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9-13-18

FROM LA KINGS INSIDER: decisions that have to be made are sometimes out of your control. But I certainly wouldn’t want to leave September 12, 2018 here with everybody wanting more, so you know By: Jon Rosen what? We want the kids to go in there and play to MIKE STOTHERS LOOKS BACK AT their strengths and enjoy the fact that they’re ROOKIE CAMP, AHEAD TOWARDS MAIN playing with NHL hockey players. It’s exciting. CAMP On how the final day of camp was structured: Head Coach Mike Stothers ran Kings We did some more systems stuff in the morning prospects through the final day of rookie camp, one practice. We were actually going to do a little bit day after the team arrived from Las Vegas and two more specific special teams work, but we had to days in advance of the first on-ice session at have a couple guys not participate, so the numbers training camp. I’ll have one more story to post on got down to do it properly. And then we thought the prospects tomorrow, but in advance of the we’d been pushing pretty hard, so why not make it a rookie wrap-up, here are several final thoughts from fun afternoon for them, and just have some Stothers as the team transitions to training camp and competition games. We played a little four-on-four, the preseason. three-on-three. We did insert some five-on-four, and then we finished it off with a good little game in the On trends and development he saw over the past middle. That’s something that you have to be aware week: of or cognizant of as a coaching staff – how hard to I think it was just important for these younger guys push, when to back off a little bit, when to make it a to get a camp under their belt amongst their peer little bit more fun, and again, hopefully alleviating group, and then hopefully it’s acclimated them a the nerves for these guys. All in all, I think it was a little bit to what’s going to happen in the main good day, and I know that the players got something camp. It would be really tough for these guys, positive out of it. especially, say, after their first draft. So, Akil Thomas comes in, and right away the first session is -Lead photo via Jon Bradley full-on with the Kings veteran guys, right? It’s just a gradual process for him, a stepping stone to the main camp, and I think it’ll help them. I think it’ll September 12, 2018 benefit them. It’s opened their eyes to how difficult By: Jon Rosen it is to play, but I am anxious to see how wide-eyed TRAINING CAMP ROSTER, SCHEDULE they get when they see a Jeff Carter in full flight. ANNOUNCED So, it’ll be fun. Hockey season is nigh. On whether any potential Reign positional battles became clearer over during rookie camp: The Kings released a 60-man training camp roster No, because now you get everybody into the mix on Wednesday in advance of the first on-ice here and you’ll have a better idea of what you have sessions later this week. After weigh-ins and as far as what’s going to be in Ontario. Even having meetings Thursday, the first Kings group will take said that, there’s a number of things that could the ice Friday morning at Toyota Sports Center. The change or alter it. Some guys have a good camp, schedule: they make the Kings. Some guys that might have to clear waivers don’t clear waivers. There’s a lot of Friday, September 14 different scenarios. If I was a player coming in, I Group A – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice would be optimistic and I’d do everything I could to workout and goalie session – 8:30 a.m. get myself noticed and try to make the Kings, Group B – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice obviously, but make a good, lasting impression on workout and goalie session – 11 a.m. everybody. All you can do is your best, and the Group C – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 15 one of the more important stories at the outset of Group B – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice camp. Stay tuned on that front. workout and goalie session – 8:30 a.m. Group C – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice Preseason schedule: workout and goalie session – 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 18, 7:00 p.m.: KINGS at Group A – Practice at TSC followed by off-ice Arizona, Gila River Arena (split squad) workout and goalie session – 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.: KINGS vs Arizona, STAPLES Center (split squad) Sunday, September 16 Thursday, September 20, 7:00 p.m.: KINGS at Practice Group – 9 a.m. Vancouver, Rogers Arena (Kings split squad) Game Group – 3 p.m. Kings vs Kings intra-squad in Thursday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.: KINGS vs Ontario Vegas, STAPLES Center (Kings split squad) Monday, September 24, 6:00 p.m.: KINGS vs Practice groups will be shared when released by the Vancouver, Vivint Smart Home Arena team Friday morning. The rest of the camp schedule Wednesday, September 26, 7:00 p.m.: KINGS at will be shared at a later date. Anaheim, Honda Center Friday, September 28, 7:00 p.m.: KINGS at The roster: Vegas, T-Mobile Arena Saturday, September 29, 7:30 p.m.: KINGS vs Quick notes: Anaheim, STAPLES Center -all times Pacific -There are no additional PTOs beyond Emerson Etem, whose presence had already been reported, -Lead photo via Adam Pantozzi/NHLI and the rookie camp participants. The details are still being worked out so that Matt Moulson will be September 12, 2018 loaned to the , but he’s not included By: Jon Rosen on the camp roster. DIEZ JUEGOS DE REYES PARA SER TRANSMITIDOS POR RADIO EN ESPAÑOL -New numbers! I can’t remember if this was shared earlier in the summer, but Jack Campbell has Hockey Is For Everyone, and the LA Kings are moved from #1 to #36 and Jonny Brodzinski returns making strides towards welcoming more Spanish- to #76 with the arrival of Ilya Kovalchuk, who will speaking fans into the fold. 10 of their home games wear 17. (A note: Kovalchuk wears 17 – and 71 will be broadcast this season on ESPN Deportes internationally – to honor Valeri Kharlamov.) 1330 Los Angeles KWKW-AM. The broadcast crews will be announced at a later date. -In the Reign vs Reign game, the word on the street is that several of the team’s more high-profile “As our game grows it is important we continue to regulars are expected to participate. Two years ago, reach as many fans as possible and this new participants included Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson partnership with ESPN Deportes is a tremendous and Brayden McNabb, but most of the skaters wore opportunity to help introduce hockey to a new numbers above 50, if you catch what I’m saying. As audience,” Kings President Luc Robitaille said in a always, rosters, schedules and the weather are statement. “I was a player with the Kings when we always subject to change. broadcast games in Spanish. It is exciting to have this opportunity again.” -There’s no official word yet on Gabe Vilardi. I checked in last week and heard that he’s skating and Los Angeles joins Chicago, Florida and Vegas as improving, but from earlier correspondence I’d be teams that have recently added Spanish-speaking skeptical of his immediate availability. It’s always broadcasts. Though the Panthers had broadcast possible that may have changed; his status will be games in Spanish during their early days at Miami Arena, this trend had taken on new momentum in

recent seasons. After broadcasting games in Spanish through live on-air broadcasts as well as community from 1993-96, Florida reintroduced Spanish outreach and activations. It’s perfect. Go Kings broadcasts with a handful of games in 2014-15 Go!” before committing to an entire home schedule in 2015-16. The Panthers did not air any games in LA Kings Spanish Broadcasts: Spanish in 2017-18. Thursday, November 1, vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Chicago increased its number of Spanish broadcasts Saturday, November 24, vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m. in 2016-17 after a test run the year prior. Last year, Thursday, December 6, vs. New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. all Vegas playoff games were broadcast on ESPN Saturday, December 29, vs. Vegas, 1 p.m. Deportes 1460 AM after a handful of regular season Saturday, January 12, vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. games were carried with a Spanish broadcast. Saturday, February 16, vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 28, vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m. North of the border, Hockey Night in Canada Sunday, March 10, at Anaheim, 7 p.m. Punjabi broadcasts gained instant appreciation Saturday, March 23, vs. Anaheim, 7:30 p.m. during Harnarayan Singh’s famous calls of Nick Saturday, April 6, vs. Vegas, 7:30 p.m. Bonino goals through the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Similar to the Kings, Blackhawks, September 12, 2018 Panthers and Golden Knights’ efforts to reach out to By: Jon Rosen a wider share of their markets, the Hockey Night In WHICH ROOKIES LEFT AN IMPRESSION Canada Punjabi broadcasts help broadcast hockey to IN VEGAS? a larger swath of Canadian fans, particularly in the Vancouver market. The LA Kings finished a tough 0-3-0 at the Vegas Rookie Faceoff, but given a bit of a discrepancy in The Kings last hosted Spanish broadcasts in 1997- talent – , and Cal 98. The first broadcast will take place on November Petersen did not participate, and the Kings were the 1 when the Kings host the only team without a first round draft pick at the during Dia De Los Muertos Night night at Staples showcase – there were still severable notable Center. Previously, efforts to reach more of its performances worth a few extra words. These Latino fanbase were represented in the partnership players were chosen through what I was hearing with Mister Cartoon, who meshed hockey art and from figures primarily inside but also outside of the street culture with a creative line of art and organization over the last five days, as well as my merchandise in 2013-14, as well as a partnership own eye test. So, let’s talk Jaret Anderson-Dolan, with L.A. non-profit Para Los Ninos. The team Sheldon Rempal and Kale Clague. continues to focus its community endeavors in diverse neighborhoods across Los Angeles, a JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN county in which 48.6% of residents identify as The easiest to pick out among the Kings’ standouts, Hispanic or Latino. Anderson-Dolan was the Kings’ best player in their first game against Anaheim, scoring twice and “We are all extremely excited here at KWKW – adding an assist while showing his typically from programming, to sales, to excellent motor. It was evident that Anderson- management…everyone,” Thor Nelson, the Dolan, who attended development camp and station’s General Sales Manager, said in a participated in the World Junior Summer Showcase, statement. “To have an opportunity to be a part of had gotten in plenty of work over the summer. He something from the ground level and build it into appeared faster than he did one season ago, which is something special in today’s competitive sports in line with the strides he’s taken in all aspects of landscape is truly amazing. The partnership with the his game. The eye test was obvious, but in speaking Kings is equally amazing, and together we are with a number of figures both inside and outside the going to invite and entertain the Hispanic organization, several additional observations noted community into the LA Kings Hockey world, his improved ability to see the ice and move the

puck in give-and-gos and his competitiveness to that.” But there’s so much to like in his game, win pucks back. He was well-positioned on the which begins with exceptionally good skating that penalty kill and profiles in a wide variety of allows him to nimbly escape trouble. He showed situations at higher levels. excellent composure with the puck and moving the puck at a good pace in the tournament and would Prospects expert Corey Pronman included have had a to his name against Anaheim on Anderson-Dolan as one of the 10 players (and two Saturday – if not for the underside of that frustrating Kings) who caught the scouts’ eyes in Las Vegas: crossbar. He’s proud of the work he’s put in in his play away from the puck, but that natural Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Los Angeles: escapability and ability to swiftly advance the puck Anderson-Dolan was the best forward for the – those are attributes Clague has in spades and Kings. He plays a 200-foot game and had aren’t as easy to teach. It may take some time for several scoring chances, including three him to work some things out as he adjusts to the points against Anaheim. He played versus pro-style game, but so much of what I’d heard about the Hayton line against Arizona. His hockey Clague over the past year, including a good deal of IQ will allow him to play in all situations at what we saw the prospect tournament, should leave the next level, but he doesn’t have high-end Kings fans very encouraged. skill. Pronman also noted Clague among those SHELDON REMPAL highlighted by scouts: Rempal may have generated the most scoring chances for Los Angeles over the three-day Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles: He’s simple tournament and was finally rewarded with a first and smart. He played often and in all period goal Tuesday that tied the game against situations for L.A. Defensively he was solid Vegas. Shortly afterwards, he also had an angled and made great exits. He had some power break that he wasn’t able to lift past Jiri Patera on play time and looked good but not his backhand. But much of what he had showed late threatening. last season in practice and over the off-season, while he was training heavily at Toyota Spoets September 11, 2018 Center, were accentuated. He’s very crafty with the By: Zach Dooley puck and showed an ability to rush the puck up-ice, ROOKIES – GOLDEN KNIGHTS 7, KINGS 2 – relying on subtle movement in his hips and lower REACTIONS: STOTHERS, BRICKLEY, body to create space against defenders. This allows WALKER him to gain offensive zone entry, maintain possession of the puck for an extra beat, and stay The LA Kings rookies were unable to end the 2018 low while using his speed. He’s a crafty player, and Vegas Rookie Faceoff with a victory as they fell 7-2 while he doesn’t possess an elite shot, improved his to the host Golden Knights on Tuesday afternoon, release and showed good competitiveness in driving dropping to 0-3-0 for the tournament. While the to the net and forcing second chances. first period ended in a tie with the Kings commanding more of the puck possession and shots KALE CLAGUE on goal, Vegas took over the game with three goals Clague was drawing heavy notice for the 2017-18 apiece in both the second and third periods to earn season he put up in Brandon and Moose Jaw, and the victory. Jacob Ingham featured in net for the though he entered the tournament with high first time in the tournament and made 22 saves in expectations, he largely surpassed them. That the defeat, while forwards Sheldon Rempal and wasn’t to say that he was nearly flawless. There Kyle Bauman each scored their first goals of the were some turnovers and the natural challenges of three-game showcase. While the defeat was the battling players a touch more experienced than in second lopsided final score in three games, at the the WHL, and Mike Stothers noted that “there’s still end of the day, the Kings bench boss Mike Stothers a little bit of carefree in him, but we’ll take care of stressed that this tournament doesn’t count towards

anyone’s point totals when the games start for real the first two games with a personal matter. Brickley, next month. who re-joined the team on Sunday, started the game playing with defenseman Sean Walker on the top “You don’t get anything when you’re 0-3 in a pairing but was forced into more extensive ice time rookie tournament and you don’t get anything when later in the game as the Kings went down to five you’re 3-0,” Stothers said following the game. defensemen……”so much for trying to ease him in” “[Results] matter not to me. Our guys got a chance Stothers remarked after the game. to play in some games, their first taste of pro hockey so to speak. If we were 3-0 I wouldn’t be “A little rusty,” Brickley said about his own game. walking out of here with my chest out, thinking “I hadn’t skated since last Wednesday, it was we’re the greatest thing going. We were 0-3 and I alright, just shaking the rust off a little bit. I started don’t think we’re the worst thing going. It’s all to get more comfortable about ten minutes into the about perception and we keep it all in perspective.” first and so forth throughout the rest of the game.”

Saturday: – Speaking of the five defensemen, blueliner Austin Anaheim 8, Los Angeles 3 Strand took a puck up high to the ear with just a Arizona 4, San Jose 0 couple of seconds remaining in the first period and Vegas 7, Colorado 6 didn’t return. In Strand’s absence, the Kings were forced to play the final 40 minutes with just five Sunday: defensemen, creating some extra ice time for Arizona 4, Los Angeles 2 Brickley and the other four on the blue line. Anaheim 5, Colorado 3 San Jose 5, Vegas 4 “It’s always hard going down, it means you can’t get into a groove with your usual d-partner, you’re Tuesday: constantly changing,” Brickley said. “It is what it is, Vegas 7, Los Angeles 2 things happen and you have to go with it.” Anaheim 8, Arizona 4 Colorado 6, San Jose 3 Brickley’s partner, Walker, didn’t think the loss of a defenseman played as large of a role on the Kings Lines & Pairings – Note that the defensive chemistry side, seeing as the group as a whole has pairings really only held true in the first period, only been skating together for a few days at this before Austin Strand exited the game with an stage of the season. injury. More on that below. “I think at this point, it’s not too big of a deal, we Wagner – Anderson-Dolan – Luff all haven’t really skated with each other that much Eyssimont – Maillet – Watson yet, so we’re used to going out there and trying to Morrison – Bauman – Dudas figure it out with each other,” Walker said. “It’s Rassell – Thomas – Rempal definitely nice to play with the same guy the whole game, but it was an adjustment and we went out Brickley – Walker there and tried to do our best.” Moverare – Strand Clague – Reddekopp – For the third straight game, the Kings had a strong first period – At one point in the game, the shots Ingham were 10-4 in favor of the Kings – and the ice felt Villalta tilted towards the Los Angeles offensive zone. The Kings, however, only came away with one goal Notes from the opening period, a late-period tally from Rempal. While LA posted a 3-1 advantage in the – Today’s game marked the rookie-tournament first period across the three games in Vegas, debut of defenseman Daniel Brickley, who missed Stothers didn’t read too much into it.

“Everybody asks about scoring the first goal or prospects Gabe Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan, scoring in the first period, it doesn’t matter – the all hosted by Patrick O’Neal and Jarret Stoll. end result is who has the most at the end of the game and the last three games, they have. I don’t September 11, 2018 much stock into the first period, second period, third By: Zach Dooley period.” WATCH: ROOKIE GAME VS. VEGAS – LIVE STREAM, LIVE BLOG While the first period as a whole is not something that can be considered a trend – frankly, nothing We’re closing in on Game 3 of the 2018 Vegas from a three-game rookie tournament should be Rookie Faceoff. considered a trend – the play did move towards the Golden Knights when the two teams began the The Kings will take part in the final game of the second period, leaving the strong play from the first tournament against the host . period feeling like an opportunity squandered. The game will be played on the main rink at City National Arena. We will have the live blog here and “Both teams were working hard, it’s always a stream linked for the game once we approach discouraging when you’re working hard and then puck drop but keep in mind that this stream is they happen to get one,” Brickley said. “I feel that available in the Vegas market only and will have some of the guys kind of let up a little bit. Maybe Vegas commentary. they made a bad play and it kind of got in their heads, but I don’t know. It’s something you have to CLICK HERE TO WATCH via LA KINGS learn from, keep moving forward and learn to keep you foot on the pedal at all times.” Third Period 20:00 – Puck is dropped for the third, Kings need – The team is flying back to Southern California three to tie. tonight and is back on the ice tomorrow for the final 17:42 – Another Kings penalty, this on Reddekopp. day of what is considered “rookie camp”. The LA is shorthanded again early in the third period. players will skate in a double session, coming at 10 15:00 – Great sequence by the Kings but unable to AM and 4 PM, before they will get into the main put in one of a few rebound opportunities. Best portion of camp later in the week. Via LA Kings chance came after a Bauman shot off the rush hit PR, main training camp opens on Friday and the Patera in the mask for a juicy rebound but Dudas’ team is in action for the first time in a game shot slid right through the crease and out the other scenario on Sunday for the Kings vs. Kings side. scrimmage in Ontario. The Kings then begin their 13:56 – Vegas Goal – Bad turnover in the preseason slate on Tuesday, September 18 with a defensive zone and Cody Glass capitalizes. Glass pair of games against Arizona in a split-squad intercepted a pass in the high slot, pulled to his format. forehand and snapped a shot over Ingham’s blocker side. 5-1 Golden Knights. – Lastly, in other news, we have ice in Ontario! 13:32 – Vegas Goal – 6-1 now as Kolesar dinds Baby steps. the scoresheet again. The big winger skated down the left wing, created a 2-on-1 rush and September 11, 2018 beat Ingham from the circle. By: Jon Rosen 10:41 – Kings log some offensive zone time but lots WATCH: FOX SPORTS WEST’S OFF- of play around the perimeter. Moverare’s shot from SEASON SPECIAL the left point towards the end redirected but went wide of the target. With stick taps to Marcus Ortiz and FOX Sports 5:50 – Nice opportunity for the Kings – Great work West, here’s the LA Kings Off-Season Special that from Dudas to get space and hold off a defenseman premiered last Friday. There are good chats with before he set up Eyssimont, who missed high. Luc Robitaille, , John Stevens and 1:31 – Kings Goal – Kyle Bauman one times an

Aidan Dudas feed past Patera, who was First Period preoccupied with Reddekopp in front of the net. 20:00 – Game 3 is underway! Immediately after the goal, Reddekopp gets into 14:50 – Kings with a 4-0 shots on goal lead early. the game’s second fight behind the net. Best chance of the game was a Eyssimont centering 0:16 – Vegas Goal – Matthew Weis concludes the feed to Rempal, which was turned aside by Patera in scoring on the evening as he crashed the net and net for Vegas. Still scoreless in the first. redirects a rebound past Ingham and push the 12:35 – Vegas Goal – Kolesar gets between the Vegas lead back to five goals. Kings defensemen and beats Ingham on a 0:00 – The Kings conclude the rookie tournament breakaway. 1-0 Vegas, which comes against the with a 7-2 defeat against Vegas. run of play. Kings had the majority of the chances and puck possession through the first Second Period seven minutes but find themselves in a 1-0 hole. 20:00 – Second period is underway, teams begin 10:10 – Clague with a nice play to start the rush and knotted at one. No Austin Strand on the bench to then get the final pass for the shot but his attempt is start the second period. Took a shot up high right at stopped and trickles wide. #34 looks lively through the end of the first period, looked to be in some the game’s first ten minutes, skating and moving the discomfort. puck well. 16:02 – Vegas Goal – Kolesar’s shot from the 8:26 – Kings Goal – Sheldon Rempal ties the point hits Glass on the skate on the way by and game at one as he picks up the puck in the left- beats Ingham. Tough bounce for the Kings but hand circle, out-waits Patera and fires high on regardless, a 2-1 lead for the Golden Knights. the blocker side for the goal, his first of the 13:29 – Vegas Goal – Ingham makes a nice save tournament. with the left pad but the rebound falls directly to 5:59 – Ice crew takes the ice for the only clear of Quinney, who buries it top shelf with the LA the period, shots are 10-4 in favor of the Kings. netminder on the ice. 3-1 Vegas midway through 2:29 – Vegas gets the first power play of the game the second period. Kolesar gets the helper and as Wagner gets Whitehead from behind into the has had a hand in all three goals (1G, 2A). board. Scrum after the play also sends Luff and Ben 10:27 – Vegas Goal – With the Golden Knights Jones to the box with two each for roughing. on the power play, a sequence of strong puck 0:00 – All square at one after the opening 20 movement finds Elvenes on the left wing, where minutes – Shots are 11-8 Kings. LA penalty kill was he walks in and wires a slap shot through traffic, solid at the end of the period, Anderson-Dolan past Ingham. 4-1 Vegas. created a nice shorthanded chance during the 7:41 – Another penalty on the Kings, this on sequence. Wagner for roughing, his second minor of the game. Penalty came following a scrum in front of the Pre-Game Notes Vegas bench. Looks like he has the only minor and – Jacob Ingham, the only Kings netminder yet to the Golden Knights will head to the power play. play in the tournament thus far, led the Kings onto 6:25 – Watson keeps his feet moving shorthanded the ice for warmups and is expected to start between and draws an interference call against defenseman the pipes, with Game 1 starter Matthew Villalta Nicolas Hague. 4-on-4 for 43 seconds before the serving as the backup. If Ingham gets the nod, it Kings will get a power play. gives each of the three traveling netminders one 1:34 – First fight of the tournament for the Kings. start in net. Wagner and Kolesar drop the gloves in the Kings – Forwards Austin Wagner, Philippe Maillet and defensive zone and it spills into the neutral zone. Matt Luff, along with defensemen Daniel Brickley Kolesar completes the Gordie Howe hat trick with and Sean Walker check back into the lineup for the the scrap. Both to the dressing room with under two Kings. For Brickley, this afternoon marks his first minutes left in the second. game of the tournament. Exiting the lineup are 0:00 – Second period comes to a close, Vegas nets forwards Boko Imama, Nathan Dunkley and Drake three and takes a 4-1 lead into the third period. Rymsha, along with defensemen Markus Phillips and Michal Ivan.

– Luff will serve as tonight’s captain with forward All games broadcast by FOX Sports West and Austin Wagner and defenseman Chaz Reddekopp KCOP-13 will also be available on the FOX Sports wearing the “A” on their jersey. Each had worn an GO app, available to iOS and Android users. “A” previously in the tournament. Streaming is also available on smart devices such as AppleTV, AndroidTV, FireTV, Roku and Xbox Kings Lines One.

Wagner – Anderson-Dolan – Luff Alex Faust will return for his second season as the Eyssimont – Maillet – Watson Kings’ television play by play broadcaster, while Morrison – Bauman – Dudas Jim Fox will join him in his 29th year as the Rassell – Thomas – Rempal television color analyst. Patrick O’Neal will return for his 14th season as television host and will be Brickley – Walker joined by Daryl Evans for all road games, while Moverare – Strand Jarret Stoll will return to LA Kings live for home Clague – Reddekopp telecasts. Former in-arena host Carrlyn Bathe of XTRA Point will join the telecast to deliver Ingham interviews, reports and social media updates while Villalta at home, and LAKI will again share reports, interviews and Alec Martinez photobombs before Vegas Lineup and after road telecasts. LA Kings Live returns prior to and immediately following all home (from the September 11, 2018 Star Plaza outside STAPLES Center) and road By: Jon Rosen telecasts. Sean O’Donnell has taken on a more full- KINGS, FOX SPORTS WEST ANNOUNCE time role in player development and will not be on BROADCAST DETAILS this year’s home broadcasts.

FOX Sports West will telecast 79 LA Kings games Alex Curry will continue to take fans behind the this season, the team and station announced scenes with feature stories, interviews and reports Tuesday. In addition to 77 regular season games, on LA Kings Weekly. The half-hour show the broadcast schedule includes the pre-season premieres after the Kings-Canadiens game October games against Vancouver in Salt Lake City, Utah 11 on FOX Sports West and will air every Thursday on September 24 and against Anaheim in Los night. Angeles on September 29. Both preseason games will be carried by Prime Ticket, which will also air Producer Steven Dorfman, known familiarly as the Kings’ pre-season game called by the Ducks’ Hoover, will begin his 10th season on Kings broadcast crew in Anaheim on September 26. telecasts, while Mike Hassan will return to direct the telecasts, a position he has held since 1995. Joel To drop the puck on the upcoming season, the LA Goodling will return for his sixth season producing Kings Season Preview Special will debut on LA Kings Live. September 24 at 9 p.m. on Prime Ticket following live coverage of that night’s game against the Click here for more on the NBCSN schedule. Vancouver Canucks. Social Media NBCSN will broadcast the remaining five games: January 15 at Minnesota, January 21 versus St. Twitter Louis, February 21 at Nashville, February 25 at @alex_faust Tampa Bay and March 10 at Anaheim. The first 46 @JimFox19 games of the regular season will be broadcast by @Patrick_ONeal FOX Sports West, which includes the October 23 @jarretstoll game at Dallas that will be carried on KCOP-13. @DarylEvans15

@CarrlynBathe ROOKIES DAY 3 NOTEBOOK – STRAND, @lakingsinsider WAGNER, LUFF, TOP GOLF, PHOTOS @hoovbud @joelgoodling The Kings rookies had an off day from tournament play and took the ice for a 9 AM skate at City Instagram National Arena, followed by a team trip to Top @faust_alex Golf. The morning skate featured the entire Kings @pucksly19 rookie group for their only practice skate in Vegas. @patrick_oneal The team is back in action tomorrow at 2:30 PM @darylevans15 against the Golden Knights in the final game of the @carrlynbathe 2018 Vegas Rookie Faceoff. @lakinsider @hoovbud Some observations from the tournament and @joelgoods practice thus far –

If you’re into family photos, killer sunsets and Strand Up Guy Dodger games, you can also follow me Defenseman Austin Strand has been solid across the at @rambleonrosen. first two games. Paired up with top prospect Kale Clague on the first pairing, Strand has seen a ton of -Lead photo via Aaron Poole ice time against Anaheim and Arizona, playing in all situations, especially on the man advantage. The September 11, 2018 young blueliner described playing with Clague as By: Jon Rosen going “really well” through just a few times REMEMBERING ACE AND MARK together on the ice.

Everyone experiences their own moments of “We actually both workout at the same gym in the reflection and compassion each September 11, and summer time and when we came in for development for the Kings organization, its fans, and the sport of camp in August we were roommates and we’ve hockey, and most of all for the Bailey and Bavis gotten to know each other really well,” Strand said. families, there is again the reminder that two great “Our chemistry has been really good, I like playing lives were taken far too soon. In Ace and Mark’s with him a lot, we just always know where each memory, all are welcome to donate to the Ace other is on the ice. We both talk a lot which makes Bailey Children’s Foundation, which improves the the game easier and it’s nice not to spend as many well-being and surroundings of children undergoing minutes in our own end.” pediatric care at the Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, and the Mark Bavis Leadership While Clague is the player typically known for his Foundation, which provides grants for school speed and skill, Strand showcased that he has some tuition, summer programs and extracurricular of that in his game as well. One prime example activities. came in the second period against Arizona on Sunday – Skating into the offensive zone down the Over at MNWild.com, Dan Myers caught up with left wing, Strand dragged the puck between his legs , who recalled his final moments and around a Coyotes defenseman, a play that drew with Ace Bailey and how September 11 unfolded some “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” from scouts in the stands. both personally and professionally. “That’s one of my favorite moves, I started using it Peace be with all of you on this September 11. a lot once I realized how much space it can create for you,” Strand said. “I was surprised I pulled it off September 10, 2018 yesterday, I’m still a little bit rusty, but it was nice By: Zach Dooley to know I have that in my back pocket.”

Despite being a 6-4, 215 pound blueliner, speed and Matt Luff on how his game improved from the skill is a part of Strand’s game, partially evidenced start of last year to now by his 25-goal, 64-point campaign in the WHL with “I thought I progressed a lot last year, especially Seattle last season. He attributed his hands and skill from start to finish. In my second year, I’m trying to to his childhood, having grown up playing against establish that I can play up [in the NHL] or in the family members in an ongoing competition to be the AHL and be a more dominant factor. I want to most skilled player on the pond. make a stronger name for myself at both ends of the ice, prove that I can play, whether I’m in the NHL “Growing up, I had an older brother and we grew or the AHL.” up always playing on the outdoor rinks, playing with all of our cousins and out there it was that On the opportunity to be a key contributor in challenge of who had the best mitts. I think some of Ontario is he is assigned to the AHL that kind of rubbed off on me and it’s something “This year, [if in Ontario], I want to come in and be I’ve incorporated into my game.” one of those top six guys that when you need a goal, or a big shift, I’m one of the guys you throw out. Moving forward, Strand is hoping to use this camp, Last year, we had great older guys, [Amadio and as well as main camp, to be able to showcase his Brodzinski] and of course I learned from them. It game and earn his spot in the organization this would be nice to be able to fill their shoes.” season. A spot in LA is unlikely for the 21-year old blueliner but with Mike Stothers and the Ontario Austin Wagner on how he uses his speed staff behind the bench in Vegas, and so many Kings “Getting to pucks first and winning battles. A lot of brass, scouts and development coaches in defensemen don’t realize I’m on them right away so attendance, the chance to impress the right people if I can get on them quick and make them hustle, has not bypassed Strand. it’s tougher for them to make plays when I’m on them right away. There’s a lot of things that my “Most guys here are around my age or a little bit speed can contribute to, but still, I feel like I need to younger so it’s not really anything better than where slow the game down a bit, step back sometimes and I was playing last year. The speed level hasn’t not always be going full speed.” blown me away so it’s good for me to be able to take advantage of that and be as simple as I can. On what he worked on with his game the most When I see an opportunity, I try to show everybody head into his second season here what my game is capable of, which some “Last year, [Mike Stothers] preached about being people haven’t seen before. I’m excited to be here good in our d-zone and that was one thing I really and show everyone what I can do.” needed to work on, to stand up my man and not get beat. It’s a big thing that will contribute towards Two For Year Two getting more minutes and I may play a bit of special Two players looking to take that next step are Matt teams this season on the penalty kill so I have to be Luff and Austin Wagner – Both debuted as rookies ready for that, blocking shots and doing what I need in the AHL last season with Ontario and had some to do to stay in the lineup consistently. Being one of success as 20-year old players. With the player the guys that played in Ontario last year, they’ll be movement that has occurred at the winger position, looking to guys like me, Luff, Maillet, Boko, guys both Wagner and Luff will have an opportunity to like that to step up and show the newer guys what it be key AHL players that are at the top of mind takes to play as a pro.” when it comes to which Reign player is ready for an NHL callup is the opportunity presents itself. Top Golf! With no games on tap for today, the players and Both players created their share of opportunities in coaching staff had the opportunity to take a team- the first game against Anaheim but sat out yesterday bonding day at Top Golf on the Vegas Strip. against Arizona in a pre-determined move. Located at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the Kings rookies used the trip as a bonding experience

sprinkled in the middle of what is ramping up to be tomorrow afternoon against the host Golden a very demanding on-ice schedule as the season Knights at 2:30 PM, before they head back to Los approaches. Angeles for the final day of development camp, a double-session practice at the TSC, on Wednesday. “It helps some of the younger guys, who were Wednesday’s ice is open to the public and the maybe just drafted this year, to get to know some of sessions will be at 10 AM and 4 PM. the older guys that have been around the team for a bit,” Wagner said. “It’s good to have all the guys Tomorrow’s lineup is not yet known but the Kings around.” did experiment a bit with forward units at today’s practice, mixing up a couple of their lines a bit. Many of the players I talked with had never been to Thomas centered Mikey Eyssimont and Aidan Top Golf before. “I know it’s golfing” Akil Thomas Dudas, while Jaret Anderson-Dolan was between joked about what he knew about it going in, but it Sheldon Rempal and Brad Morrison. Rassell skated didn’t take long for the group to get into the game. with Nathan Dunkley and Kyle Bauman and the At the end of the three-hour outing, the players other two lines (Wagner-Maillet-Luff, Imama- participated in a tournament amongst themselves, Rymsha-Watson) remained the same. with forward Drake Rymsha taking home the top prize with a 310 score. September 10, 2018 By: Jon Rosen All-in-all, the exercise was designed as a chance for KOVALCHUK PRACTICES WITH KINGS, the players to get the opportunity to hang out with TALKS TRAINING, RE-JOINING NHL each other away from the rink, helping the strengthen the bond throughout the group. Ilya Kovalchuk: signed, sealed, and after arriving Sunday from Moscow, delivered. The forward “It’s a fun little team-building experience for us, a skated for the first time in Kings regalia at Toyota good way to spend time here,” forward Mark Sports Center Monday morning after signing a Rassell said. “We’re a pretty young group here, a three-year, $18.75-million contract on July 1 and lot of guys have stories, there’s the rivalries from again articulated his decision to commit to Los juniors and the college guys, see which junior Angeles. program produces the best golfers.” “I just loved our meeting. They did a great Sounds like the answer is the , where presentation,” he said. “They explained to me Rymsha has played for the past season and a half. exactly what they want from me, and I think I can There might be some merit behind that give that to the team. Plus, we have a great core too…….NHL superstar Steven Stamkos, also a here, the guys know how to win. Great goaltending, Sarnia alum, is a pretty good golfer himself. so I think we’re one of the teams, one of the contenders, for sure.” Brick By Brickley He shared that he’s about to start the process of Defenseman Daniel Brickley was involved in team spending time with coaches to go over systems play activities today, after he left rookie camp last week and his role with the team, indicating that he would to attend his grandmother’s funeral. meet with the staff later on Monday.

Brickley had a decent showing himself at the Top Naturally, there were a number of questions about Golf event today and, according to Mike Stothers, is both his renowned conditioning and the differences expected to play in tomorrow’s tournament finale between the NHL and KHL, with the understanding against Vegas. that the NHL’s pace and cadence has improved since his last season in New Jersey in 2012-13. The A Look Ahead NHL isn’t exactly the 1980’s NBA, but it is The Kings conclude their rookie tournament juxtaposed against a low-scoring KHL in which 13

goaltenders posted sub-two goals-against Conference, but until the games start to count, how averages last season and 14 goalies stopped at least Kovalchuk will factor into a Los Angeles offense 93% of the shots they faced. Pavel Francouz, who that took strides in 2017-18 but was absent in the signed with Colorado in the spring, led the league playoffs is based upon speculation and conjecture with a .946 save percentage. Mikko Koskinen, rather than any sort of data. The forward declined to signed by Edmonton around the same time, finished offer any sort of goal or point total. with a 1.57 save percentage. There’s obviously a talent discrepancy between the two leagues, but “I wish I can predict the future, but I am not the Kovalchuk’s 31 goals in 53 games shouldn’t be magic man,” he said. “Like I said, I was training discounted. hard all summer to get myself in the best shape I can, and to play with those guys, it’s much easier. “It’s a different game, here and there. Here, it’s I’ve never played with a guy like Kopitar, so we’ll more contact. You have more chances, more see. I’m very excited.” opportunities,” he said. “A little mistake can cost you a goal, or if you do something nice, it can be an “We’ll see on October 5th, but if you play with advantage for you. In Russia, it’s a little different. guys like Kopitar, Doughty, Carts and Brown, they You beat a guy, you still need to take a few steps to will make it easier for you, so I just need to do my get to the net. It’s all hockey, it’s all a game. You thing, and I think I’ll be OK.” have to understand the game and play it the right way, with heart, and you’ll be good.” One interesting factor that Kovalchuk may not have dealt with yet in his career? Extended travel. The Much of what had been shared about Kovalchuk forward spent the first 816 games of his NHL in the over the summer was that his fitness and training Eastern Conference with Atlanta and New Jersey, regimen will be a great asset as he returns to the and the Devils are among the Eastern Conference NHL after a five-year absence at the age of 35. He teams with the fewest miles traveled, year after cited the youth of his training partners as a benefit year. One estimation has the Kings traveling the and noted the confidence of Alex Radulov – who 14th most miles in the league this season (which, returned to the NHL in 2016-17 after the large part loosely, isn’t too far off from the types of miles the of a near-decade away – that Kovalchuk would be Thrashers would travel, given the similarly traveled able to succeed amidst the faster pace of an Hurricanes and Lightning in the provided grid). evolving NHL. “[Radulov] said, ‘you will be in Does he expect any adjustment as he adjusts to the good shape.’” rigors of Western Conference travel?

“We trained together, actually, with (Radulov) and “No, in Russia, we have a few teams by China,” he Geno (Evgeni Malkin), for the last month and a said, noting the presence of squads like Kunlun half, so I think we all pushed each other, and when RedStar, Admiral Vladivostok and Amur you train with those kind of guys, they’re a little Khabarovsk. “It’s seven hours difference with younger.” Moscow, and we flew there twice a year. It’s not a big deal for me. I like to sleep on the plane with “I did similar [things] to what I usually do. A lot of some books, so it’s good rest time.” running, a lot of lifting, a lot of strength work. I started skating a little bit earlier because they say the NHL is getting faster. Usually I didn’t skate before I got to the camp, but now I did a few times a week for the last few weeks.” . His presence will be among the more interesting story lines on the Kings and in the Western

FROM LAKINGS.COM

September 12, 2018 LA Kings Set to Open 2018 Training Camp on Friday This Friday, the LA Kings will start their 2018 Training Camp. All on-ice practices are open to fans!

The LA Kings will open their 2018 NHL Training Camp this Friday at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. All local on-ice practices are open to the fans and the media, and 60 players are scheduled to participate in this year's first day of camp. The players will be divided into three groups at the start of camp with the first on-ice team practice set to begin on Friday at 8:30 a.m. 2018 KINGS -- TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE Friday, September 14

• 8:30 a.m. - Group A Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session • 11 a.m - Group B Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session • 1:30 p.m. -Group C Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session

Saturday, September 15

• 8:30 a.m. - Group B Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session • 11 a.m - Group C Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session • 1:30 p.m. -Group A Practice at TSC followed by off-ice workout and goalie session

Saturday, September 16

• 9:00 a.m. - Practice Group • 3:00 p.m. - Game Group (scrimmage in Ontario; Kings vs. Kings)

**(THE REST OF TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE - TBA)** LA Kings Training Camp Roster Purchase tickets to the Kings vs. Kings game now!

Individual tickets for all Kings home games at STAPLES Center for the 2018-19 regular season are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at LAKings.com/Promotions or by visiting the STAPLES Center box office. Full Season, Half Season and Quarter Season Ticket Memberships are also on sale at LAKings.com/SeasonTix. These Memberships offer the most benefits, lowest prices, event access and other perks. Kings Mini-Plans, featuring 5-Game, 3-Game and Flex Plans to fit any schedule, are available for purchase at LAKings.com/MiniPlans. Mini-Plan Members save up to 25 percent per ticket and receive priority access to 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff Tickets. In addition, tickets for the three Kings preseason games at STAPLES Center are now available for purchase at LAKings.com/PreseasonTix.

LA Kings 2018-19 Ticket Info

September 12, 2018 LA Kings Partner with ESPN Deportes to Broadcast 10 Games in Spanish Kings-Flyers matchup on November 1 will be first game broadcast on radio in Spanish in 20 years

The LA Kings and ESPN Deportes have jointly announced that the popular all-sports Spanish radio station will air 10 Kings games this season on ESPN Deportes 1330 Los Angeles KWKW-AM. The first broadcast will take place on November 1 when the Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers during the Kings' Dia De Los Muertos Night presented by Delta Air Lines at STAPLES Center. That game will mark the club's first Spanish radio broadcast since 1997-98. "As our game grows it is important we continue to reach as many fans as possible and this new partnership with ESPN Deportes is a tremendous opportunity to help introduce hockey to a new audience," said Kings President and Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. "I was a player with the Kings when we broadcast games in Spanish. It is exciting to have this opportunity again." The ESPN Deportes broadcasting team will call the games from the Bob Miller Press Box and be announced at a later date.

ESPN Deportes Broadcast Schedule

• Thursday, November 1, vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, November 24, vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m. • Thursday, December 6, vs. New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, December 29, vs. Vegas, 1 p.m. • Saturday, January 12, vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, February 16, vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m. • Thursday, February 28, vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, March 10, at Anaheim, 7 p.m. • Saturday, March 23, vs. Anaheim, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, April 6, vs. Vegas, 7:30 p.m.

"We are all extremely excited here at KWKW - from programming, to sales, to management … everyone," said Thor Nelson, the station's General Sales Manager. "To have an opportunity to be a part of something from the ground level and build it into something special in today's competitive sports landscape is truly amazing. The partnership with the Kings is equally amazing, and together we are going to invite and entertain the Hispanic community into the LA Kings hockey world, through live on-air broadcasts as well as community outreach and activations. It's perfect. Go Kings Go!"

September 11, 2018 By: Kings Care Foundation A Quick 'Run' Down of the LA Kings 5K/10K The Kings Care Foundation and Hydrocephalus Association joined forces for the Kings Annual Beach Cities 5K/10K

Together with Hydrocephalus Association (HA), the LA Kings Beach Cities 5K/10K and HA's Los Angeles WALK raised over $200K towards research. This is the fourth year in a row that the two events coincided. The Kings Beach Cities 5K/10K serves as the kick off charity event for the 2018-19 season as all the players return to LA to start training camp. Hydrocephalus is a condition that affects 1 in 1,000 children and the only treatment is brain surgery. Since partnering with HA in 2014, the Kings and Kings Care Foundation have helped raise over $1.2M to further research to find a cure.

Daryl Evans, Kings radio commentator and former player, hosted the event once again and was joined by fellow alumni, Kings players, staff, fans and partners. Over 2,000 people were in attendance for the annual events. "People from across LA came together today with the shared goal to support individuals and families affected by Hydrocephalus" said Jennifer Pope, VP of Community Relations, "LA Kings fans are so generous, whether they are donating their time, money or assistance."

From start to finish, it was a great start to the new season!

September 11, 2018 FOX Sports West Announces LA Kings 2018-19 TV Schedule All 82 regular season Kings games are scheduled to air in Los Angeles; FOX Sports App will provide live streaming coverage for all games produced by FOX Sports West

The LA Kings and FOX Sports West released their 79-game television schedule for the 2018-19 season, it was announced by Kings Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Content Michael Altieri and FOX Sports West Senior Vice President and General Manager Lindsay Amstutz. All 82 Kings regular season games are again slated to be broadcast this season locally or on national television - 77 of them produced by FOX Sports West - plus two Kings 2018 exhibition games (September 24 in Utah on Prime Ticket and September 29 versus Anaheim on Prime Ticket). Games will air on FOX Sports West, Prime Ticket and KCOP-TV. Regular season coverage of Kings Hockey on FOX Sports West kicks-off with the Kings season-opening matchup against the San Jose Sharks contest at STAPLES Center on Friday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. Kings television play-by-play announcer Alex Faust returns for his second season and is joined by analyst Jim Fox in the Kings broadcast booth. Fox, the former Kings forward, is entering his 29th season as the club's television analyst. LA Kings Live returns for the 2018-19 season and will air prior to and immediately following all home and road telecasts on FOX Sports West.

Patrick O'Neal again serves as host, sitting alongside Daryl Evans for road games, while former Kings forward Jarret Stoll is back on LA Kings Live for all home telecasts. Fox also joins pre- and post-game shows to offer viewers further analysis. In addition, Jon Rosen offers updates and reports before and after games on the road, while Carrlyn Bathe joins the telecast team to deliver interviews, reports and social media updates surrounding home telecasts. Connected, original, fast-paced and fun, the half-hour program brings fans closer to the team with player and coach interviews, game analysis and more.

Steven Dorfman will begin his 10th season on Kings telecasts, serving as the producer, and Mike Hassan will again direct the telecasts, a position he has held since 1995. LA Kings Weekly, hosted by Alex Curry, returns for a new season of Kings hockey. The show takes fans behind the scenes with exclusive interviews, unique features and more. The half-hour show will air every Thursday beginning October 11 on FOX Sports West, immediately following the Kings matchup versus the Montreal Canadiens. To kick-off the season, the LA Kings Season Preview Special will debut on September 24 at 9 p.m. on Prime Ticket following live coverage of the Kings preseason matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. In addition to telecast coverage on FOX Sports West, all Kings games on the regional sports network will also be available on the FOX Sports App. The FOX Sports App, available to iOS and Android devices, provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content along with highlights and instant alerts for scores and key plays. Fans can download the app for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Streaming on the FOX Sports App is also available on connected devices, including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku and Xbox One.

September 10, 2018 Jonathan Quick Ranked No. 40 on NHL Network's Top 50 Players List #NHLTopPlayers list puts All-Star goaltender on the list of Top Players in the NHL heading into 2018-19 season

The NHL Network continued their #NHLTopPlayers Right Now by ranking the Top 50 Players in the League. The first LA Kings player to make the list is Jonathan Quick.

No. 40: Jonathan Quick "[Quick is the] most flexible goaltender in the NHL," said NHL Network's Bill Lindsay. "When you see him go side-to-side and explode... He's Gumby. He's the human Gumby in the NHL." The Kings veteran netmider returned from an injury-plagued 2016-17 season in a big way. The three-time All- Star went 33-28-3 with a 2.40 goals against average and .921 save percentage to lead the LA Kings back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His bounce-back season helped him earn the William M. Jennings Trophy for the second time in his career. "If there's a big game, you want Jonathan Quick in the net," Lindsay said. "He's money when it matters most for the LA Kings. And the nature that drives him every single night is that just that spirit to win. #NHLTopPlayers: Numbers 40-31 Earlier in the offseason, the NHL Network ranked Quick No. 5 in their Top 10 Goalies list. The NHL Network's nine-part series continues on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the countdown of the Top 30 Players in the NHL.

FROM LATIMES.COM

September 12, 2018 By: Curtis Zupke A long way from Wisconsin, Hults brothers find themselves on opposite sides of Kings-Ducks rivalry

Mitch Hults only has to scroll through the photos on his phone to remind himself how far he and his younger brother, Cole, have come.

In one picture the two are posed together holding sticks in front of the net, both left-handed, with shiny blond hair and smiles. It’s from their boyhood in Stoughton, Wis., where they spent harsh winter days going to the local hockey rink and where they still meet to play golf.

“We do everything together, practically, in the summer,” Mitch said.

Neither could have predicted that both would be in NHL organizations at the same time, let alone with the Kings and Ducks.

“Not two kids from Stoughton,” Mitch said. “That’s for sure.”

Said Cole: “Absolutely not. If you look at everything, we came out of a small town in Wisconsin. Nobody [from there] has gone on to play pro. My parents had a love for the game and they put us in a position to be successful. You look back at it, it’s pretty incredible.”

It became reality last year when, in a four-month span, Mitch, 23, signed as a free agent with the Ducks, and Cole, 20, was drafted in the fifth round by the Kings. Mitch is a forward. He always has been. Cole is a defenseman. He always has been.

“I have more skill than him,” Mitch said jokingly. “That’s why.”

To be on opposite sides seemed natural to Mitch because he and Cole grew up fighting for the puck, along with a third brother, Matt, in the driveway, street and rink.

“We kind of joke around about it, but I think for the most part, we’re still competitive,” Cole said.

Still, the uniqueness of them on opposing teams makes for a fun family dynamic. It also gave their parents, Brad and Sheri, a reason to travel.

“My dad loves California,” Mitch said. “He couldn’t believe that we both ended up out here. He was always saying how he always wanted to move out here. It took both his kids to get out here to maybe push him to come.”

Brad drove out with Mitch from Stoughton for this week’s rookie tournament in Las Vegas, featuring the Ducks, Kings and four other NHL teams. Cole is enrolled at Penn State for his sophomore season but was in Los Angeles this summer for his second Kings’ development camp.

The attention paid to Cole picked up last December when he became the first Penn State player invited to the World Junior Championship camp, according to the school. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Cole prides himself on making a good first pass out of the zone. He had 20 points in 38 games as a freshman.

“He showed up at Penn State last year and really opened up some eyes,” said Sean O’Donnell of the Kings’ player development staff. “He really played well offensively. He’s a big guy, strong guy. He has kind of a man’s body.”

Mitch just finished his first full pro season, with the San Diego Gulls. The 6-2, 205-pound center had 10 goals and 24 points in 53 games, but was minus-10 in plus. Gulls coach said it was an eye-opening season, instructive and motivational.

“I could see, halfway through the year, him going, ‘OK, I get what this is going to take, and I’m going to work at this because this is serious stuff,’ ” Eakins said. “Everything’s there for him. He skates well enough. He’s got good size. He can rip the puck. He sees the ice well. It’s just going to be a matter of can he put it all together?”

It didn’t come together as desired for Mitch or Cole out of Stoughton, a town of about 13,000 people, which wouldn’t fill Staples Center or Honda Center. Both wanted to play for Wisconsin. They were regulars at Badgers games. But “they wouldn’t take us,” Mitch said. “We offered to walk on and everything.”

Mitch landed at Lake Superior State. He was scouted by Ducks assistant general manager David McNab and signed without visiting Anaheim. Cole would have followed Mitch at Lake Superior but Mitch turned pro after his sophomore year.

Both have already made memories. Last season, Mitch scored against the Kings in a preseason game and netted the “Teddy Bear” goal for San Diego, a charity event in which fans hurl teddy bears on the ice for the Gulls’ first goal. Cole exacted some revenge on Wisconsin with an assist in a win.

Neither has thought much about the possibility of playing against each other in the NHL, in Southern California, far from the Stoughton winters.

“It’d be weird,” Mitch said. “I don’t know how it would be to line up against him in a real game. I think that would be kind of interesting … we’d probably look at each other, smile, and be like, ‘OK, who’s going to win today?’ ”

Competitiveness aside, they show sides that run against their workman-like Wisconsin accents. In a player introduction video clip, Mitch blew a kiss and winked at the camera. Cole likes to paint in his spare time.

They cite the nine-game stint they spent as teammates for the junior hockey Madison Capitols as a favorite hockey memory. The highlight for Cole was when he and Mitch were simultaneously ejected from a brawl- filled 6-0 loss to Sioux City.

“He jumped off the bench to get a guy off me when I got into a fight,” Cole said.

They presumably left the ice together, their blond hair tousled from the fight and their smiles straight out of Stoughton.

September 11, 2018 By: Curtis Zupke Ilya Kovalchuk is ready to bring some star power to the Kings

He was in full uniform, shoulder and shin pads, helmet and stick, as he waited for the signal to make his way to the bright lights.

Ilya Kovalchuk would soon walk down a hallway in his skates, ready for action, like so many times in his career. Only this time a nearby voice from a staffer solidified that this was far from a hockey rink.

“Ilya’s in makeup,” the staffer said.

Kovalchuk was about to shoot a video, in a nondescript studio in Torrance. Without giving away too much, the commercial is a fun, Hollywood-themed take on the newest star attraction for the Kings, whose promotional work in his previous NHL stops typically didn’t have a comedic slant.

“In Atlanta we did something, but in [New] Jersey, they were more serious,” Kovalchuk said. “I love [doing this]. We’re playing for our fans, and they want to see us in different situations.”

Kovalchuk is ready for his star turn as the Kings’ major offseason acquisition, a veteran expected to address a franchise need as an elite finisher on the left side. He’s signed to a three-year, $18.75-million contract, settled and delivered as the Kings begin training camp Friday.

Kovalchuk found a home in Beverly Hills with his wife, Nicole, and four children, ages 3 to 12, who are enrolled in school. His commute to El Segundo for practice isn’t bad, especially compared to his native Russia.

“So far I wasn’t late,” Kovalchuk said. “I’m used to Moscow traffic. It’s nothing.”

No one recognized him at the airport when he arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday. But Kings fans would like his face to be ubiquitous, preferably in goal-scoring celebrations and wins.

How much Kovalchuk, 35, has left is one of the tantalizing questions of the upcoming NHL season. He’s returning from a five-year break from the NHL during which he played in Russia. Kings general manager Rob Blake and President Luc Robitaille said 25-30 goals is the realistic expectation, but the prevailing motive with Kovalchuk doesn’t have a number attached to it.

“He really wants to win,” Robitaille said. “That’s very important. He has an opportunity to be one of the few guys in sports that can be in the triple gold club [having won] the world championships, Olympics [gold] and a Stanley Cup. He’s hungry to have an opportunity. The hole he’s going to fill, he can really help us win. But at the same time, he can be himself and play his game.”

The Kings retain eight players from both their Cup-winning teams but have won one playoff game since 2014. Kovalchuk sees the Cup pedigree, and it got his attention when countryman Alex Ovechkin won his first Cup in June.

The two are longtime friends and have similar career numbers, but Ovechkin has not stepped away from the NHL for an extended period like Kovalchuk. The rare comparable to Kovalchuk is Alexander Radulov, a 32- year-old winger for the Dallas Stars who returned to the NHL from a four-year break in Russia and has scored 18 and 27 goals the last two seasons.

Kovalchuk spent the last six weeks training with Radulov and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and said Radulov told him, “You’ll be in good shape” for his second act in the NHL.

“I think we all pushed each other, and when you train with those kinds of guys, [it helps because] they’re a little younger.”

Kovalchuk’s regimen hasn’t changed. It involves a lot of running, lifting and strength work but he did start his skating program earlier “because they say the NHL is getting faster.”

But for all the talk about his legs, it’s Kovalchuk’s hands that are crucial for the Kings. A right-handed shot who plays the left side, Kovalchuk was one of the league’s top scorers in his prime. He ranks 18th all-time at 0.51 goals per game, and his career shooting percentage of 14.1% tops Ovechkin (12.4%).

Blake is tight against the salary cap but has begun to rebuild the Kings’ depth and has no reservations about putting all their eggs in the Kovalchuk basket.

“The scoring on wings was something we wanted to target, and we feel Kovalchuk can fill that,” Blake said. Kovalchuk began skating informally with the Kings this week, in his No. 17 jersey. It was formerly worn by Jonny Brodzinski, but Brodzinski switched back to No. 76 when Kovalchuk asked him for 17.

“I’ll do something nice for him,” Kovalchuk said. “The number is always big for any athlete. It means something.”

Kovalchuk looked sharp in No. 17 on this day, in between repeated takes and dabs of makeup. At one point during the shoot, the blaring of a freight train’s horn could be heard in the distance, not unlike the goal-scoring horn heard in Staples Center.

September 10, 2018 By: Curtis Zupke Inaugural rookie tournament gives Kings, Ducks look at young prospects in competitive environment

Rookie camp for future NHL players used to involve an exhausting amount of drills and repetitive practice time over a few days. Actual game-type situations were an afterthought.

That’s gradually evolved into the inaugural rookie tournament that the Kings and Ducks, with four other NHL organizations, are part of in Las Vegas. It runs through Tuesday.

They are glorified scrimmages, mostly for players who are years away from the NHL, and aren’t played in NHL venues (this year’s tournament is at City National Arena, and next year the Ducks will host the event in Irvine). But it’s still a competitive atmosphere.

“Everyone’s kind of had a long summer and they’re ready for the season to start,” Kings forward prospect Mike Eyssimont said. “This kind of breaks it up nicely for us to go over to Vegas and play three games. It should be fun and definitely more exciting than just practicing.”

The Ducks opened the tournament with an 8-3 win against the Kings in which this year’s top Ducks draft pick, Isac Lundestom, and the Kings’ Jaret Anderson-Dolan each scored twice. The Ducks are 2-0 and the Kings 0-2 going into Tuesday’s finales against the Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights, respectively. All games can be livestreamed at lakings.com/livestream.

The scores are ancillary, though, to evaluating prospects against their peers in a game setting.

“We want them comfortable,” said Dallas Eakins, coach of the Ducks’ minor league affiliate San Diego Gulls. “Before you start to run, it’s always good to go for a jog or walk a little bit, rather than being dropped down into an NHL practice.”

The Kings’ last two first-round draft picks, Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, are not participating. Vilardi has a back injury, and Kupari returned to Europe. Defenseman Daniel Brickley is expected to join the Kings on Tuesday.

Overall, the Kings will keep a closer eye on their prospects because their minor league affiliate Ontario Reign will now be based at the Kings’ practice facility in El Segundo. The minor league team will practice there, aside from logistical conflicts with the Kings, and bus to games.

“We just felt that having them under our vision with our development staff and working on the certain skills and things prior to our practices, it was much of an advantage to do it at Toyota Sports Center,” Ontario coach Mike Stothers said.

FROM DAILYNEWS.COM

September 12, 2018 By: Robert Morales Kings defenseman Kale Clague pleased with progress in rookie camp

EL SEGUNDO — Defenseman Kale Clague will be the first to admit he didn’t have the best time of it in the 2017 Kings rookie camp.

“I think I could have shown a lot better last year,” Clague said Wednesday on the final day of this rookie camp. “Every year you get a little bit more mature and progress that way, so I think I feel more confident this year.”

This was Clague’s third rookie camp.

“I’d say it’s my best one,” he said. “I think I’ve been getting better every year that I’ve come here.”

Clague’s improvement was noticed by Mike Stothers, the Ontario Reign head coach who runs rookie camp for the Kings.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s just confidence,” Stothers said Sunday after the Kings’ 4-2 loss to Arizona in a rookie tournament in Las Vegas. “He is more assertive in his game, and again, trying to exploit his talents. Last year maybe he was taken by nerves or wasn’t feeling right or whatever, but that happens with guys.

“They come to a camp and there’s a lot expected of them, they put a lot of pressure on themselves. Maybe he came in a little bit more relaxed. He had a great year last year with Brandon-slash-Moose Jaw and representing his country, so there might be some maturity there, too.”

Indeed, Clague – a scoring defenseman – was solid in 2017-18 playing on the junior circuit in the . He had 10 goals, 37 assists and 35 penalty minutes in 28 games for the and one goal, 23 assists and eight penalty minutes in 26 games for the .

That’s a combined 71 points in 54 games. “I think it’s just always been part of my game,” Clague, 20, said of his offensive prowess.

Clague is a defenseman, though, and he understands that’s where his focus must reside.

“My D game’s gotten a lot better,” he said. “I think I have improved a lot in the D zone and I want to show that in camp.”

He’s talking about the camp with the veterans, which begins Friday at Toyota Sports Center.

Clague was specific when talking about what he needs to shore up on the defensive end.

“Yeah, just like my D zone, from the tops of the circles down,” he said. “Just positional play – you know, good box-outs, winning puck battles in the corners and stuff like that.”

Clague, from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, believes his offense will help him make the team. But he knows his defense could seal a spot.

“Any time you can contribute offensively, that’s going to catch an eye,” he said. “They know I can be offensive and make plays and stuff. Like I said, I just want to show them that I’m ready to defend at this level and if I can do that, I know the offense will come with time.”

FROM NHL.COM

September 12, 2018 By: Sean McCullen Players in training camp on professional tryout Etem, Garrison, Letestu, Upshall, Winnik among those looking to earn NHL job

Unsigned veteran players can earn a contract with an NHL team by impressing enough in training camp and during the preseason on a professional tryout contract (PTO). The following notable players (listed alphabetically) will be in an NHL camp on a PTO with the listed team: Emerson Etem, F, A native of Southern California, the 26-year-old played last season with Tucson of the (four goals, one assist in 16 games) and HC Lugano of the Swiss National League (no points in five games). Etem, who was selected by Anaheim in the first round (No. 29) of the 2010 NHL Draft, has 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 173 games with the Ducks, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers.

September 10, 2018 Kovalchuk skates with Kings for first time Forward says he expects L.A. to be contender after his return from KHL

Ilya Kovalchuk skated with the Los Angeles Kings for the first time Monday. The 35-year-old forward, who signed a three-year contract worth $6.25 million per season with the Kings on July 1 after playing five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, said he expects Los Angeles to be one of the top teams in the NHL. "We have a great core here, the guys know how to win," Kovalchuk told LA Kings Insider after informal drills. "Great goaltending, so I think we're one of the teams, one of the contenders, for sure."

The Kings have not advanced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they won the Cup in 2014, their second title in three seasons. Defenseman Drew Doughty, forwards Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter, and goalie Jonathan Quick are among the players remaining from those championship teams. Last season, Los Angeles was 16th in the NHL in scoring (2.89 goals per game) and scored three goals in four games when it was swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference First Round. Kovalchuk, who scored 31 goals in 53 games for SKA St. Petersburg in 2017-18, said he expects to be ready after training this offseason with Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov, who had 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) for the Montreal Canadiens in 2016-17 in his return to the NHL after four seasons in the KHL, and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. "I did similar [things] to what I usually do," Kovalchuk said. "A lot of running, a lot of lifting, a lot of strength work. I started skating a little bit earlier because they say the NHL is getting faster. Usually I didn't skate before I got to the camp, but now I did a few times a week for the last few weeks." Kovalchuk said Radulov told him he would be OK in his return to the NHL. Kovalchuk has 816 points (417 goals, 399 assists) in 816 NHL games. He scored 52 goals twice with the (2005-06, 2007-08) and scored at least 41 goals six times in 11 NHL seasons with Atlanta and the New Jersey Devils. He had 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 37 NHL games in 2012-13, his last season with the Devils before returning to Russia. "I wish I can predict the future, but I am not the magic man," Kovalchuk said when asked how many goals he thinks he will score this season. "Like I said, I was training hard all summer to get myself in the best shape I can, and to play with those guys, it's much easier. I've never played with a guy like Kopitar, so we'll see. I'm very excited. "We'll see on Oct. 5, but if you play with guys like Kopitar, Doughty, [Carter] and Brown, they will make it easier for you, so I just need to do my thing, and I think I'll be OK." The Kings open training camp Thursday.

FROM ESPN.COM

September 13, 2018 By: Chris Peters 2018-19 NHL prospect pipeline report: Pacific Division

With the NHL season around the corner, NHL teams are evaluating what they have from a prospect standpoint. Here's a look at each Pacific Division team's prospect pool heading into the 2018-19 NHL season, including the top players in each system.

Some ground rules:

• Players listed as "A" prospects project more comfortably into impact roles -- that is, players who will fit into top scoring lines or top-four defenses and goalies with starter potential. "B" prospects are players who project comfortably as everyday NHL players but don't project as comfortably to make a big impact. That's not to say the B prospects can't develop into larger roles in the future; it's just what I see for them for right now.

• Players not listed simply didn't meet the very high threshold set by the A and B parameters. That doesn't mean I don't think they'll make it or that they can't develop into better prospects. I just set a high bar for the players included in this section.

• Players are considered prospects until they've lost rookie status (using the Calder Trophy eligibility threshold).

• I also have listed one prospect for each team who I think is most likely to help the NHL roster this season, along with one "breakout prospect" who I think could take the biggest step forward this season in his development.

Here's a look at the Pacific Division.

Los Angeles Kings A prospects: Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari B prospects: Akil Thomas, Daniel Brickley, Kale Clague, Cal Petersen, Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Bulat Shafigullin The Kings' system has a really high top end and a pretty solid middle range, which puts them in a comfortable position going forward. Vilardi is an outstanding player, but he has had some health issues -- particularly a balky back -- that cause a little concern; but when he's healthy, he is an elite-level prospect. They also picked Kupari in last year's first round, and I think he has the potential to really take off this season in a more established role with Karpat in the Finnish league. He is a remarkably quick skater with high-end puck skills and some great creativity.

Los Angeles also has some interesting projects in Thomas and Anderson-Dolan. I think both have the skill sets to play in substantial roles down the line. Thomas is a higher-end playmaker who probably needs to get a little more selfish and shoot more often. Anderson-Dolan, or JAD as he's affectionately known, does everything at a high rate of speed with skill. He just needs to get a little stronger, and he could be a pretty solid prospect for the Kings.

Meanwhile, the Kings have a couple of strong players on the blue line in college free-agent signing Brickley, who should provide immediate help, and Clague, who is a talented puck-moving defenseman. I think Clague needs a little more time to round out his defensive game to make an impact with the Kings, but the offensive skill set is pretty impressive.

Below that layer, there's a good mix of high-upside players who have some iffy projections for various reasons. Shafigullin, Petersen, Michael Eyssimont and Aidan Dudas are among the players I think could have a say in the Kings' future too.

2018-19 NHL-level impact prospect: Daniel Brickley 2018-19 breakout prospect: Rasmus Kupari

FROM MAYORSMANOR.COM

September 11, 2018 By: John Hoven Sheldon Rempal ‘Frustrated’ Heading into Game 3 of Tournament

Following two productive seasons with Clarkson University, Sheldon Rempal signed a two-year Entry Level Contract with the Kings back in March after being courted by several NHL teams. After a summer of workouts and preparation, he now stands on the doorstep of possibly reaching his dream.

At 23-years-old, he’s one of the older prospects participating in Rookie Camp this year, yet he comes with high offensive expectations. Having not been able to fully showcase his talents just yet is something several have noted, including Assistant GM Mike Futa, who had this to say during our recent discussion with him:

Rempal certainly has a shot at making the Kings opening night roster, especially with Gabe Vilardi having ongoing back issues – two concepts we explored in detail here.

With Game 3 vs. the Golden Knights looming, the final contest at this year’s Rookie Faceoff event in Las Vegas, we checked in with Rempal to gather some thoughts on his experience thus far.

Rempal on how he feels he’s fitting in:

“I feel pretty good out on the ice. It’s definitely not easy to come in with a brand new group of players who have never played together before. I think that makes everybody a little nervous; and a lot of these younger guys were just drafted, as well. On the ice, I feel really good. I didn’t think anything was really clicking in the past two games though, which is obviously frustrating. You want to have success right away, [as you’re getting ready] to start the season. But is what it is and just kind of to deal with it.”

On if he spent any time speaking with his center, Akil Thomas, in advance of Game 2, trying to maybe improve the communication on their line:

“We did spend some time talking, just not so much about hockey. I know he was a little bit nervous going into [the first game], so I kind of just – knowing I’m a little older than him, I tried to calm him down a little bit. And I thought we played a little better against the Coyotes. I thought we had a little bit more energy. We actually had the potential to make some good plays but we just weren’t able to get the bounces.”

On coach Stothers saying he felt the team played a more structured game in Game 2:

“I think the coaches did a good job of doing a lot of video with us [between Games 1 and 2], just so guys were a little more aware of what they’re doing wrong and stuff. I think we definitely did make a big improvement really, structure-wise, and it showed.”

On the idea that sometimes in Camp it can be a little bit cliquey, with the college guys sticking together and likewise for the junior players:

“I think the guys have done a pretty good job of meshing right away. I tried to introduce myself to mostly everyone. I think most of the guys here have chatted with basically everyone here, which is which is good to see. I know what you mean, though, when sometimes people stick together. I think we’ve done a good job of avoiding that.”

On what he’s doing to keep his mind off of the fact that he has a legitimate chance (even if perhaps it’s less than 50%) of making the Kings roster and just doing what he needs to do during Camp:

“Making the team was definitely my goal. Being a free agent and selecting LA, that was the goal all along. I had two more years of college eligibility; to come out early, I definitely want to make the leap and jump right into the lineup, rather than playing in the American League first. I think everybody wants to do that. I think going

forward, just having a couple more skates and starting to produce a little more, it’s kind of frustrating when you’re held off the scoresheets both nights. I’m a player that likes to make plays and produce points.”

On if seeing what Alex Iafallo was able to do with the Kings after signing a free agent contract with the team had any bearing on his thought process:

“I look up to Alex. He did an awesome job of coming out of college last year and jumping right in; plus I knew when he signed with the Kings he also had a couple other offers, as well. I think it’s just all about how you play; and that’s what’s kind of frustrating. You want to play your best. I thought I played well [in Game 2]. Yet, like I said before, I didn’t produce like the way I wanted to. So it’s frustrating.”

September 10, 2018 By: John Hoven Mike Futa on LA Kings Prospects and 2018 Rookie Tournament

We have notes, quotes, and photos from the Kings first two games of the 2018 Vegas Rookie Faceoff tournament already posted on the site – see here.

Now we turn our attention to a chat we had with Kings Assistant GM Mike Futa following the opening two days of action. With the Kings dropping both of their first two games, the initial question was an obvious one…

Futa on if winning matters at tournaments like this, or if it’s more about development:

“Well anybody who says winning isn’t important is full of it. You come to this and part of it – we’ve talked about culture [in the past], it’s about creating a winning culture. That being said, there’s a lot of good things that have gone on and we continue to build on the positives. But you want to win. You want to know that you’re setting the same standard and the same tone against your division rivals at every level. So you don’t want them to have one-ups on you at any juncture. Again, for the younger guys, it’s a little different – in that you don’t have set power play units and stuff, it’s all new for everybody. But it pisses everybody off when you lose.”

On 2018 second round pick Akil Thomas possibly being a bit nervous in the first two games:

“There are certain kids here of a different age; this is new for them. I know with Akil, he was a little banged up at the World Junior evaluation camp, so maybe he was set back a little bit. But I think this is a new thing for everybody. The kid had an incredible junior season last year. And those kids, they don’t worry me at all – the ones where this is their first kick of the can. You expect there to be some positive nerves and nervous energy. It’s their first time pulling on a Kings jersey when it’s not in a photo booth [at the NHL Draft], so it’s exciting for them. They’ll learn. You’d like some of the older kids and some of the college players that have played against bigger, stronger guys to be able to settle those guys down and help them build on it.”

On the coaching and evaluation that has gone on the past few days:

“The mentality of all these kids, some of them think they’re coming in and – you know, some kids are probably looking a little further down the road to main camp and whether they’ve got a shot at making the big club, while other kids are just dipping their toes in the water for the first time. Again, it’s just about learning how to be a pro. I think that’s where [Mike] Stothers and the group does such a great job of teaching them how to be pros and the expectations. I was in some video sessions this morning and they were just outstanding. They went over the positives and some other things, like the fact we’ve had so many opportunities [this weekend] where guys who have worked hard at scoring — and scored in the past — weren’t in in the right spots and having trouble here. Take one of the leading scorers in college hockey, Sheldon Rempal, and I’m sure he’d be the first one to

tell you that he was in some spots where he normally pulls the trigger. More often than not, those are going to go in. I think it’s about staying positive, but at the same point, not taking losing lightly. You want to build on it. Obviously, there have been system breakdowns, where guys are not familiar with each other, different goalies with their first opportunity to get in there. Also, you’re evaluating everybody. It’s not like a Development Camp, though, where you’re teaching a lot. You’re evaluating all the time. This is something, it’s another level of evaluation. Some of them are exceeding expectations and some have some work to do. That’s just the nature of the beast.”

On how exciting it is to have all of these top prospects under one roof for a tournament:

“You know what excites me, when you see guys trying to make plays and the speed of the game here. And then you think about the fact Gabe Vilardi isn’t here; Rasmus Kupari, Bulat Shafigullin, Daniel Brickley, Matt Roy, Cal Peterson, and a few of our other guys aren’t even here. That excites me because we’re still putting kids out there who are playing hard, competing the right way, and there’s some real quality guys. How many interviews have we done about finally having two first round picks and capitalizing on them? Neither of them are here, sure. Vilardi is dinged up, we know that. Yet, we have one kid playing on the top line [with his team] in Finland and we have a Russian kid playing on the top line in the KHL – that kind of thing is only going to add to this. It excites me to see all of this energy [surrounding our prospect pool]. It’s a different dynamic. It’s about staying true to your identity, being hard to score against – which is clearly the big club’s M.O. – but when you start to see some of these younger kids coming up, they’re making plays, they can skate, and they can fly, and they’re skilled. Once they get their feet wet it’s going to be fun. I think Ontario will be a fun team to watch this season. And that’s exciting.”

FROM THEHOCKEYWRITERS.COM

September 11, 2018 By: Lisa Dillman Los Angeles Kings: The Foundation of Royalty

The Los Angeles Kings built a legacy that did not start until professional had been around for over six decades. Many people who follow their respective hockey teams may be able to cite starting rosters, prospects, team history, and recent play; however, how many people can cite when and where the birth of professional hockey took place? Perhaps a few. For those who cannot, professional hockey began in 1903-04, where the Portage Lake Hockey Club became the first organization to pay all of its players. Below, see the construction of the famous Amphidrome, where the first professional ice hockey team would eventually play.

According to cchockeyhistory.org, the iconic arena could pack in over 1,000 screaming fans; however, this is not an article about the Amphidrome; this is an article about the history of the Los Angeles Kings. Yet, very little could be said of the Kings’ history without paying credence to the birth of professional hockey because the Portage Lake Hockey Club established the foundation for which NHL history has been made.

Hockey Comes to Paradise

Currently, the Kings are playing in their 45th season as a professional hockey team. At THW, contributors not only report the latest hockey news, but also take pride in writing about history. This article speaks not about the Kings’ impressive current season, prospects, trades, or current events; rather it tells the story about where the team’s legacy began and how it has evolved over time. Please enjoy, courtesy of THW, a timeline of the Los Angeles Kings. A thank you in advance to kings.nhl.com for the supporting information.

The 1960s

On February 9, 1966, Jack Kent Cooke brought ice hockey to the beautiful beaches of southern California when he was awarded a professional hockey team. Having already owned the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, Cooke’s new ownership of the Kings brought an expansion to the NHL that helped double the total team count to twelve, from the Original Six teams. Cooke named the team the “Kings” because he wanted to bring forth an air of royalty. On October 14, 1967, the Kings played and won their first game at the Long Beach Arena against the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2. Cooke had quite a reputation in Hollywood, as he fully intended to glamorize and brand his new team. Most notably, and as a result of not having any “brand name” star players on his new team, Cooke insistently gave his players nicknames to make celebrities out of them. Without a “big name” player to carry the torch for the new franchise, Cooke set out to make celebrities of his players with clever nicknames, which he personally crafted.

On to the Forum ice came Eddie “The Jet” Joyal, Eddie “The Entertainer” Shack, Bill “Cowboy” Flett, Juha “Whitey” Widing and Real “Frenchy” Lemieux to name a few. Finally, Cooke would change the course of history of the Kings by building the Forum, or better known to Hollywood locals as “The Fabulous Forum,” where the team would play the next 32 seasons.

According to Kings.nhl.com, the Kings went on to finish their first season 31-33-10, one of the best records ever completed by an expansion team. The decades to come would bring many more stories of royal success to California as the Kings continued on their journey.

The 1970s

This decade would bring much more success to the Kings organization starting with the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Bob Pulford. A seasoned veteran, Pulford not only brought a sense of leadership to the Kings’ locker room, but also infused a sense of legitimacy and respect to the team’s lineup. Over the years, the Kings have continued to honor Pulford and his impact on the team. After Pulford completed his final two seasons in the NHL with the Kings, he went on to coach the team through what will have been the most successful five seasons it had ever seen. Under Pulford’s first season as coach, the Kings posted a team best 42-17-21 record with all-star goalie Rogie Vachon and intense checking players such as Butch Goring, Mike Murphy and Bob Nevin. In 1977, the Kings made their first significant trade, acquiring superstar Marcel Dionne, who would go on to finish his career with 1,771 points in 1,348 games. Dionne brought major legitimacy to the organization and broke many records, including being the first forward to score 50 goals.

Ending a decade of success, Cooke would sell the Kings, Lakers, and “The Fabulous Forum” to Dr. Jerry Buss in 1979.

The 1980s

This decade would start out with the sizzling hot line trio of Dionne Marcel, Dave Taylor, and Charlie Simmer. The NHL would later deem this trio “The Triple Crown” following their combined 328 point campaign in the 1979-80 season. In the 1980-81 season, the trio became the first line combination in NHL history where each member surpassed 100 points (Dionne-135, Taylor-112, Simmer-105). Later in the decade, the Kings brought in a host of young talent that would eventually contain a plethora of future legends. Bernie Nicholls, Larry Murphy, Jim Fox, Mark

Hardy, Jay Wells, Bozek, Doug Smith, Brian MacLellan, Grant Ledyard and Garry Galley were among the favorites of Kings fans in the mid-1980s. Three talented youngsters represented the Kings on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 1986-87 – Luc Robitaille, Jimmy Carson and Steve Duchesne. The Dionne era in Los Angeles ended when the Kings traded the center to the New York Rangers on March 10, 1987, and he went on to earn the ultimate honor in 1992 with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His retired Kings jersey No. 16 rests on the south wall of STAPLES Center. In August of 1988, the Kings’ future would be forever changed when they acquired Wayne Gretzky, heavily regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time. [See Also: 1982 – The Miracle on Manchester] Gretzky set a team record with 168 points (54G, 114A) during the 1988-89 season and his first with the Kings. In the remaining two years in the decades, the Kings saw success qualifying for the playoffs and eclipsing 40 wins in both seasons (42 and 46 respectively).

The 1990s

This decade brought the Kings to their first ever Stanley Cup Final appearance during the 1992-93 season against the Montreal Canadiens. That season and under head coach Barry Melrose, the team continued to be underdogs in each round of the playoffs, which they eventually advanced. While that season marked history, California’s royalty did not see a championship after eventually falling to the Habs after five games. The Kings failed to attain the same intensity following their 1992-93 championship campaign, as their next three seasons were disappointing. Subsequently, the team changed owners out of bankruptcy, placing the title in the hands of Philip F. Anschutz and Edward P. Roski, Jr. The team entered into a “re-building” phase with their first move being the appointing of legendary King Dave Taylor to General Manager. Under Taylor, the STAPLES Center was built, and in 1999 it became the new home for the Kings. Additionally, the team acquired a new $24 million training facility (Toyota Sports Center) in El Segundo, CA. While the decade did not end in championship attainment, it was a major building transition for the team.

The 2000s

The Kings started out the decade with an impressive 92 point season, despite controversial roster moves including trading long-time captain Rob Blake and acquiring struggling goalie Felix Potvin. Despite the unpopularity of these changes, the team continued to turn heads that season making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Championship yet again. Most notable in these playoffs was the team’s comeback against the Red Wings in the first round. After being down two games to one, and trailing 3-0 in game four with eight minutes left in the third period, the Kings scored three unanswered goals. These efforts eventually led the team to a series victory against the Wings in game five. Nonetheless, the Kings would fall to the Avalanche in game 7 of the finals. In 2002-03, the team had a more disappointing season finishing with only 78 total points. Through 2005-06, the team continued to struggle despite maintaining a strong fan base. In 2006, the Kings made Dean Lombardi the new President/General manager. Under his tenure, the club has seen a number of major developments. During his first three seasons in office, Lombardi did not see his team qualify for the playoffs; however, he made many moves that again infused the club with a wealth of young talent. The first three seasons of the Lombardi-led Kings did not resulted in trips to the post-season but significant strides were made as the club stocked its system with promising young talent, especially on the blueline ( Jack

Johnson and Drew Doughty to name two players) and in the net (highlighted by Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier). At the forward position, the Kings feature several key players – Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Wayne Simmonds – who have yet to hit their prime, and veterans like Michal Handzus, Jarret Stoll, Ryan Smyth and Justin Williams. The next season brought the team its first playoff appearance since 2002. This decade would end in success again, as L.A.’s royal team had concocted a winning recipe.

The 2010s

The following section has been supplied by Kings writer Matt Karas. You can find more of his writing on our Kings Team page. From 2010 to today, the Kings have been one of the more successful franchises in the NHL. Their winning ways commenced during the 2011-12 season, when the upstart bunch went on a 15-4-3 run in March and April to squeak into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Led in regular season goals (25), assists (51) and points (76) by Kopitar, not much was expected in the playoffs from the youthful squad from the “City of Angels”. Not only did the Kings defeat the top-seeded, Vancouver Canucks, in the first round, they utterly dismantled them in five games. Brimming with confidence, the silver & black then proceeded to annihilate the second- seeded, St.Louis Blues, in a four game sweep. They refused to lay off the gas in the Western Conference Final, where they lambasted their Division rival, the Phoenix Coyotes, in five games. Although the Kings have not hoisted the Stanley Cup since the 2014 playoff run, they have been a perennial threat. With the incumbent core still very much intact, coupled with youngsters like Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson flourishing, and a minor-league system stocked with talent, the Kings have been the epitome of successful. That does not look like it is going to change anytime soon. Needless to say, Jack Kent Cooke would likely be very proud. Although the Kings have not hoisted the Stanley Cup since the 2014 playoff run, they have been a perennial threat. With the incumbent core still very much intact, coupled with youngsters like Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson flourishing, and a minor-league system stocked with talent, the Kings have been the epitome of successful. That does not look like it is going to change anytime soon. Needless to say, Jack Kent Cooke would likely be very proud.

FROM THEATHLETIC.COM

September 12, 2018 By: Dom Luszczyszyn 2018-19 NHL Season Preview: Los Angeles Kings

Read this to learn more about how these projections work and this to understand the uncertainty each projection carries. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, it’s been an uneven road for the Los Angeles Kings. In each of the last four seasons they’ve either been knocked out in the first round or missed the playoffs entirely. That’s not good enough for a club that once looked like it was putting together a mini-dynasty. The team’s goals this season are clear: win a round in the playoffs and keep playing past April.

That goal will be easier said than done, though. The Kings’ stars are a year older, other teams around them are improving and there are some question marks surrounding the team’s depth. The fact Los Angeles’ preview falls today and not a week from now attests to that. That doesn’t mean the Kings will be bad this season, nor does it mean they’ll necessarily be good either. It means they’re in an extremely mushy middle where any number of things could go either way and shape how the season plays out. According to my model, there are 11 teams between 89.5 and 94.5 points. The Kings sit right in the middle, ranked 16th in the NHL with 92 points – in other words, dead average. To really drive home how tight things are for the Kings, their chances of finishing anywhere from first to seventh in the Pacific are all between 11 and 15 per cent. Even the playoffs are a virtual coin flip, with the Kings having a 55 per cent chance of making it. Having 18 teams above 50 per cent when there are only 16 spots may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s just a weird probability quirk where a high number of competitive teams means we know which teams have a shot, but not which teams will make it in the end. In a scenario where there are two spots up for grabs and three teams tied with one game left – all three would have a 66 per cent chance, despite only two making it. That’s the Kings in a nutshell; they’ll be in the hunt. Being in the hunt isn’t what this team wants, though; they want to win at least a round of playoff hockey. At 26 per cent, that’s not impossible, but also not the likeliest scenario. Even if the Kings do make the playoffs, they’ll likely be the underdog against whoever they play, though a very weak division could make things close. The issue, as usual with teams in this range, is depth. The Kings have some uber-talented players at the top of the lineup, but things get dicey at the bottom. Nowhere is that more present than on the back end. The Kings have Drew Doughty, the heart and soul of the team, Jake Muzzin a perfectly respectable top pairing defender, and… four other players. It’s likely the team will have to keep that duo separate as the bottom pairs would get eaten alive otherwise. It goes without saying that Doughty is one of the game’s best defenders and considering the state of the rest of the defence, he may be the team’s most important player. He does it all and he does it all well. From exiting the zone, to defending entries, to creating chances for his teammates and everything in between that we can’t currently measure, Doughty is a force on both sides of the puck. He’s been incredible during his peak and last season was arguably one of the better ones of his career. Finally free from Darryl Sutter’s system, he had a career-high 60 points while posting an incredible plus-5.4 per cent relative Corsi, in tough minutes to boot. By WAR, it was his third best season according to Evolving Hockey while Corsica had it at fourth. By Game Scoreit was third. Muzzin looked very good as well last season. Like Doughty, he’s a smart, two-way player who does well with or without the puck – at a level slightly below Doughty in each facet. It’s after those two where there are issues. Derek Forbort is solid defensively and can move the puck, but is mostly a passenger on the Doughty pairing. He does have room to grow, though. Dion Phaneuf has really fallen off and I’m not sure how much he has left. He’s replacement level no matter where he slots in the lineup, as he gets caved in by strong competition (in Ottawa) and weak competition (in Los Angeles) alike. He was at 45 per cent Corsi (minus-5.2 per cent relative) in Los Angeles despite getting softer minutes in the bottom four. Daniel Brickley is an unknown commodity with decent, but not exactly show-stopping numbers in the NCAA who will likely battle for the final spot with Paul LaDue and Oscar Fantenberg. My model is particularly fond of LaDue, who has done very well in sheltered minutes. That leaves Alec Martinez, a player who the Kings are counting on to be their third pillar on defence but needs to bounce back tremendously after arguably the worst season of his career. All players react differently under new coaches and it seems Martinez didn’t handle the transition all that well. His production fell off completely and he posted the worst possession numbers of his career. He’s slipped in that regard over the last four seasons, especially on the defensive side of things, but 2017-18 was by far his worst, relatively speaking. Of course,

being compared to Doughty isn’t favourable for any defender, but it’s a problem when the raw possession totals drop to the 46 per cent range. For the Kings to compete, they need a second pairing that can tilt the ice, or at least keep things even. If Martinez plays the way he did last season, they won’t have that. It didn’t really matter who he played with, either. His shot share was at 47 per cent or lower with every regular defender the team partnered him with. You’d think a player with Muzzin’s reputation for play-driving could help, but even that duo got outplayed on most nights. The Kings seemed to recognize the problem, as Martinez’s most common linemate last season was Phaneuf (340 minutes), who was acquired in February. Bottom line, Martinez needs to be better. Another important thing this defence crew needs to figure out is how to stay out of the box. All five of the defenders who played in L.A. last season are projected to have a penalty differential at minus-10 or lower. Defencemen have a natural tendency to take more penalties than they draw, but not at this rate. The only other team with five defenders projected to have a penalty differential of minus-10 or worse is Detroit, the league’s worst projected defence corps. That’s not great company to keep. The Kings had terrific special teams last season, but any advantage there is somewhat mitigated by the fact they’re a bottom 10 team when it comes to discipline. The defensive issues mean the team will need to rely heavily on goaltending once again, a strength that the team has no guarantee of repeating. Jonathan Quick had his best season since 2011-12 posting a .921 save percentage, and while he’s one of the league’s best goalies, it’s possible he regresses slightly. That’s especially true considering he had an astounding .895 save percentage on the penalty kill last season, the sixth-highest mark among goalies that faced 200 or more shots while shorthanded. It’s the third highest mark of his career, and his career average there is .877. Considering that penalty kill save percentage is even more volatile than it is at even strength, Quick could see a slight drop overall next season. The bigger issue is behind Quick, though. The Kings starter was excellent last season, but the team’s backups were even better. In 24 games, Darcy Kuemper and Jack Campbell combined for a .930 save percentage, an extremely high number that seems unlikely to continue next season, especially with the large uncertainty surrounding Campbell, who has just six NHL games under his belt. Had the Kings been just average behind Quick last season, the team would’ve given up 12 more goals against which would’ve put them in a tie for the final wild-card spot with St. Louis. Based on public data, this doesn’t seem like a product of the new system, either. The Kings expected save percentage last season was .905, which ranked 25th in the league. The difference between the team’s actual save percentage and what was expected was the second largest in the league behind only Anaheim. Regression on that front seems likely. Even if that does happen, the Kings should still be a strong defensive team and it helps that the club is no longer as inept on offence. The forward group features five first-line calibre players that few other teams can stack up against. A sixth isn’t far behind, either. Anze Kopitar arguably belongs in the elite tier. At 2.7 projected wins he’s on the cusp and with further sustained excellence to start the season it won’t be long until he breaks through. The reason he’s a lowly regarded here is mostly due to the signs of decline he was exhibiting prior to last season’s Hart-nominated campaign. For four straight seasons his raw and relative Corsi dropped until he was a negative relative player in 2016-17. It was the same story by goals, too, which contributed to the lowest 5-on-5 points per 60 of his career in a 52-point season, also the lowest. It was especially startling considering the minutes he was getting and that lack of efficiency plays a role. Last season he was able to reverse those trends, a slightly surprising resurgence given his age that likely had much to do with the new coaching staff in place. My model doesn’t account for that new coaching staff that was able to get the best out of Kopitar offensively – all it sees are the last three seasons and what he did in them.

That might mean it’s unfairly low when it comes to projecting Kopitar’s production this season. Skepticism on repeating his nearly 17 per cent shooting percentage at 5-on-5 is warranted. He’s expected to be a 77-point player, a sizeable dip from his 92-point season from a year ago. That basically means that anywhere between 70 and 90 points is a good range for Kopitar, making last year a likely best-case scenario. At 31 he’s still an excellent player, but it’s hard to see him topping 90 points again unless everything goes right. The team’s addition of Ilya Kovalchuk does give us reason for optimism. At 35, he’s not young either, but he can still score and that’s something this team has always been desperately looking for. Based on his KHL output (and adjusted for age and likely ice time) a 60-point season is an appropriate expectation for Kovalchuk. That might be enough to keep Kopitar above the point-per-game range, especially if Dustin Brown can keep playing at the level he was at last season where he reignited his possession game and rediscovered his scoring touch. Brown’s 1.72 points per 60 last season was his highest mark since 2010-11, the team’s last full non-Sutter year. The second line should be much stronger this year too with a healthy Jeff Carter. That the team was able to reach the heights it did, especially on offence, while Carter was out with an injury for all but 27 games is nothing short of remarkable. He’s an easy bet for 60 points and should provide a boost to Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson’s production. He does need to clean up his two-way game, though. Like Martinez’s troubles on the second pair, the Kings need the second line to tilt the ice or at least break even and they weren’t getting that with Carter last year. His defence has always been questionable, but his offence at least made up for it. That wasn’t the case in 2017-18 and he was one of the team’s worst play-driving forwards. At 33, there’s no guarantee Carter can manage that, as he’s hitting an age where players begin their descent. It’s a problem facing a lot of this team’s best players and one reason to be pessimistic about the team’s chances going forward. The team has nine players that will be over 30 this season, a list that includes Carter, Kopitar, Quick, Kovalchuk, Brown and Martinez – players the team is really relying on to be difference-makers this season. Doughty and Muzzin at 29 are close, too. It likely won’t happen all at once for the Kings stars, but there is a chance some of the team’s key players fall off to varying degrees next season. Many of them are at an age where it becomes a much likelier possibility, and that’s a scary reality considering those players are the team’s best. The organization doesn’t currently have the supplemental depth to offset that, either. and Gabe Vilardi (if he’s healthy and makes the team) are the team’s lone forwards under the age of 25 and make up a third line with Alex Iafallo (who is 25). While they may provide some decent secondary scoring (Kempe was second behind Kopitar in 5-on-5 points per 60), they will likely struggle on defence. I’m not so certain Kempe can drive his own line either unless he takes a big step in his second full season. While he’s great in transition, he isn’t as effective in the offensive zone where his primary shot contributions (shots and shot assists) are very low. His high points per 60 was likely linemate and secondary assist driven, not to mention his own personal 14.7 per cent shooting percentage at 5-on-5. Most of Iafallo’s value comes from being a passenger on the Kopitar line, too, making the third line a tough one to depend on. The fourth line is even worse, mostly due to the contributions, or lack thereof, from Nate Thompson. He’s the player projected to be the least valuable regular in the entire league this season. He’s where offence goes to die as his teams take 12 fewer attempts per 60 with him on the ice compared to off over the last three years, which contributes to a relative Corsi of minus-6.4 per cent. Both marks are among the bottom three among players who still have an NHL job. Replacing him with someone worth zero value would be enough to vault the Kings to 93.6 points and become the 12th ranked team according to my model. Depth problems have been plaguing the Kings for years now and it’s the biggest reason the team hasn’t been able to reach the next level and make it past the opening round of the playoffs. The Kings’ bottom six and

bottom pair collectively rank as the projected fourth worst group in the league. Unless Kempe and Vilardi really prove themselves, those problems may remain there. On defence, Forbort needs to take another step and Martinez needs to find his game again. There are avenues to success for the bottom of this roster, but as it stands now the team will be relying heavily on its top players again. Considering the age of those involved, I’m not sure how long the team can continue to depend on everyone to play high-end hockey without much of a succession plan. Due to a lack of depth, the last few seasons have been mired in mediocrity, a waste of some of this talented core’s best seasons. With the core likely in decline going forward, the team will need to support its best players more than ever. It may just work out enough to make the playoffs this year and next, maybe even put the team in contention if everything goes right, but the clock is slowly ticking on the current era of Kings hockey. What Other Models Say Emmanuel Perry, Corsica: 94.0 points, 14th Rob Pizzola, Semi-Professional Sports Bettor: 93.1 points, 17th Andy MacNeil, Vegas Stats & Information Network: 92.1 points, 16th Over/Under Point Total, Bodog: 93.5 points, T-17th Pretty much no disagreement from all the models that all agree the Kings are right around average, or just barely above if that. That might not be good enough this year as their rank league-wide ranges from 14th (Perry) to 17th (Pizzola). What Fans Expect Public Sample: 1,956 Fan Sample: 99 I think the public has this one right on the money: the Kings are an average club, with a very tight range of outcomes. It’s difficult to see a tremendously successful season, or an epic disappointment and somewhere between 80 and 100 points is fair. Of course, fans are much more optimistic about a team that earned 98 points last season and is adding Kovalchuk to that roster. About 97 per cent expect the team to make the playoffs, but this team is far from certain in that regard in an extremely competitive Western Conference. What The Athletic Insider Thinks Lisa Dillman: Whenever the Kings used to trade a prospect or sign a loyalty contract under the previous regime, a lot of people would say: “Well, that’s Rob Blake’s problem.” It was widely known that Blake was on track to eventually becoming Kings GM. The Kings were in an understandable win-now mode but it was also known Blake was going to have to deal with a LOT of problems coming home to roost when he got the job. Blake has efficiently dealt with of some them (one minor miracle was getting out from under the Marian Gaborik contract) but others still loom heading into his second full season as Kings GM. They are still tight against the cap, secondary scoring is a concern, as is the continuing health of prospect Vilardi, who is doubtful for the start of training camp because of back problems. But it is my contention that they will be a playoff team because their core is still intact, and highly productive, starting with Kopitar, Doughty and Quick. And think about this: the big move in the summer of 2017 was to sign Michael Cammalleri. Contrast that with the Kovalchuk signing in the summer of 2018 and a healthy Carter, and it should be enough of a difference to get them into the playoffs. I suspect, however, it might be suspenseful until the final weekend of the regular season.

Data via Corsica, Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and All-Three Zones Comparison Tool using data from Corey Sznajder Read the other 2018-19 season previews here.

September 12, 2018 By: Lisa Dillman The Kings have to play the waiting game with top prospect Gabe Vilardi

When Gabe Vilardi aggravated a back injury in late July, the Kings thought the highly regarded forward prospect would be ready for the start of their training camp. That’s not the case now. Kings general manager Rob Blake told The Athletic that the situation was being called “week to week.” The Kings report for medical and physical testing on Thursday and take the ice for their first training camp practices on Friday. “I don’t think he’ll be ready for tomorrow’s testing,” Blake said in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s nothing different than it’s been the last couple of weeks. He won’t be ready to skate with our guys tomorrow or Friday.” It was trending in that direction when Vilardi was unable to take part in the team’s rookie camp, which started Sept. 7, or play in the Kings’ three games in Vegas Rookie Faceoff at Las Vegas. Vilardi, who was picked No. 11 in the 2017 draft, has been considered one of the prospects who could be in the mix for a roster spot on opening night. He was the Kings’ highest draft pick since they took Brayden Schenn (No. 5) in 2009. Vilardi also was No. 11 on Corey Pronman’s list of top 100 NHL prospects entering the 2018- 19 season. Now it turns into a waiting game with Vilardi. The 19-year-old will continue to rehab and strengthen his back. “It’s tough,” Blake said. “Because I think a lot of us were excited by what we saw last year, but we have to be patient with his injury until he’s healthy and see where he fits in and how he plays with these guys. “He’s the one guy we thought that, at that age, could help us.” Vilardi’s back injury limited him to 32 games last season with Kingston of the OHL. He had 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 32 regular-season games with the Frontenacs, and added 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 16 playoff games. The news that his back was an issue again surfaced when Team Canada announced in July that Vilardi would not play in the high-profile World Junior Summer Showcase in Kamloops, British Columbia. “You could bend down wrong one day and tie your shoe and have it flare up,” Blake said. “There was no specific item or specific thing that (led) to it. He just got up one day and was sore. … Our guys backed him off a little bit and he’s gone through the same rehab stage again.”

September 12, 2018 By: Lisa Dillman Kings see a lot to like in one-game glimpse of Daniel Brickley at rookie tournament

LAS VEGAS – The aggregate was not kind. Opponents 19, Kings 7.

“If we were 3-0, I wouldn’t be leaving here with my chest out and thinking we’re the greatest thing going,” said Ontario Reign coach Mike Stothers, who ran the Kings’ bench for the three games at the Vegas Rookie Faceoff, including a 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday at City National Arena. “We were 0-3, and I don’t think we were the worst thing going. It’s all about perception.” Perception is a curious thing at a rookie tournament. You can sell hope and future glory to the fanbase and get some good mileage out of a flashy performance. The distant future … in some cases. But this wasn’t the situation on the final day of the Vegas tournament with Kings defenseman Daniel Brickley. It’s all about the present with the highly regarded 23-year-old from Utah who just finished a strong collegiate career at Minnesota State. If all goes well, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder could be on the Kings’ roster when the season opens. “I haven’t been around him too much, but he acts and plays like a pro,” said defenseman Chaz Reddekopp, a Kings’ seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft. “He just looks like a pro out there. From that game, you can just tell he’s really poised with the puck, makes a lot of good little plays and he’s really strong on the puck. He’s impressive.” This wasn’t Brickley’s first appearance in a Kings’ uniform. After finishing his third collegiate season, he signed with Los Angeles as a free agent in March and played in the second-to-last game of the regular season, against the Minnesota Wild, recording an assist. Brickley didn’t play in the first two games of the rookie tournament because of the death of his 89-year-old grandmother and the funeral was in the Boston area. “I’m glad I was able to come here, shake the rust off,” Brickley said. “Good to get back into things, get in the flow, get back into it, so I can go out for the big club and hopefully make the team.” Any notion of gradually easing him into the action was erased when defenseman Austin Strand took a puck to the ear near the end of the first period, requiring stitches. He did not return and the Kings played with five defensemen in the final two periods. It was 1-1 after one period and the Golden Knights scored three goals in the second and three more in the third. “I think it was a turning point for us defensemen when (Strand) went down, and it’s tough losing a defenseman,” Brickley said. “You keep having to cycle through other partners. “…I feel some of the guys on the team kinda let up a little bit. Maybe they made a bad play and it kinda got in their heads. I don’t know. It’s something you have to learn from, keep moving forward and learn to keep your foot down on the pedal at all times.” Under the circumstances, it was difficult to make a comprehensive evaluation of his game. “Poor guy has been gone for a few days,” Stothers said. “We went down after the first period to five D. That’s a lot of ice time. I thought he (Brickley) did well. That was my first real look at him. There’s an awful lot there to like about him. “I think we saw some of it. Again, it’s not really too fair to really evaluate him after just one game. So much for trying to ease him in, right?” Stothers had much more a sample size with another intriguing prospect on defense, Kale Clague, who played in all three games in Las Vegas. Clague was a second-round pick (No. 51) in 2016, the top defenseman in the WHL this past season.

Athletic colleague Corey Pronman ranked Clague and Brickley, third and fifth, respectively, in his Kings’ prospect rankings in August. “I liked what I saw, sometimes,” Stothers said of Clague. “Sometimes you see there’s a lot of work to do. There’s not one of these guys, as far as I’m concerned, that’s anointed as the ‘next one.’ “It’s a pretty good hockey club up top (with the Kings). But the future looks bright with some of the guys that we have. So that’s encouraging.” What Stothers likes about Clague is his mobility, how he sees the ice and his ability to make plays. “But in his end, he’s got to be firmer, he’s got to be stronger and a little bit more responsible, a little bit more assertive,” Stothers said. “Again, he’s a young man. He played a certain way all his life and he’s been able to do so because he’s really talented. “Now he’s playing a pro game, a man’s game and it’s a hard heavy game. There’s a lot of bumping and grinding out there. You don’t get much time.”

September 12, 2018 By: Corey Pronman Pronman: Top 100 NHL prospects entering the 2018-19 season

Welcome to my look at the top prospects within NHL organizations. Like with my breakdown into the farm systems of each NHL team, these rankings are based on thousands of hours of research, spanning many trips to rinks across the hockey world, watching a lot of video, analyzing player’s production, and discussions with scouts, coaches and executives. While I seek input from many sources, these are solely my opinions and will deviate from NHL sources, even significantly in some instances. These rankings also have minor tweaks from the analysis I published in August going through each team’s farm systems, given that seasons have already started for some players, I’ve attended some prospect camps and I’ve incorporated those viewings into these rankings. My preference is for highly skilled players with upside. I look for prospects with speed, skill and intelligence. Skating is a little more important to me in forwards than defenders, and physicality is more important to me in defenders than forwards. I prefer forwards to defensemen, and centers to wingers. My ranking philosophy is the No. 1 goal of drafting and development is to find stars, and even a minor chance of becoming a star has significant value. To help illustrate players’ strengths and weaknesses, each player profiles has the grading scale I use for players’ attributes. I am a fan of the 20-80 scale, borrowed from baseball. The 20-80 range represents three standard deviations from the mean, a grade of 50. A grade of 50 means the skill projects as NHL average in that category, 55 is above average, 60 is top 33 percent, 70 is top 10 percent, 80 is one of the best of all-time. A 45 is below average, 40 is fringe NHL level. A 20 is beer league level. Given how a normal distribution usually looks, most grades are within the 40-60 range. I almost never assign an 80 unless it’s Connor McDavid’s skating; in fact, I’ve assigned no 80s to any prospect on this list. I only make note of a shot grade when a player stands out in that regard. I split players up into tiers that will be seen throughout this feature. Here is how you should interpret them:

• Special prospect: Projects to be one of the very best at their position in the league.

• Elite prospect: Projects to be top 10-15 percent of the league at their position.

• High-end prospect: Projects as a legit top-line forward who can play on your PP1/top pairing defenseman.

• Very good prospect: Projects as a top-six forward/top-four defenseman/starting goaltender.

• Legit NHL prospect: Projects to play, probably not in a top role, but is close enough that he could realistically get there.

• Have a chance: Probably not an impact guy but could play in the league and has the toolkit to have an outside chance to be a real player. Have a chance refers to probability to be a good player, not his probability to play NHL games. I value goalie prospects very conservatively due to the massive uncertainty in projecting the position and the massive variance in production when they reach the NHL. In the past 10 years or so, I’ve only rated one goalie who I thought would be a top-tier player (Andrei Vasilevskiy) and only a handful who I’d project to be a starting goalie in the NHL. A player is no longer considered an NHL prospect if he has played more than 25 NHL games in any single season, 50 career NHL games or is older than age 27 as of Sept. 15, 2018. All other players are considered eligible.

HIGH-END NHL PROSPECT

11. Gabriel Vilardi, C, Los Angeles Skating: 45 Puck Skills: 60 Physical Game: 60 Hockey sense: 65 Vilardi is one of the better players outside the NHL. He has the unique combination of being a high-end playmaker and tough to handle physically. He’s big, strong and can make fantastic passes and dekes seem routine. When he returned from injury this season and was traded from Windsor to Kingston he dominated the OHL. He’s a below-average skater, which is a reasonable concern about his game, and the biggest reason why he may not end up a star, but I still believe a lot in his skill set. He’s such an advanced player physically that he could possibly make the Kings next season and be a good top-six forward for them soon. Staying healthy will be important for him and it’s something he has struggled to do. 18. Rasmus Kupari, C, Los Angeles Skating: 60 Puck Skills: 60 Physical Game: 50 Hockey sense: 55 There are a lot of tools to like in Kupari’s game. He’s a very strong skater who explodes out of his first few strides and puts pressure on defenders using his speed. His stride is incredibly smooth, with so much power coming from every push off. Kupari also has high-end puck skills and can make skilled plays in tight and off the rush. I’ve seen flashes of good playmaking from him, but I don’t think he’s a high-end passer but he’s fine in that area. He also has an above-average shot. He needs time to round out his game, and to learn when to play quick and when to slow plays down.

Note on tier change: Going into the draft, Kupari was rated as very good, but after watching him in the summer and early parts of his season, I bumped him up and moved his hockey sense from a 50 to a 55. LEGIT NHL PROSPECT 65. Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles Skating: 60 Puck Skills: 55 Physical Game: 40 Hockey sense: 60 Clague was the top defenseman in the WHL this season. He’s an excellent skater with the mobility to evade pressure and lead a rush. He’s skilled with the puck, but his offense comes more from his feet and his great vision as a puck-mover. He can make unique plays as a distributor and projects to be able to QB a power play at the NHL level. Clague can be decent defensively, but he’s not the biggest guy and can be prone to being exposed a little too much on the defensive side of the puck. He’s smart and mobile enough though to make enough stops to be reliable as a pro. Projecting him into the NHL, Kale will be part of any team’s healthy blueline. 95. Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Los Angeles Skating: 60 Puck Skills: 55 Physical Game: 40 Hockey sense: 55 I went from being lukewarm on Anderson-Dolan last season to becoming a huge fan of his this season. Clague gets more of the press from the Kings system but for my money Anderson-Dolan is as good a prospect. He was one of the best players in the WHL this season. He has great speed, plays hard, but I was really impressed this season by the level of skill and playmaking he showed on top of his quality shot. He’s not like his teammate, Kailer Yamamoto, but he’s not miles off in terms of the quality of plays he makes. You add in the fact he’s a competent two-way center and the only issue with him is size. He was one of the youngest players in his draft and with added development we’re seeing a player who could make the Kings’ lineup shortly. Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical Order)

Daniel Brickley, D, Los Angeles

Goalies

HAVE A CHANCE

13. Cal Petersen, Los Angeles Petersen’s performance was up and down this season as a rookie, but had dominant stretches. He’s a smart goalie, with economical movements and decent ability to get across the net. He’s not the biggest guy or the most explosive but he can make the difficult save and there were some moments during the season where he showed the ability to steal a game.

September 11, 2018 By: Lisa Dillman

Professional grandpa’ Dusty Imoo guides the next generation of Kings goaltenders

LAS VEGAS – There is something inherently soothing about Kings goaltending development coach Dusty Imoo. Who better to trust with the care of young goaltenders than the father of four children – one of them, Jonah, a minor league goaltender – and four grandchildren? In fact, Imoo describes himself as a “professional grandpa,” on his Facebook page, and you could say he’s the coolest grandpa in the neighborhood. (But that’s a story for another day.) Here, the skill set of a caring grandfather came in handy after the Kings lost their first game in the Vegas Rookie Faceoff, 8-3, against the Ducks on Saturday. A promising start turned into a rough finish for Kings goaltender Matthew Villalta, who was a third-round pick (No. 72) in the 2017 NHL draft and turned 19 in June. When it comes down to it, the scores of these rookie games are often quickly forgotten. Except by prospects eager to make an impact. Not only is there a large throng of Kings’ team officials – their development staff, scouts and coach John Stevens and general manager Rob Blake – but there are scouts on hand at the tournament from all but about four NHL teams. First impressions count but only to a point. It was Imoo’s job to tell Villalta not to read too much into the result. “I tell the kids that,” Imoo said Sunday. “I told Matty Villalta that yesterday and today when I was skating with them. He was upset. He’s just a kid, still. “I said, ‘You know what, man, this is such a small part of your development.’ I’m happy he takes everything in and cares. “You could tell it affected him as the game went on. That’s a teaching thing in itself. Disregard technique and stuff. You have to learn how to deal with getting down and letting in goals. Some of them weren’t his fault.” These games aren’t exactly tight-checking affairs. Vegas beat Colorado, 7-6, and while it’s not old-time Smythe Division hockey here, it can be a nightmare for the young goaltenders. Imoo could see the Villalta pressing when the score got out of reach in the third period. That’s what leads to a bad goal slipping in, and it was Imoo’s job to start rebuilding the goaltender’s confidence the next day. “I said, ‘You’ve got to learn how to deal with that kind of stuff,’” Imoo said. “That sucks but it’s great for him to learn how to deal with this. I said, ‘You’re going to look three months down the road and forget about this totally.’” The track record of Bill Ranford, the Kings’ longtime goaltending coach, and Imoo, is not lost on the prospects. In the last two years, the Kings organization has made significant strides in restocking the goaltending pipeline, adding Jack Campbell and Cal Petersen along with others. Ranford told me in 2016 that they had gone from great depth to no depth at the position, adding that they needed to get the cupboard restocked. The hard work has started to pay off. Goaltender Cole Kehler said that reputation of Ranford and Imoo helped him decide to sign a three-year, entry- level contract with the organization late last year.

“I think Dusty is such a calming presence,” said the 20-year-old Kehler, who went 30-16-4 with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League last season. “You look at a lot of goalies who have gone through the L.A. organization over the years, Bill and Dusty have had so much success, first-class goaltending development. “It’s fun to have had the opportunity to learn from them and it’s definitely a privilege. I definitely weighed my options. It was a hands-down choice. You just try and grab as much knowledge as you can from them.” The beauty of the Vegas rookie tournament is the ability to get behind the scenes more easily than, say, during the regular season. The locker rooms for the Ducks and Kings are right next to each other at City National Arena, and Imoo went over a few technical points with Kehler in the hallway shortly after Sunday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes. For Imoo, the task was far different than it had been the previous night with Kehler. The Kings lost 4-2 to the Coyotes and Kehler made 32 saves in his Kings’ debut. He grew up a Pittsburgh Penguins and Marc-Andre Fleury fan, in Altona in southern Manitoba, about an hour and a half from Grand Forks, North Dakota. His one previous NHL nibble was at the Winnipeg Jets development camp last year. “He battled really hard,” Imoo said. “You could tell he was right into the game. Traffic was a challenge for him. But for a first game on a bigger stage, I thought he did well. “Our scouting staff found him. He had a couple of good junior seasons, kind of a dark horse. He’s got a long way to go. He knows it, and he’s learning as he goes.” Said Kehler: “Coming to the pro level, you want to be faster. You need to be faster, hitting your marks and making sure your angles are on. At this level, there’s a lot of little details that come into play, that have to be on point every single night, every single shift.” Development camp in late June helped him make strides, and the Kings goaltending camp later in the summer helped in other ways. For one, Kehler was able to spend time learning and watching a generational talent in Jonathan Quick. “He plays his own style and he’s literally his last name, he’s very quick,” Kehler said. “I’ve always thought you can learn something from everyone. Whether it’s listening to them, watching them and just watching Quickie. “His work ethic is up there but just the way he asserts himself to the puck. “He comes out there, ‘You’ve got to beat me.’ With a tough attitude and a certain aggressiveness to the puck. I think that’s something I can try and implement in my game. I’m a bigger calmer guy but I think I can try to get a little more assertive.”

September 11, 2018 By: Eric Stephens Western U.S. NHL teams see success in regional rookie tournament

LAS VEGAS – Cheerleaders high-stepped their way through the stoppages in play while the disc jockey spun pulse-pounding tunes, whether they be current hits or old standards. Attempts to get people up from their seats and onto their feet for the Village People’s “YMCA” fell flat and it’s a wonder that anyone tries to keep that late-1970s kitschy disco hit alive. During a hockey game, too. But the thought was reflective of the attitude the Vegas Golden Knights would take toward its role of a first- time host for one of the rookie tournaments across the NHL over the weekend. This was not going to be just a

quiet gathering of family and friends inside City National Arena where the loudest noises were hits made and pucks shot. It is Las Vegas. Got to work in a little entertainment somewhere. Was it necessary? If one likes that sort of thing, then sure. The biggest takeaway from the Vegas Rookie Faceoff may be more about the people – from fans that can’t get enough hockey to the army of scouts taking mental and physical notes – that went from one rink to the other and back to fill the stands as games played out from the first drop of the puck Saturday night. Six teams – Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado, Los Angeles, San Jose and Vegas – put their prospects out on the ice for viewing and competition that will conclude Tuesday afternoon. And if the reviews offer any indication of how successful this tournament has been, perhaps a West Coast version of the popular annual gathering in Traverse City, Mich., has been created. “I think this tournament itself is a huge bonus for everybody,” said Kings assistant general manager Mike Futa. “Moving forward, the whole atmosphere, environment, the facility, the ability to see your opponents, it’s off the charts. “It’s refreshing.” This is what Kelly McCrimmon hoped for. The Golden Knights jumped in to offer up their sparking facility after playing in a couple rookie games against the Kings in the L.A. suburb of El Segundo to kick off their inaugural NHL year. The four others were in San Jose. That’s reflected a continual process of bringing the western U.S.-based teams together for a tournament-style showcase of young players hoping to leave an impression on their organizations. In 2016, Colorado hosted a three-team event including Anaheim and San Jose. That year, the Kings visited Arizona for a pair of games after the Coyotes came to El Segundo in 2015. The Sharks hosted Ducks in 2015. In prior years, the Kings and Ducks got together for contests. But the six have finally united, with McCrimmon saying Vegas got involved in bringing everyone else in “just through some general discussions that we had with some of the other teams.” “They had some interest,” said McCrimmon, Vegas’s right-hand man to GM George McPhee. “It was only our second year coming in. We didn’t want to come in and steal the tournament away from a team that was already planning on having it. “The teams involved were not in a position that they were going to be hosting a tournament this year. So, we said that we would do that. That’s really how it came together.” Often an outlier during Dean Lombardi’s time as GM, the Kings seem intent on being an annual participant in something that may move around or take up residence at one location in future years. It is one of the different views that Rob Blake has had since taking over. “It was kind of his approach,” said Nelson Emerson, a decade-long organizational man the Kings recently promoted to director of player personnel. “He wanted our guys playing in it. He wanted them in that environment of a tournament. He just felt that it was time for us to move to this. I think it just adds to what he wants to do here with our group. “Also, I think the teams that are going to be in this, it’s kind of that West Coast atmosphere-type thing. These teams that are out here and involved, it kind of goes along with the AHL division in the American Hockey League. It’s kind of got that Pacific Division feel. I think it kind of goes along with everything that’s building out west. It makes sense that way.” This is the largest gathering of the rookie round-robin tournaments outside of the eight that are in Traverse City. Buffalo hosted its four-team Prospects Challenge while held the three-team Rookie Showdown.

“The nice thing is we have six teams involved,” McPhee said. “I think it was fractured before that. … Last year we played Los Angeles in Los Angeles and they were to come and play us for a couple of games and that was going to be it. “This is a much better atmosphere. You see a lot of good players and they are all in one place. Scouts around the league can come here and our fans can watch. This could be a very good tournament for a long time if we do it right. I hope it continues.” Ken Holland has done it right in Traverse City for two decades. Holland, Detroit’s venerable GM, started the tournament at the small, picturesque bayside town off Lake Michigan with four teams. It has been at eight since 2006. In the beginning, Holland said there was a desire to form assessments on his young prospects against those of a similar age instead of solely looking at how they fared in training camp against more accomplished veterans – some of which were part of back-to-back Stanley Cup champions that would go on to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. “I thought to myself, ‘Boy, is it ever hard to evaluate our kids against (Steve) Yzerman and (Sergei) Fedorov. And (Nicklas) Lidstrom and all those guys. So we – (former Detroit assistant and current Dallas GM) Jim Nill and I – kind of come up with the idea to have a rookie tournament or prospects tournament. I can’t remember who the other teams were but I think it was Chicago, Nashville and Columbus. Maybe. “They all jumped in. We’ve been going ever since.” As a draft pick of Washington, Dallas Eakins recalled playing Philadelphia in a couple of games that seemed to be more about the fights between players trying to make a name for themselves with their fists than their hockey skills. “There were three bench-clearing brawls (in one),” said the coach of the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego. “It was craziness.” Now it’s purely about competition and the tournaments have become an unofficial launching pad for the season. “It gets our brains going,” he said. “It gets the fans going. “For me, I go back to the kids … It’s always setting them up for success. They come in here. They’ve got a little bit of a jump on the NHL camp. So they’ve got their feet underneath them. They’ve come out of juniors and college. This is a little bit faster. They’re going to get to NHL camps (and it’s) a bit faster. They’re going to get to an exhibition game that’s a little bit faster. “So you’re just bringing them along gradually, rather than just dropping them into the mess.” Anaheim center prospect Sam Steel, who has been in two rookie camps, sees another aspect that’s left an impression on him. “It goes back to your real young days in bantam and pee wee,” Steel said. “You’re traveling with your team. Staying in a hotel together. Yeah, just playing in a tournament. We don’t get to really do that anymore so it’s a cool experience. It’s a great setup here.” Todd Marchant, the Ducks’ director of player development, has been watching how the Golden Knights have run the tournament in addition to tracking his prospects. It is important to do that. Anaheim will serve as host next year at its new four-rink practice facility in nearby Irvine. There hasn’t been anything for him to complain about. “I think Vegas has done a phenomenal job,” Marchant said. “Everything has been first class. Lots of communication between all of the organizations. And it started months ago to put this all together.

“We’re really excited about hosting next year. I’ve asked everybody in all departments – and that’s all the way down to trainers, coaching staffs, PR, management – to just keep their ears and eyes open. Because we want to be able to match or do better than what they’ve done. But they’ve done a fantastic job and it’s been a great experience, not only for our organization but for our kids.” Scheduled to open in December, the Ducks’ Great Park facility will be broken in by next fall. The centerpiece is FivePoint Arena, which will hold 2,500 seats. Two other NHL-sized rinks will have a smaller capacity. In the past, Arizona has held rookie games at its regular home of Gila River Arena while Colorado had it at a suburban three-sheet facility. It isn’t clear if either can handle a six-team tournament. But there’s the potential that some can see. “Anaheim’s going to have a beautiful facility that will put on a great event,” Emerson said. “I’m sure they’re excited about that. And then if you think about San Jose, they have a four-sheet facility up there that is tremendous for hosting events. “This will get moved around to different places, to different teams. And I think now the capability of some of these other teams being able to do it, I think it shows excitement and the growth of hockey out here.” Holland is watching how the Rookie Faceoff fares from afar. Traverse City is different in that it has remained in the same place since 1998. Several factors have led to its staying power, from the “fabulous location” the GM touts to the competitive hockey he wanted to foster so teams and scouts could make as ideal an assessment and evaluation of the participating players as they possibly could. Just as important, if not more, is an infrastructure that was created to make sure each day ran smoothly. A host committee is helpful, Holland said, if not essential. It was established right away. “At that time, I know they had between 200 and 300 volunteers to help the tournament run,” Holland said. “Obviously they were excited to have the Detroit Red Wings hosting a prospect tournament. There’s lots of volunteers. There’s lots of manpower here to try to roll out the welcome mat for every organization so that their experience is really positive. “You’ve got the facility with two rinks. You’ve got competitive on-ice hockey. And it’s a really good setting, a really good environment in order to evaluate your players. When you eventually send them back to junior or wherever, you know you’ve done a good read (on them).” While next year is committed to south Orange County, McCrimmon wouldn’t mind this tournament taking the lead of Traverse City and making Las Vegas a regular destination. He calls Traverse City the gold standard among rookie camps. Holland said it is meaningful for the hosts to give visiting teams the red carpet treatment, even if it’s just advising them on local restaurants or hotel accommodations. “It has been a real significant initiative for the organization,” McCrimmon said. “It’s different for us in that the tournament is in our city. We’re using so many of the same people that we employ year-round that are involved with our games during the regular season. That are part of our business operations. Part of our game night operations. So, for us, it’s put more responsibilities on that group. “That has been a lot of work and it’s a big undertaking. But like the organization has done with almost everything that they’ve encountered, I think they’ve done a really good job of organizing and preparing and getting ready to host.” Marchant has witnessed that firsthand. He’s been impressed with the cooperative effort by the teams and the coordination and direction that Vegas has provided. For instance, the Knights had a liaison for each team that would handle any questions or concerns that arose.

“We’re going to have to have the same thing,” Marchant said. “And I would assume that a lot of the Junior Ducks people that are involved back home are going to be involved and be a part of this. We look at ourselves as being a first-class organization. And when you put on events like that, you want it to be first class as well. “We’re really excited about next year. Hopefully it’ll come out like it did this year.” These games aren’t just for the scouts or the coaches. Players can use them as a springboard in their development with strong showings. For example, Chicago’s Alex DeBrincat tore up the Traverse City tournament last year and would finish his rookie season with three hat tricks and 28 goals to lead the Blackhawks. In the case of Vegas, McCrimmon said defenseman Shea Theodore and winger Alex Tuch used their strong rookie camps as a base to build from. Both became regulars for the Golden Knights, with Theodore realizing his top-four potential on the blueline and Tuch becoming an impact forward in the postseason by season’s end. The Ducks saw Marcus Pettersson distinguish himself from other defense prospects in their 2017 rookie camp. Pettersson would be a surprise addition to their back end in the second half of the season and keep his spot. Alex Iafallo opened some eyes for the Kings in their games against Vegas. Ultimately, Iafallo found himself playing on a line with star captain Anze Kopitar. In this one, there will be others seeking to stand out and make the jump. “At least for myself, I’m trying to make the team and trying to send a statement that I’m not just ready among the other rookies,” Ducks winger Troy Terry said. “I’m ready to be on the big club. Trying to just show that. It’s important to do well and really focus on how I’m doing in this. And also, it’s a time to kind of get the legs under you in feeling good and try to get some confidence and get your game back before main camp really starts. “It’s kind of an advantage for us really to be able to play some games and get more acclimated. Next week when it comes to main camp – I mean we’ve been on the ice a little bit longer and playing real games. So I think it’s good.” Another benefit over the past few days has been Las Vegas serving as paradise for a scout. It isn’t just the staffs of the six teams that are taking full advantage of the setting. Scouts in attendance represented Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Nashville, Florida, Detroit, Ottawa and Chicago. And on and on. “If you’re a pro scout on the West Coast, why wouldn’t you be here?” Marchant said, laughing heartily. “You get to see six teams. You get to see all their prospects. Get a feel for what their future looks like. Every team has their scouts out at different places. Traverse City is the same way for each team.”

In evaluating his own players, Emerson raised the many questions that the Kings’ brass will cover. They figure to be the same asked among the other teams. “Will they show that leadership mentality?” Emerson said. “Will you see that they’ve had experience playing professionally? That’s what we want to see. We want to see a player that is comfortable in the environment. Want to see a player that maybe might take charge not only on the ice but off the ice. So we’ll look for that from some of our guys that we consider to have a little bit more experience. “Then we’ll look at obviously our youngest players. Our players that we just drafted this year. How do they feel? How do they look? Do they feel comfortable? Do they look tentative? Are they competing? Are they aggressive? What do we see in that young player? Is it what we thought of when we drafted him? “And then obviously a player that you expect big things from, right? Will that player, against his peers in this event, be a little bit above the others? Will they show something that you thought they were at an elite level at? There’s three different types of player right there.”

Over the years, Holland has seen the interest in rookie camps rise to level he has never witnessed before. Fans, in his mind, have become more in tune with the players their favorite teams draft or sign to bring into the organization. “Social media has obviously has allowed people to kind of get involved,” Holland said. “They can’t get enough. The beauty is our fans that love hockey are really passionate and they can’t (get enough). I guess it’s the same in the NFL or baseball or whatever. But certainly our fans can’t get enough information about our athletes. “It’s a little different in hockey. In hockey and baseball and the NFL, they’re playing in U.S. colleges. The fanbase knows a lot of our kids are playing in Europe and they’re playing in Canadian juniors. So they’re anxious to learn more and more about them as quickly as they possibly can. That’s good for you and that’s good for me.” Emerson concurred. As much as fans monitor who’s on the current squads, there are the many that want to know who’s next. Events like Las Vegas have become a window into that phenomenon. “If I was a fan, I’d want to see these young players too,” he said. Lisa Dillman contributed to this story.

September 11, 2018 By: Corey Pronman Pronman: Standout performances at NHL rookie camps

The season is underway, and mine began with attending the NHL prospect tournaments in Traverse City and Buffalo. I also chatted with some scouts who were at other tournaments to bring you details on the performaces of the top prospects around the league.

And now some notes from talking to scouts at other tournaments, including Vegas and Penticton. The Buffalo tournament quotes are included for players I wasn’t able to see:

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C, Los Angeles: Anderson-Dolan was the best forward for the Kings. He plays a 200- foot game and had several scoring chances, including three points against Anaheim. He played versus the Hayton line against Arizona. His hockey IQ will allow him to play in all situations at the next level, but he doesn’t have high-end skill. Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles: He’s simple and smart. He played often and in all situations for L.A. Defensively he was solid and made great exits. He had some power play time and looked good but not threatening.

September 10, 2018 By: Josh Cooper Why Ilya Kovalchuk can score 25-30 goals for the Kings this season

Kings forward Ilya Kovalchuk picked up a loose puck at the attacking blueline, churned his 35-year-old legs into the offensive zone and tried to beat goaltending prospect Cal Petersen at Toyota Sports Center on Monday. The netminder made the stop on the 417-goal scorer, who was probably suffering from jet lag after arriving in Los Angeles on Sunday from his native Russia. It wasn’t exactly a full-speed moment either – it happened at the end of informal drills that were taking place in advance of training camp, which will start Thursday – but in that glimpse, Kovalchuk’s offensive mindset and raw ability came through to a degree.

Los Angeles president Luc Robitaille has made a couple of bold proclamations about Kovalchuk since the team signed him to a three-year, $18.75 million contract last summer after the player decided to end his five-year stint in the KHL: That the Kings want him to be like Alex Ovechkin on the power play. That Robitaille expects Kovalchuk to score 25-30 goals. Can he reach that total? “Should be close,” a European based NHL team scout told The Athletic. “Should be motivated during his season back. Good athlete, don’t think is getting too old yet.” Added the scout, “he will be good.” Kovalchuk was somewhat more coy when he was asked Monday during his first local in-person media session about how many goals he thinks he can score. “I wish I can predict the future but I’m not the magic man,” Kovalchuk said. “I was training hard all summer to get myself in the best shape as I can and to play with those guys (so) it’ll be much easier. I’ve never played with a guy like (Anze) Kopitar so it’s very exciting.” Kovalchuk’s point on Kopitar is a valid one. Outside of Marc Savard’s three-year stint with the Atlanta Thrashers, Kovalchuk has never played on the NHL same team as a high-end offensive center. And especially one who could feed him for one-timers – his top offensive weapon. That being said, he ended up just fine even without one. For example, he scored 37 goals in 77 games in 2011- 12, his last full NHL season, and helped the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup final. Last season in the KHL he scored 31 goals in 53 games with SKA St. Petersburg. This should all indicate the Kings are on point with their prediction – which factors in the general drop-off from age and includes Kopitar’s high-end passing skills – but there’s still all sorts of mystery surrounding Kovalchuk because he hasn’t played in North America since he bolted for the KHL after the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Kovalchuk seems to think the strength of the Kings’ roster will help him make a quick transition and answer such queries quickly in a positive fashion. “If you play with guys like Kopitar, (Drew) Doughty, (Jeff Carter) and (Dustin) Brown, they will make it easier for you,” he said. “So I just need to do my thing and I think I’ll be OK.” Kovalchuk noted that the bigger size of international rinks forced him to be in better physical condition in the KHL rather than the NHL – even though teams in the KHL play fewer games. That extra space also meant the way he generated offense had to change, but he was able to do so easily thanks to his goal scorer’s touch. “It’s different games, here and there. Here it’s more contact. You have more chances, more opportunities, a little mistake can cost you a goal. Or if you do something nice, it can be an advantage for you,” he said. “In Russia it’s a little different. If you beat the guy you still need to take a few steps to get to the net. It’s all hockey. It’s all a game. You have to understand the game and play in the right way with the heart then you will be good.” One skill area of Kovalchuk’s game that should translate is his ability to blast one-timers. This led to Robitaille’s Ovechkin comparison, since the Capitals sniper often scores goals in this fashion. At the Kings’ recent State of the Franchise event, general manager Rob Blake spent some time going over Kovalchuk’s one-timer and its importance to the team. In his prime, Blake – a Hall of Fame defenseman – had one of the best one-timers in the NHL, so he understands, in detail, why it’s a prime scoring opportunity.

“What it does, it doesn’t allow the goalie to get set,” Blake said to a crowd of season ticket holders. “It doesn’t allow defensemen or defending players to get in the lane. You get there a little bit quicker.” Blake also pointed out that, out of Los Angeles’ 239 goals overall last season, 31 were of the one-timer variety. By Los Angeles’ metrics that placed the Kings “in the bottom of the league,” per Blake. He said they were marginally better on the power play on one-timer goals, but Kovalchuk’s shooting ability can take this to another level. “A lot of players can one-time pucks, but he finds the right area to shoot it,” Blake said. “There’s a success, there’s a skill to it and obviously he has that.” Beyond the one-timer, Blake also noted that Kovalchuk has the rare ability to just flat-out score on a goaltender, no matter if the netminder is set and prepared. “(He) is able to beat goalies even when they’re looking at him,” Blake said. Still, Kovalchuk has to be able to use speed to get into open areas – which may be difficult at his age in today’s NHL. An example of a similar player who has been able to still score is soon-to-be 39-year-old Maple Leafs winger Patrick Marleau who has averaged 24.5 goals per season since he turned 35 and has also hit 27 goals each of his past two seasons. This summer, Kovalchuk said he trained with Russian NHLers Alexander Radulov and Evgeni Malkin. He also noted that he did his usual routine of running, lifting and sprinting, but decided to start skating a little earlier to get ready for the speed of the league. “They say the NHL is getting faster,” he joked. Though the Kings and Kovalchuk can talk about how everything might look once the season starts, they both understand there is a ‘put up or shut up’ element that will arrive when expectation turns into reality. With the regular season set to start on Oct. 5, that time will arrive soon and Kovalchuk will indeed show if he can meet the team’s hopes and predictions. – Reported from El Segundo, Calif.

FROM ALLACCESS.COM

September 12, 2018 10 L.A. Kings Games To Air In Spanish On KWKW (ESPN Deportes 1330)/Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES KINGS hockey will air in Spanish for 10 games this coming season, the first Spanish-language KINGS radio broadcasts in 20 years, the team announced TODAY (9/12).

LOTUS Spanish Sports KWKW-A (ESPN DEPORTES 1330)/LOS ANGELES will air the broadcasts, beginning with the NOVEMBER 1st "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Night" game against the PHILADELPHIA FLYERS.

"As our game grows it is important we continue to reach as many fans as possible and this new partnership with ESPN DEPORTES is a tremendous opportunity to help introduce hockey to a new audience," said KINGS President LUC ROBITAILLE. "I was a player with the KINGS when we broadcast games in Spanish. It is exciting to have this opportunity again."

"We are all extremely excited here at KWKW -- from programming, to sales, to management … everyone," added KWKW GSM THOR NELSON. "To have an opportunity to be a part of something from the ground level and build it into something special in today's competitive sports landscape is truly amazing. The partnership with the KINGS is equally amazing, and together we are going to invite and entertain the Hispanic community into the LA KINGS hockey world, through live on-air broadcasts as well as community outreach and activations. It's perfect. Go KINGS Go!"

FROM SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY

September 11, 2018