Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings

Team Depth Chart of NHL Prospects
Strengths
  • Defense mixes grit and skill
  • Quality goaltending prospects
  • Deep and talented group of wingers
Weaknesses
  • Center position lacks depth and upside

About Prospect Scores and Probability

Prospect Criteria

Legend of Players' Leagues
Pro
Playing in N.A. Pro (NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc.)
CHL
Playing in CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL)
NCAA
Playing in NCAA
Europe
Playing in Europe
Junior
Playing in Junior 'A' (USHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc.)
N/A
Not Categorized Yet

Goaltenders

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Martin Jones Pro 7.5 C
2. Patrik Bartosak CHL 6.5 D
3. Jean-Francois Berube Pro 6.0 C

Right Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Tyler Toffoli Pro 8.0 B
2. Valentin Zykov CHL 7.5 C
3. Tomas Hyka Europe 7.0 D
4. Michael Mersch NCAA 6.5 C
5. Scott Sabourin Pro 6.5 C
6. Brian O'Neill Pro 6.5 D
7. James Livingston Pro 6.5 D
8. Justin Auger CHL 6.5 D
9. Jonathan Parker Pro 4.0 C

Left Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Nikolai Prokhorkin Europe 7.0 C
2. Steve Quailer Pro 7.0 D
3. Maxim Kitsyn Pro 7.0 D
4. Tanner Pearson Pro 6.5 B
5. Joel Lowry NCAA 6.0 C
6. Dominik Kubalik CHL 6.0 C

Centers

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Linden Vey Pro 7.0 C
2. Jordan Weal Pro 6.5 C
3. Nick Shore Pro 6.5 C
4. Nic Dowd NCAA 6.5 C
5. Jonny Brodzinski NCAA 6.5 C
6. Andy Andreoff Pro 6.0 B
7. Andrew Crescenzi Pro 5.0 C

Defensemen

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Brayden McNabb Pro 7.5 C
2. Kevin Gravel NCAA 7.0 C
3. Derek Forbort Pro 7.0 D
4. Nick Ebert CHL 7.0 D
5. Colin Miller Pro 6.5 C
6. Zachary Leslie CHL 6.5 C
7. Paul LaDue NCAA 6.5 D
8. Alex Roach CHL 6.0 C
9. Kurtis MacDermid CHL 6.0 C

The Kings Ahead of the IHL’s Failure

by Tony Calfo
on
Reports say that six IHL teams will move into the AHL for the 2001-2001 season. While I for one will miss the IHL, the new AHL will give teams a great league to develop young players. At the head of this move is the Los Angeles Kings Organization.

Since the demise of the Phoenix RoadRunners, the Kings have gradually steered their prospects away from the IHL and towards the AHL. The AHL had traditionally been a proving ground for young NHL hopefuls while the IHL was built for has-beens and never-will-be’s with a few prospects sprinkled in. I personally lived in an IHL town and was able to see alot of NHL players in the late 80′s and early 90′s. Teams like St. Louis were able to build solid IHL franchises and have players who were used to playing an NHL-style game just a bus ride away. The Kings were able to do this with an agreement with the Long Beach Ice Dogs, formerly of the IHL. When the Ice Dogs moved out, the Kings focused solely on the AHL for player development.

The Kings seemed to see this coming. An agreement with Springfield preceeded an agreement with Lowell. Now the Kings will own and operate their own AHL team, just in time for the development of this “super” minor league. The Kings may miss the chance to move older players into an IHL-type league (like Boucher this season and Modry last), but to have their perverbial ducks in a row like this just in time for this potential new AHL is another feather in the cap of the Kings.


Notes-

Look for the Kings to let Matthieu Schneider go the way of free agency. He Read more»

Kings College Prosepects

by Tony Calfo
on

The Kings still have several prospects playing collegiately. Here is an update on some of them:


Noah Clarke- Colorado College- The diminutive Clarke had another solid season. The California native had 12 goals and 20 assiss in 41 games as a sophomore. Clarke’s size appears to be his biggest potential downfall.


Jim Henkel- RPI- Henkel has shown promise. Jim had 11 goals and 19 assists in 34 games for Renselaar. The junior forward has good size and has shown improvements in his game.


George Parros- Princeton- Parros is among the most intriguing prospects for the Kings. He is huge- 6’5″, 215 pounds and has improved his game over the last season. He had 7 goals, 10 assists and was a +5. Parros had 44 penalty minutes, including 19 minor penalties. Keep your eye on his progress.


Matthew Yeats – Maine- Yeats’s was the starting goaltender for the Black Bears for the entire season. He went an impressive 18-9-4 with a 2.40 GAA. His save percentage was a little low- .897. Yeats has the potential to be an NHL goalie and has shown he can prosper in a big-time college program.


Jason Crain- Ohio State- Jason Crain was once considered among the top prospects for the Kings, and still is, although he has struggled at times over the last two seasons. Crain had only 2 goals and 6 assists and was a -6. Crain’s game has not progressed at the pace many thought it would, but his promise is undeniable.


Jay Kopischke- Notre Dame- Jay is a physical player whose skills are not maximized by the college game, but Read more»

Eric Belanger- 2 Way to the NHL

by Tony Calfo
on
For many Kings fans in Southern California, Eric Belanger was just a prospect that people heard about from the local drivetime radio guy. Belanger was the answer to any question about the Kings farm system, even after injuries put his future as a King in doubt. Now, as the Kings have shown some life in the playoffs, Belanger is listed among the reasons for the Kings resurgence.

Eric Belanger was thought to be the playmaking center that the Kings wished for. He was a point-a-game plus as a junior and his skill was talked as he rose through the Kings farm system. Then a series of bizarre injuries and illnesses caused many to consider his slight build (6’0, 177) and his bad luck a precursor to a lack of durability. When Belanger finally resurfaced in Lowell last season his start was unspectacular at best. As Belanger got back into playing shape and his injuries were healed, he showed a new side of his game- a side that would take him to the NHL.

In camp last fall, the Kings saw the new Eric Belanger. Not the playmaking center but rather a hard-nosed, two-way center who could handle the puck and even deliver checks. Belanger’s versatility got a quick workout. In a one-month period, he was the Kings first line center, Lowell’s second line center, a healthy scratch for the Kings to the checking center alongside Stu Grimson and Ian Lapperriere.

Ever since the opening month, Belanger has been a mainstay in the Kings lineup. Belanger finished the regular season with 21 points in 62 games and was a +14. He saw time on all special teams a Read more»

Jared Aulin- A Key for the Kings

by Tony Calfo
on

Jared Aulin may turn out to be a first line NHL center, which would suit the Kings just fine. But the Kings have to hope he is more for alot of reasons.

It is becoming clear that the Blake trade has been a positive in the short term. Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller have made the Kings tougher and better on special teams, and the result is the current playoff run. But this trade was made for the long term, and what will that mean?

Jared Aulin will always represent the Rob Blake trade. While the merits of the trade can be discussed for many years to come, the fact is that the Kings will never have what Blake brought- a hammer on the blue line that hit and shot harder than anyone. The Kings seem to be comfortable with that fact and they feel what they acquired in his stead will counteract any losses on the blue line. For fans, Aulin will be the lynchpin on the deal- something that the Kings had for free- a prospect selected by a top team. The Kings’ penchant for blowing first round picks was taken out of the equation here- the pick has been made and they only have to enjoy the results even if they blow the pick that came with Aulin.

The other factor is that Aulin’s emergence can give the Kings some legitimate top prospects. As Frolov and Lehoux continue to impress, the Kings now have a third top forward prospect. If Shefer, Baker or any other forward come along, then DT will have the depth the Kings have lacked at every position in the system. That would make his job a success and make alot of people not necessarily forget Rob Bla Read more»

The Blake Trade- Good for the System?

by Tony Calfo
on
I am one of the many who did not like the Rob Blake trade. Rob Blake is a one-of-a-kind player who will never be replaced by another player. Even as the Kings prosper since his trade, that big force on the blue line is absent.

As time goes on and the trade is further dissected, it is becoming obvious that the Kings had two goals from this trade: 1- Make up for Blake with a solid defenseman and a forward who is defensively responsible. 2- Take a huge step towards resurrecting the farm system by adding as many as three top draft picks. All in all, it seems to be a good idea.

The Kings were faced with the fact that Blake would not resign. The blame may lie with both parties, but the fact was that Blake would not sign with the Kings. Most King fans thought that Taylor would use Blake to get a goaltender. When he didn’t, the Kings were left without their top defenseman and without a goalie who could keep them in games. The acquisition of the steady Aaron Miller and addition of an experienced goaltender in Felix Potvin has at worst put a band-aid on the problem. Potvin may not be as quick with the glove, but he is seldom out of position the way Fiset and Storr often are, and the Kings defensemen have made a commitment to protecting their zone. The result has been the best play by the Kings all season, and maybe even back to last season.

As for the system, it can really feel the effects of the Kings trade. If DT can select the right prospect and draft two more quality players in the first round, the Kings could add these picks to the ot Read more»

Top Prospects

  1. Tyler Toffoli
  2. Martin Jones
  3. Valentin Zykov
  4. Linden Vey
  5. Tanner Pearson
  6. Nikolai Prokhorkin
  7. Kevin Gravel
  8. Derek Forbort
  9. Jordan Weal
  1. Michael Mersch
  2. Andy Andreoff
  3. Nick Shore
  4. Nic Dowd
  5. Zachary Leslie
  6. Scott Sabourin
  7. Jonny Brodzinski
  8. Jean-Francois Berube
  9. Paul LaDue

Notable Prospects

  1. Justin Auger
  2. Patrik Bartosak
  3. Andrew Crescenzi
  4. Nick Ebert
  5. Tomas Hyka
  6. Maxim Kitsyn
  7. Dominik Kubalik
  8. James Livingston
  1. Joel Lowry
  2. Kurtis MacDermid
  3. Brayden McNabb
  4. Colin Miller
  5. Brian O'Neill
  6. Jonathan Parker
  7. Steve Quailer
  8. Alex Roach
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