Prospect Previews
1. Alexander Frolov -LW-
2001-2002 Team: Yaroslavl (Rus. Super League)
Alexander will make the jump from the Russian Upper League to Russia’s top professional league, the Russian Super League. Frolov, will definitely go through a bit of an adjustment from the Upper League to the Super League, but NHL scouts and the Kings love his consistent goal-scoring over the past couple of seasons and believe he can carry it over to the Super League. The two parties could not agree on a contract before the July deadline so Frolov will not be in camp and will not have a chance to make the team. Frolov just needs to stay consistent and show that he can play with the best in Russia. A solid season in the RSL and a solid performance at the WJC’s for Frolov could mean a nice contract and a good shot at making the club in 2003.
2. Yannick Lehoux -C-
2000-2001 Team: Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) – 70GP- 67G-
68A- 135 Pts
2001-2002 Team(s): Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) or Los
Angeles (NHL)
Yannick Lehoux took the QMJHL by storm, and opened many eyes within the Kings organization last season. The 2000 3rd round draft pick lit the lamp 67 times in 70 games last year as an 18 year old. Despite being only 19 years old entering training camp the Kings will give Lehoux at least a chance to win a job this season. Yannick will most likely lose out in a numbers game and be returned to the QMJHL but another year of junior should help Lehoux improve his defensive game. A strong performance in the CHA Summer camp and a lack of older centers should guarantee Lehoux a spot on the Canadian WJC team if he fails to make the Kings. The Kings would like too see Yannick improve in his overall game and gain another 10 lb. of muscle before the 2003 season starts.
3. Jens Karlsson -RW-
2000-2001 Teams: Frolunda (SEL) – 19GP- 2G- 0A-
2pts
Frolunda (JR.) -16GP- 8G- 8A- 16pts
2001-2002 Team: Frolunda (SEL)
Jens Karlsson, the teams #1 pick (18th overall) in the 2001 Draft will look to bounce back and establish himself in the Swedish Elite League following a disappointing rookie campaign last season. Karlsson who at the beginning of last year was projected to be a Top 10 pick struggled for Frolunda’s top squad and saw some time in the 2nd division and the Junior league. Many observers thought the Kings reached in taking the power forward who scouts thought was going to fall out of the 1st round.
Jens is a project so don’t expect to see him on Staples Center ice for at least 2-3 years, he needs to work on his hockey sense, in particular how to control his temper and how to use his enormous skills. Karlsson has already been named to the Swedish World Junior team and will be relied upon to produce offensively and be a physical presence.
4. Jared Aulin -C-
2000-2001 Team: Kamloops (WHL)- 70GP- 31G- 77A-
108pts
2001-2002 Team: Kamloops (WHL)
The Kings are cautiously optimistic about the 19 year old they acquired in the Rob Blake trade. Jared had a breakthrough season last year for the Blazers and he established himself as one of the top playmakers in the WHL. Aulin who was practicing with the Kings during their playoff run last spring will get a good look in camp, but will almost certainly be back in Kamloops to join a potentially potent Blazers team. Jared was also invited to the CHA’s Summer camp in preparation for the WJC, his WJC chances will likely depend on how many of the eligible forwards make their NHL clubs.
Jared like many other talented offensive players his age doesn’t play two-way Hockey. The Kings would like Aulin to improve in this part of his game plus other little things like face-offs and playing more physical. You will probably see Jared up for spot duty with the Kings sometime in the 2002-2003 season.
5. Dave Steckel – C-
2000-2001 Team: Ohio St. (NCAA)- 33G- 17G- 18A- 35pts
2001-2002 Team: Ohio St. (NCAA)
The 6’5 190 lb. Steckel returns to the Buckeyes for his sophomore season in 2001-2002. Dave did the opposite of Jens Karlsson and rose all the way up to the 1st round of the draft last year. Scouts who went to see Ohio St. Blue-chip prospect R.J. Umberger started to take notice of Steckel. Dave is a major project for the Kings and his skating is still a major concern, but his size and raw skills make him an intriguing prospect, Ohio St. Head Coach John Markell probably put it best, “You’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg as far as what Dave is capable of.”
Dave was a veteran of last years United States WJC team will be back again this season and will likely play a bigger role for Team USA. The Kings will look for Dave to continue improving his skating and definitely try and bulk up that 6’5 frame. Dave will probably finish his 4 years at Ohio St. and turn pro in 3 years.
6. Mike Cammalleri -C-
2000-2001 Team: Michigan (NCAA)- 42GP- 29G- 32A-
61Pts
2001-2002 Team: Michigan (NCAA)
Cammalleri heads back to Red Berenson’s Michigan Wolverines for his Junior year at the grand old age of 19. Cammalleri the native of Richmond Hill, Ont. graduated highschool at age 16 so that he could play for the Wolverines as a Freshman at age 17. Cammalleri had a stellar 2001 season, leading the Conference in goals with 29 and finishing 2nd on the team in scoring with 61 Pts (Andy Hilbert 64 Pts). The talented pivot also shined for Canada at the WJC’s, finishing tied with Jason Spezza for 2nd on the team in scoring.
Major size concerns are holding Cammalleri back from a potential NHL career, at 5’9 180lbs Cammalleri is going to struggle against bigger NHL competition, and if he does make it, he will likely be switched to the wing. Cammalleri is definitely the Kings boom or bust prospect in the system, much like Justin Papineau was 2 years ago. Size cannot be taught so the Kings would like Cammalleri to continue to score a lot this year while assuming a leadership role for the Wolverines and the National Junior Team.
7. Joe Rullier -D-
2000-2001 Team: Lowell (AHL)- 63GP – 1G- 1A- 2Pts
2000-2001 Team: Manchester (AHL)
Rullier’s 1st professional season was an up and down experience. The 6’4 205 pounder out of Montreal took a lot of time to adjust to the pro game. The Kings even for a time thought about sending Rullier to the Czech Rep. to play for Sparta Praha of the Czech Extra League, a team owned by Kings owner Phillip Anschutz. Rullier stayed and gradually started to improve for the Lock Monsters.
Rullier is never going to be an offensive defenseman, making the smart defensive play and a nice first pass are what his game is all about. Rullier will get a look in camp and will play in some exhibition games, but he is a good 2 years away from being NHL ready. Rullier needs to continue perfecting his trade for the Monarch’s, doing the little things that 5 and 6 defenseman do in the NHL and he should someday be a 3rd pairing defenseman.
8. Alexei Volkov -G-
2000-2001 Teams: New Orleans (ECHL)- 12-9-5- 3.08
GAA- 91.0 save%
Lowell (AHL) – 1-1-0- 4.75 GAA- 82.5 save%
2001-2002 Team: Manchester (AHL)
Oh how the mighty have fallen. 98-99 was a dream season for Alexei Volkov, he was drafted into the NHL in the 3rd round by the Kings. Volkov was outstanding his first year in North America. Posting a 25-9-3 record, 2.72 GAA and league best 91.5 save% for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Volkov was also between the pipes for the Russian’s as they claimed the gold at the 1999 WJC’s in Winnipeg. A little over two years later and Volkov has fallen apart, after losing his starting job in Halifax in 99-2000 to 17 year old Pascal Leclaire, Volkov showed up to Kings camp in terrible shape and looked horrible in net. After an atrocious start with Lowell of the AHL in which Alexei posted a pathetic 82.5 save%, the Kings sent him down to New Orleans of the ECHL.
Things turned around for Alexei in the ECHL, but lets be realistic, it is the ECHL, its not where he should be at this point. The Kings again will start Volkov in the AHL, most likely splitting time with AHL veteran Travis Scott. Despite being only 21, this might be it for Volkov, at least with the Kings. If he again flops in the AHL the team will almost surely draft a goaltender in either the 1st or 2nd round in 2002, knocking the Russian netminder even farther down the depth chart.
9. Richard Seeley -D-
2000-2001 Teams: Lowell (AHL)- 55GP- 2G- 8A- 10pts
Trenton (ECHL)- 9GP- 0G- 2A- 2pts
2001-2002 Team: Manchester (AHL)
Seeley has matured a lot in the last couple of years and will be looked upon as a leader on the blueline for Manchester next season despite being only 22 years old. Seeley has NHL size at 6’3 217lbs and is very good at clearing the front of his crease with his great strength. Seeley should look to current King Aaron Miller as someone he should model his career after. Miller played 4 years of college and was in the Nordiques minor league system for 3 seasons before finally becoming a regular with the Avs. This season Seeley needs to work on his all-around game and cut back on the mental mistakes that have killed him in past training camps with the Kings.
10. Andrei Shefer – LW-
2000-2001 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (RSL)- 11GP- 1G- 6A- 7Pts
2001-2002 Team: Unknown
I don’t even know why I still have Shefer in my Top 10 Kings Prospects. Its very hard to do a write-up on a guy that has pretty much disappeared off the face of the Earth. The Kings never mention him anymore and its unknown at this point where he will play next year, his team SKA was the worst team in Russia and has been relegated from the Russian Super League to Upper League, and no idea if Shefer will transfer clubs or play in the Upper League.
Its all pretty much been down hill for Andrei since he was drafted, he came to North America for the 99-2000 season and joined fellow Russian Kings prospect Alexei Volkov on the Halifax Mooseheads. The Mooseheads took special care of Shefer and his girlfriend even renting them their own apartment. Andrei proved to be a soft perimeter player on the ice, and moody off the ice. He angered both the Kings and the Mooseheads when he bolted back to Russia and signed a big $$ deal with SKA. You can’t right him off since he is a very talented 20 year old, but you got to wonder how dedicated he is too playing in the NHL.
In my Next Report…Previews for Mike Pudlick, Joe Corvo, Craig Olynick, Jason Crain, Tim Eriksson, Tuuka Mantyla and more!
