Brayden Schenn: LA Kings’ Second-Line Center?

July 10, 2010 by 27 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — As the 2009-10 season wore on for the Los Angeles Kings, what became rather apparent was that they had a hole in their lineup at second-line center.

Although Jarret Stoll and Michal Handzus have tried to fill that spot the last few seasons, both are far more suited to third-line center duty. Handzus, with his size, strength and strong defensive play is also effective on the fourth line.

Once the Kings qualified for the playoffs this past season, that hole in the lineup became a crater and was a major factor in the lack of production from their top two lines.

But help just might be on the way with center prospect Brayden Schenn expected to make a strong push to make the Kings’ 2010-11 opening night roster. Read more of this post

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LA Kings Sign Forward Prospect Brandon Kozun

April 3, 2010 by Leave a comment

EL SEGUNDO, CA — On April 3, the Los Angeles Kings signed forward Brandon Kozun to a three-year entry level contract.

Kozun scored 32 goals and added 75 assists for 107 points in 65 regular season games this season with the Calgary Hitmen, leading the Western Hockey League in points and assists.

The 5-9, 180-pound native of Los Angeles has scored four goals and has contributed ten assists for fourteen points with the Hitmen in the WHL playoffs, which are ongoing.

The Hitmen have advanced to the second round and will face Medicine Hat. Read more of this post

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LA Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi On Prospects Colten Teubert and Brandon Kozun

February 10, 2010 by 16 Comments

LOS ANGELES — For any National Hockey League team, drafting and development of young prospects is crucial to their long-term success. But for the majority of their 42-year history, the Los Angeles Kings generally resorted to foolishly trading away their first round draft picks and their best young players for NHL veterans—some had been star players—who were little more than washed-up has-beens.

That started to change under former general manager Dave Taylor, but the great emphasis on drafting and development has come under current Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi, who has built the team’s drafting and player development infrastructure up to what is now regarded as one of the best scouting and development staffs in the league. Read more of this post

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Four LA Kings Prospects Make Canada’s 2010 World Juniors Team

December 16, 2009 by 2 Comments

CALGARY, AB AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — On December 16, Hockey Canada announced its roster for the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships and four Los Angeles Kings’ prospect have made the team, including forwards Brayden Schenn and Brandon Kozun, defensemen Colten Teubert and goaltender Martin Jones.

The four players are the most any National Hockey League club has on the team and only four other NHL clubs have multiple prospects on the team (New York Islanders, Nashville, St. Louis and New Jersey all have two).

The IIHF 2010 World Junior Championships will be held December 26, 2009 – January 5, 2010 in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

Schenn, 18, made his Kings and NHL debut on November 26 at Vancouver after signing a One-Day NHL Regular Season Amateur Tryout Agreement. Read more of this post

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Five LA Kings Prospects Invited To Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp

December 2, 2009 by Leave a comment

CALGARY, AB AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — On December 2, Hockey Canada and the Los Angeles Kings announced that forwards Brayden Schenn and Brandon Kozun, defensemen Colten Teubert and Nicolas Deslauriers, along with goaltender Martin Jones have been invited to attend the selection camp for Canada’s National Junior Team.

The five Kings prospects are the most any National Hockey League team will have at the camp. Only the Edmonton Oilers with three prospects attending will have more than two prospects at the camp, which will be held December 12-16, 2009 in Regina, Saskatchewan. 36 players were invited to participate.

Canada’s National Junior Team will be selected at the end of the camp. The team will then play three exhibition games before the start of the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships, which begin on January 2, 2010.

Schenn, 18, made his Kings and NHL debut on November 26 at Vancouver after signing a One-Day NHL Regular Season Amateur Tryout Agreement. Read more of this post

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