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LA Kings Defenseman Prospect David Kolomatis Is Moving Up The Depth Chart…Quietly

Defenseman prospect David Kolomatis
appears to be moving up the Los Angeles Kings’
depth chart, ahead of some more
highly touted prospects.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — Many who follow the National Hockey League know all the current players on their favorite team’s roster, as well as the top draft picks throughout that team’s system.

But once you get past their first and second round draft selections, the rest of their young prospects generally fly way, way under the radar.

Along those lines, for those who follow the Los Angeles Kings, the name, “David Kolomatis” is likely to be a head scratcher.

Nevertheless, the Kings’ fifth round pick (126th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft has quietly moved up the organizational depth chart. In fact, it appears that he has even moved past highly touted, 2007 first round pick (fourth overall) Thomas Hickey.

“I’m just a hard-working guy,” the 23-year-old defenseman said during an exclusive interview with Frozen Royalty. “I try to go to the rink with the same attitude every day. I’m not one of the higher draft picks, and flying under the radar is a bit of a good thing. I just take each day and try to approach it the same way, battle to get into the lineup, and try to prove myself.”

“I like to think of myself as a good, first pass defenseman, somebody who can move the Read more of this post

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Is LA Kings Blue Line Prospect Thomas Hickey Sliding Down The Depth Chart?

Defenseman prospect Thomas Hickey may
be losing ground in his quest to crack the
Los Angeles Kings roster someday.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — With the National Hockey League still on the shelf due to their labor dispute with the National Hockey League Players Association, a lot of younger NHL players have migrated back to the minor leagues, most notably, the American Hockey League.

On the surface, the result is often a surge of talent for those teams. But in reality, it is a double-edged sword because players who would normally be with their respective NHL teams are eating up precious minutes that would go to young prospects who need more ice time for their development, not less.

The AHL’s Manchester Monarchs are one of those teams dealing with that double-edged sword, with a handful of young players on their roster who would normally be playing with their parent club, the Los Angeles Kings, if not for the NHL lockout.

“We’re trying to get everybody in, and there’s a few younger players, too,” Monarchs head coach Mark Morris told Frozen Royalty during an exclusive interview. “[Defensemen] Nicolas Deslauriers and Jake Muzzin are guys who just find their way into games, so it’s been a balancing act to Read more of this post

LA Kings Blue Line Prospect Nicolas Deslauriers Wants To Dominate The AHL in 2012-13

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: Frozen Royalty continues its summer coverage of the Los Angeles Kings and their young prospects with a look at defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers, who completed his rookie season in the American Hockey League in 2011-12, with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate.


LA Kings defenseman prospect Nicolas Deslauriers
Photo: Scott Slingsby/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — After three seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and one season with the Gatineau Olympiques, both in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Nicolas Deslauriers was an offensively-gifted defensemen—the QMJHL is not known for being a great defensive league, to be sure. Nevertheless, his play in the defensive zone left something to be desired.

But the 21-year-old native of LaSalle, Quebec is a good skater, and has a heavy shot from the point. Add to that the fact that he is a 6-1, 214-pound blue liner, and it is easy to see why the Los Angeles Kings gambled on him in the third round (84th overall selection) of the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

“Nicolas Deslauriers is really coming on,” Manchester Monarchs head coach Mark Morris told Frozen Royalty back in January 2012. “He’s made huge Read more of this post

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