät for the 2018-2019 season. He had another solid offensive season, posting 33 points (12+21=33) in 43 games played. He also represented Finland in the IIHF World Juniors Tournament for the second straight year. He scored 5 points (1+4=5) in 7 games, helping Finland win the gold medal.

Entering the 2019-2020 season, Kupari was ready to play in North America. He began the season with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, and quickly demonstrated his offensive ability. He posted 8 points (6+2=8) in 27 games played before he represented Finland in his third consecutive IIHF World Juniors Tournament. Sadly, in the first game of the tournament, he tore his ACL, requiring surgery that ended his season.

Losing the majority of his season due to this injury was a hinderance to his development; however, he is still an extremely promising prospect for the Kings. Next season, he will likely split time between the Kings and the Reign. I presume that he will start with the Reign in order to continue recovering from his injury.

Looking further into the future, Kupari will be a mainstay with the Kings. He brings something that the Kings clearly lack: speed. He is a wonderful skater with a complementing shot. He should be extremely valuable at the NHL level as soon as next season.

Prospects

Prospect Report: Tobias Björnfot

June 10, 2020June 11, 2020
by KT Nash

Day four of 10 prospects in 10 days is Tobias Björnfot, the Swedish defenseman that the Los Angeles Kings drafted in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2019 NHL draft. Björnfot was the Kings’ second pick in the first round of the 2019 draft. The Kings received the pick as a part of the trade that sent veteran defenseman Jake Muzzin to the Toronto Maple Leaves.

Björnfot had a strong draft season in 2018-2019. Playing for Djurgårdens IF J20 of the SuperElit league, Sweden’s premier junior league, Björnfot posted solid offensive numbers: he scored 22 points (11+11=22) in 39 games. He was also more than an offensive defenseman, he also had an impressive plus/minus of +15. Björnfot’s performance earned him the award for best defenseman in the SuperElit league. He served as the alternate captain of Djurgårdens IF J20, demonstrating his leadership capability.

Björnfot’s leadership combined with his impressive statistics earned him the opportunity to play 7 games with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league. He also represented his native Sweden in the 2018 IIHF under 18 World Juniors Tournament, where he captained the team to a gold metal. He scored one point, an assist, in 7 games with a plus/minus of -1. Albeit not perfect, these statistics were impressive enough for a 17 year old defenseman in a junior tournament.

Coming in to the 2019 draft, Björnfot was a touted prospect: his clear two-way playing ability combined with impressive skating and leadership capability was hard to criticize. NHL experts placed him at the end of the first round and the Kings selected him at 22nd overall.

The Kings organization selected a defenseman that could potentially take over for Drew Doughty in the distant future. Even at 18, Björnfot demonstrated the maturity to play in professional hockey in North America. After completing development camp with the Kings, Björnfot signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings. At the beginning of the 2019-2020 season, Björnfot played 3 games with the Los Angeles Kings, alongside Drew Doughty, before being sent to the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.

With the Reign, Björnfot proved his ability at the professional level. He posted 19 points (6+13=19) in 44 games played. He was playing top four minuets and had a plus/minus of +13 with the Reign. These statistics indicate that he is ready for a more extensive stay in the NHL. Björnfot also represented Sweden in the IIHF World Juniors Tournament where he was held scoreless in 7 games played; however, he did help his team earn the bronze metal.

It is probable that Björnfot starts next season with a Kings team that has traded several notable defensemen in the past two seasons. He should also be seeing big minuets alongside Drew Doughty, who described the young defenseman as “amazing.” His maturity and natural leadership should be able to flourish under the mentorship of the Norris trophy winning Drew Doughty.

Looking farther into the future, Björnfot can become the defensive anchor on the next contending Kings team. His skating ability compliments the modern style of NHL play and, technically, he is skilled both offensively and defensively. As he is still developing, it is hard to see where his ceiling is, but he does have the capability to be a defensive star at the NHL level.

Prospects

Prospect Report: Samuel Fagemo

June 9, 2020June 10, 2020
by KT Nash

Day three of 10 prospects in 10 days brings us to Samuel Fagemo, the Kings’ second round, 50th overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft.

Fagemo, originally from Gothenburg, Sweden was eligible for the 2018 draft. However, although he had a decent season, he went undrafted. He was then invited to the Arizona Coyotes’ development camp, but this did not result in a contract.

Instead of coming to North America, Fagemo spent the 2018-2019 season playing with Frölunda HC of the SHL, Sweden’s premier hockey league. He had an extremely productive second draft year with Fröunda HC. He posted 25 points (14+11=25) in 42 games played with his first full season in the SHL. He also represented Sweden in the IIHF World Juniors tournament where he posted 1 point, an assist, in 5 games played. In the SHL playoffs, Fagemo scored 10 points (6+4=10) in 16 playoff games that resulted in a SHL championship.

Fagemo’s impressive 2018-2019 season drew the attention of NHL scouts and experts alike. It was no longer if he would be drafted, but when he would be drafted. Most experts placed him anywhere throughout the second round. The Los Angeles Kings also noticed his talent; they originally had considered him for the 2018 NHL draft, but trading for the pick did not work out. However, that would not be the case in 2019. The Kings traded their 64th and 126th overall draft picks in order to move up to the 50th overall pick, allowing them to claim Fagemo.

After completing development camp with the Kings, Fagemo signed a three-year, entry-level with the team. However, instead of playing with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Kings decided to loan him back to Fröunda HC for another season. This season he scored 22 points (13+9=22) in 42 games played. He also scored the most goals as a junior (under 20) in the SHL.

The highlight of Fagemo’s season was the IIHF World Juniors where he represented his native Sweden. Although he was not named the MVP of the tournament, he had the most goals (8) and points (13). He also won a bronze medal and was named to the all-star team on the tournament. He was simply fantastic in this tournament and if it is any indicator of his potential at the NHL level, his future is bright.

Next season, it is likely that he will come to North America and begin his career with the Kings organization. As it stands, it is probable that Fagemo begins his season with the Reign. The Kings have multiple options at right wing, especially if the Kings decide to shift Jeff Carter to wing due to a surplus of young centers. He is a good all-around player with a scoring touch and I would not be surprised if he earns some playing time with the Kings next year.

After not being drafted in his first year of eligibility, Fagemo has continued to prove his naysayers wrong. I am personally quite excited to see him in Los Angeles. I think he has potential to be a solid second line player on a competitive Kings team in a few seasons.

Ontario Reign

Prospect Report: Alex Turcotte

June 8, 2020June 9, 2020
by KT Nash

Day two of my 10 prospects in 10 days brings us to Alex Turcotte, the Kings first round, fifth overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft.

Many Kings fans, myself included, were disappointed when the Kings slipped to the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft. However, their fortunes were reversed when Alex Turcotte was still available for the Kings. The majority of NHL experts concluded that Turcotte would be taken with the third overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks. Turcotte, originally from Illinois, would have been the “hometown kid” in Chicago. However, the Blackhawks chose to go with Kirby Dach with their pick instead.

When comparing their draft year numbers, Turcotte was more productive; however, they did play in completely different systems. Turcotte, playing for the United States National Team Development program and the United States National Under 18 program, scored 96 points (39+57=96) in 53 combined games between the two programs. Dach played for the Saskatoon Blades, scoring 73 points (25+48=73) in 62 games. While the United States development program is different from major juniors, these numbers demonstrate that Turcotte had a better season offensively than Dach.

The draft-year statistics explain why many people were surprised that the Blackhawks chose Dach over Turcotte because Turcotte has more potential to become a strong two-way first line center at the NHL level. Chicago’s loss is Los Angeles’ gain as they now have one of the most touted center prospects in their development system.

Before being drafted, Turcotte had already committed to play NCAA hockey with the University of Wisconsin. In his freshman year, he had a decent, albeit not wonderful, season. He faced multiple bouts of illness and a knee injury en route to 26 points (9+17=26) in 29 games. He also represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Juniors tournament scoring 2 points, both assists in 5 games. It is important to note that NCAA hockey better replicates the NHL style of play over major juniors, as it is harder to produce offensively and it is a more physical style of play. These factors, when combined, demonstrate that Turcotte had a solid season. He has proved that he was ready to play at the professional level.

On March 11, the Kings signed Turcotte to a three-year entry level contract. This ended his NCAA career as he is no longer eligible play in that league. He was supposed to report directly to the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate. However, things did not go as planned as the NHL and AHL both postponed their seasons on March 12, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

As the AHL has cancelled the remainder of their season and the Kings are not included in the NHL’s return to play plan, Turcotte’s season is over and he can set his sights on next season. Kings fans cannot seem to agree on if he will play in the NHL or the AHL next year. It is simply too early to tell where he will play, as lot depends on Jeff Carter’s future with the Kings. The Kings also have many young centers who are striving for roles at the NHL level. In all likelihood, Turcotte will split time, in some capacity, with the Kings and Reign.

His true potential exists in his future, beyond his first year in professional hockey. He is a two-way center with an extreme upside; he could potentially assume the role of either the first or second line center on a team that has many options for center. His role will become more apparent when he earns some playing time at the NHL level.

Prospects

Prospect Report: Arthur Kaliyev

June 7, 2020November 10, 2021
by KT Nash

When the Los Angeles Kings drafted Arthur Kaliyev with the thirty-third overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft, NHL experts and Kings fans alike thought this pick was a steal, given that many presumed he would be taken in the first round. Many Kings fans were originally disappointed when they selected Tobias Björnfot over Kaliyev with the twenty-second overall pick that same year. However, time has proven that Rob Blake and the scouting staff carefully selected their picks, as the Kings were still able to claim Kaliyev.

As he was entering the NHL draft there was a strong consensus amongst scouts: he was an offensive machine who completely lacked defensive abilities. On most scouts’ lists, he was placed at the end of the first round as he had significant potential, but there was also a risk of him being a bust due to his lack of defense. He was a pure goal scorer at the junior level. In his first season with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, Kaliyev posted and impressive 48 points (31+17=48) en route to an OHL championship.

In his second season, also his draft season, Kaliyev defied expectations with his offensive production: he had 102 points (51+51=102). With these numbers he became only the thirteenth player to score 50 goals at age 17. The last person before him to complete this feat was Steven Stamkos, so it is needless to say that he is joining good company.

While these offensive stats are virtually impeccable, there is a reason that he slipped to the second round. His skating was not impressive and he simply could not play defense. The OHL is a more offensively focused league but, although he posted extremely impressive offensive stats, Kaliyev had a plus/minus of -13 in his draft year.

That brings us to the 2019 NHL draft. Although there was a consensus amongst scouts and NHL experts regarding his strengths and weaknesses, there was absolutely no consensus on when in the draft he would be picked. Some thought he would go in the middle of he first round, whilst others believed he would be chosen at the end of the first round or the beginning of the second round. The latter was true as the Los Angeles selected him with the thirty-third overall pick in the second round. This was an exciting pick: he has the ability to become a pure goal scorer at the NHL level.

It has now been approximately one year since Kaliyev was first drafted. He had another stellar season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, scoring 98 points (44+54=98) in the shortened season. The increase of assists demonstrates that he can also play a passing position, instead of being a pure goal scorer. His plus/minus also improved significantly: he was at a -7. This is not great, but it is a significant improvement from his prior season, especially when considering how offensively minded the OHL is. Kaliyev was awarded the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the top-scoring right winger in the OHL this year. He has also been named a finalist for the Red Tilson Trophy which is awarded to the OHL’s most outstanding player.

Some highlights of this season include Kaliyev’s four-goal game and him setting the Bulldog’s all-time record of goals (126) and points (248). He also represented the United States at the IIHF World Juniors tournament scoring 6 points (4+2=6) in 5 games. He had a plus/minus of 4, which is extremely uplifting news to Kings fans. The World Juniors tournament is a better replication the style of NHL play than major juniors as it is only the best of the best. There is hope that his defensive abilities will be sufficient at the NHL level.

Last week, the Los Angeles Kings signed Kaliyev to a three-year, entry-level contract, making him eligible to play with the team next season. However, Kaliyev is still extremely young as he is only 18. He can still play another full season with Hamilton without causing them to use one of their three “overage” players (those who are 20 or older). In addition, it would allow the Kings to not waste a year of his contract with him still developing and probably only playing part time in the NHL as he would not be eligible to play in the AHL. He is promising enough where he will probably be able to jump straight to the NHL, especially with a young Kings team, upon completing another season in the OHL.

Personally, I believe that he has already demonstrated growth defensively, although possibly not enough to be ready to play in the NHL. I think his lack of defense at the time of his draft can be attributed to his age: he was only 17 when he was drafted. There was and is still a lot room for him to grow and acquire a better defensive game and he has already demonstrated improvement. It is entirely possible that he receives a 10 game try-out at the NHL level next season in order to see how he fares before completing one more year in the OHL to fully prepare for an NHL role in the 2021-2022 season.

He has the opportunity to be a pure goal-scorer at the NHL level and this is something that the Kings have completely lacked in the past decade. Although his defense may pose a problem, I do not believe that it will stifle him to the point where he cannot be an effective NHL player, even potentially a star, if he reaches his ceiling. He will likely play significant time on the power play, utilizing his amazing shot, and in 5-on-5 situations where the team is looking for a go-ahead or an insurance goal at the beginning of his career and this position will hopefully evolve over time into him becoming a core player.

Kaliyev is one of the prospects that I am the most excited about. I look forward to seeing what his offensive ability can do in order to help a team that has been historically starved for goals.

Team News

Two More Frk’n Years!

March 14, 2020March 14, 2020
by KT Nash

Martin Frk has signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings with an average annual value (AAV) of $725,000. This contract will last through the 2021-2022 season.

The 26 year old forward was born in Pelhrimov, Czech Republic signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Kings prior to the 2019-2020 season. Frk has spent the majority of the season as the leading goal-scored for the Kings’s AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He has recorded 36 points (23+13=36) in 37 games played with the Reign. He has also been impressive at the NHL level, recording 8 points (6+2=8) with the Kings in 17 games played.

However, the memorable moment of his season to date comes at the AHL All-Star Skills Competition in Ontario, where he shattered the record for the hardest shot ever recorded in professional hockey history with an absolute rocket of 109.2 MPH! Zdeno Chara held the previous record with a 108.8 MPH shot recorded at the 2012 NHL All-Star Skills Competition.

Before signing with the Kings prior to this season, Frk had considered signing with a KHL team. However, he decided to stay in North America for another year and sign with the Kings. Needless to say, he is exceeding expectations and has been rewarded with his first one-way contract since his Entry Level Contract (ELC) with the Detroit Red Wings.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs right winger plays a dynamic, offensive focused game. His insane slap shot is tough to beat, especially when placed perfectly. In the future, as the Kings continue to rebuild, he will probably play on the third or fourth line and act as a power play specialist.

Prospects

Gabe Vilardi Makes Splash in NHL Debut

February 21, 2020April 3, 2020
by KT Nash

At last, Kings fans can breath a sigh of relief. Gabe Vilardi, the former first round draft pick, has made his long-anticipated NHL debut and it simply could not have gone better. Vilardi beat a NHL record by scoring just ten seconds into his first NHL shift. Vilardi broke the previous record by five seconds that Toronto’s Gus Bodnar set back in 1943. Vilardi also added a primary assist for an impressive two-point debut.

In order to take a look at this monumentos event, we need to go back a bit. Vilardi’s young career almost never started in the first place. The twenty-year-old forward has been dealing with a persistent back injury since he was seventeen.

After an injury-shortened OHL season with the Windsor Spitfires, Vilardi was drafted in the eleventh overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft. Vilardi was known as a strong two-way forward that would be able to make an immediate impact on whatever team he joined. Needless to say, Kings fans were excited to have him in their system.

However, his injury issues persisted; he missed his first rookie camp and had another injury-shortened 2017-2018 OHL season. Kings fans were disappointed, but optimistic: Vilardi signed an entry level contract with the Kings in March, 2018. Fans remained hopeful that he would be able to play a full season. However, this was not the case; Vilardi was limited to a four game conditioning stint with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. This was heartbreaking for Vilardi and Kings fans alike as many NHL experts began to question if he would ever be able to play at the NHL level.

November 2019 brought hope for Vilardi: he began to skate and practice with the Ontario Reign. On November 22, 2019, he played his first hockey game in almost a year with the Reign. After a number of “trial” games with limited ice-time, Vilardi scored his first profesional goal on December 4.

After his first AHL goal, Vilardi continued to excel with the Reign. After Kings center Jeff Carter suffered a lower-body injury, his 25 points (9+16=25) in 32 games earned him an opportunity to play with the parent club.

On February 20, 2020, Vilardi was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings. The question of wether or not he would ever play in the NHL was finally answered. On the same day of his recall, Vilardi made his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers. It was not long before he proved that he was ready to play at the NHL level. He scored his first goal on his first shot, just 10 seconds into his first shift.

Vilardi’s goal shattered the previous record for fastest first goal and he was not done yet. He also added a primary assist on teammate Martin Frk’s goal in a 5-4 LA victory. In his debut, he proved many NHL experts wrong and provided Kings fans a glimpse of a bright future.