The Los Angeles Kings have seen some slower development from their top prospects due to the pandemic and injuries. But they still have many talented prospects, says Tony Ferrari.
The Los Angeles Kings have seen some slower development from their top prospects due to the pandemic and injuries. But they still have many talented prospects, says Tony Ferrari.
The Los Angeles Kings are the latest team in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari examines the Kings' system to evaluate notable prospects, identify strengths and weaknesses, and determine a player most likely to make the jump to the NHL next season. He also gives the lowdown on each Kings prospect selected in the 2024 NHL draft.
A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is no longer considered a prospect for this exercise, except in very specific cases.
First Thoughts
The once heralded and highly rated prospect pool of the Los Angeles Kings has seen a lot of the shine wear off.
The Kings had a boatload of high-end prospects right as the pandemic hit, which slowed development and even halted it in some cases. It ended up being a factor in some players taking a bit longer or not quite living up to their potential.
That being said, there are still plenty of talented young players in the system.
Quinton Byfield just signed a new extension after a breakout season with 55 points. He will turn 22 just before the season starts, and he’s blossoming into a powerful and skilled playmaker. Byfield should be the centerpiece of their squad for the next decade or more as the Kings' core, led by Anze Kopitar, begins to enter the later stages of their careers.
The back end's likely pillar of the Kings' next era is Brandt Clarke. The 21-year-old has found a way to produce at any level he’s been at, and he will look to establish himself in the NHL full-time this upcoming season. He has some defensive warts, but the offensive game could be special.
As for Alex Turcotte, could this be the year he finally breaks into the NHL full-time, or is he destined to be an AHL-NHL tweener? His offensive game hasn’t translated to the pros. which is largely due to injuries affecting his development since his draft year. Turcotte is a highly intelligent and tactical player who plays with speed. The talent is still there, and he may be primed to be a late bloomer.
Through two AHL seasons, 21-year-old Samuel Helenius has yet to find his footing offensively. His defensive game remains his strength, but he struggles at times with the higher-paced game in North America. Helenius was always projected as a bottom-six center at best, but he must find some sort of scoring touch in the minors before finding a role in the NHL.
Francesco Pinelli had a decent first AHL season, putting up 13 goals, but he also must adapt to the higher pace of pro hockey. His intelligence and vision have always been strengths, but Pinelli’s shot is a trait he’s leaning into more at the pro level. A big sophomore season in the AHL could see him make his NHL debut at some point this season, even if just to get a taste.
Martin Chromiak has found success in the AHL, albeit in a limited fashion. The complementary winger does a good job of adapting to his teammates and trying to fill the gaps in their game. He can be a finisher or a playmaker, depending on what is needed, and he shows some decent habits away from the puck as well. He’s never going to drive a line, but he can help out the player who does.
Koehn Ziemmer was injured for a big chunk of last year because of an ankle injury he suffered while being thrown to the ice in an altercation. His scoring touch has never been a question, but his mobility is. He must improve his skating as it will be more noticeably a weakness at the AHL level. If he can get a bit quicker and agile, he might be a solid depth scorer.
The blueline isn’t quite as deep, but aside from Clarke, they have a few names of note. Jakub Dvorak is a big, mobile defender who tries to establish position and then overpower his opponents. He uses his frame well defensively. His offensive game isn’t anything special, but he is a capable handler who can move the puck to teammates.
Kirill Kirsanov is a solid two-way defender who skates well and has some size. He will skate the puck up ice but doesn’t always know what to do once he gets there. His game is fairly unrefined offensively, but defensively, he shows some good habits. He could wind up being a long-term bet, stashed in Russia and allowed to blossom at his own pace.
U-23 Players Likely To Be on the NHL Roster
Quinton Byfield (C), Arthur Kaliyev (W), Alex Laferriere (RW), Jordan Spence (D), Brandt Clarke (D)
2024 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 26th overall - Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL)
Round 2, 57th overall - Carter George, G, Owen Sound (OHL)
Round 6, 164th overall - Jared Woolley, LD, London (OHL)
Round 7, 198th overall - James Reeder, RW, Dubuque (USHL)
The Kings didn’t have a ton of draft capital at Sphere in Vegas but they made some solid picks with what they had. They started by trading back from the 21st-overall pick to the 26th pick, helping to improve the rest of their draft picks in the process.
Nabbing Liam Greentree with their first-round pick was a nice piece of business, as Greentree was one of the most productive draft-eligible CHLers on one of the worst teams in the CHL this year. Greentree certainly needs to work on his skating, particularly his acceleration, but the rest of his game is incredibly impressive. His ability to play through traffic and power through pressure is impressive.
Greentree was one of the most impressive passers in the entire draft class. He is a dangerous shooter as well, whipping snapshots from the slot off a deke or blasting one-timers from the circles. If Greentree’s skating wasn’t an issue, he may have been a player who gets consideration in the top 10.
Carter George was arguably the top netminder available in the draft class. His heroics with Owen Sound throughout the season were impressive, but it was his international play at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the Under-18 World Championship for Team Canada that really asserted his place among the best netminders. He tracks pucks well and squares up to shooters consistently. There are times when he can lose his form while moving laterally, but that’s common with undersized netminders.
After George in the second round, the Kings didn’t step back up to the mic and make another selection until they called the name of London Knights blueliner, Jared Woolley. A hulking 6-foot-5, 207-pound defender who is consistently looking to use his size to crush his opponents. He has a violent side to his game that teams tend to love and playing in London, he wasn’t asked to do too much just yet. Next season could be a big development year as he will likely be asked to play a bigger role. He showed some offensive instincts and puck-rushing ability in small flashes this season, and the Kings are hoping to see more of that next year.
Los Angeles’ final pick of the draft was winger James Reeder out of Dubuque in the USHL. The high-paced energy forward is always looking to get in on the play. He was one of the oldest players in the draft class, but he showed some nice progress throughout the season in the USHL. The 5-foot-10 American drove the middle of the ice and went fearlessly into the fray more often than not.
Strengths
The strength of the Kings' prospect pool is the forwards that they boast, particularly on the right wing.
Greentree can potentially be a high-impact offensive producer with plenty of playmaking upside.
Akil Thomas and Chromiak have bottom-six potential as supporting wingers who can play with various linemates. Ziemmer needs to spend the summer getting fully healthy on his ankle and trying to improve his skating, but he brings some offensive utility as well.
Turcotte and Helenius may both profile as bottom six centers, but both could end on the wing. Pinelli might have the best offensive upside in the group outside of Greentree, and he’s played all three forward positions over the last few years. If they can develop this group, they should get at least a couple of quality NHLers.
Weaknesses
The back end is an area of concern for the Kings, especially after Clarke graduates on the right side. Matthew Mania is an interesting long shot, but he isn’t a very high-end prospect when it comes down to it.
The Kings have a couple of young players in Spence and Clarke who will play NHL minutes on the right side this year, but the pickings are thin after that.
Next Man Up: Brandt Clarke, D
Clarke was a victim of the COVID-affected 2021 draft class. With the OHL season cancelled and many players going over to Europe, Clarke played pro hockey in Slovakia and had some really nice moments.
Since then, he’s bounced between the OHL, AHL and NHL. He’s shown flashes at all three levels, producing at nearly a point per game at the AHL level this past season. His offensive creativity and willingness to get involved could be a big factor for the Kings on the back end this season, adding more of a puck-moving factor with some of the bigger, defensive guys they’ve recently brought in.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Samuel Fagemo, Andre Lee
C: Alex Turcotte, Samuel Helenius, Francesco Pinelli, Jack Hughes
RW: Liam Greentree, Akil Thomas, Martin Chromiak, Koehn Ziemmer, Aatu Jamsen, James Reeder
LD: Jakub Dvorak, Kirill Kirsanov, Jared Woolley, Angus Booth
RD: Brandt Clarke, Matthew Mania, Otto Salin
G: Carter George, Hampton Slukynsky, Jacob Ingham, Erik Portillo
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News.