Passed Up Twice On Draft Day, LA Kings Prospect Tanner Pearson Reaches NHL Ice Faster Than Expected

May 20, 2013 by 7 Comments

VIDEO: Includes exclusive video of the May 19 media interview with Tanner Pearson.

LA Kings left wing prospect Tanner Pearson.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — After watching young left wing prospect Tanner Pearson make his National Hockey League debut on May 18 against the San Jose Sharks in a second round playoff game is quite the surprise. After all, it was not all that long ago that his future in hockey was rather murky, and that’s putting it mildly.

Indeed, even though he became eligible for the NHL Draft in 2010, he went undrafted for two years before the Los Angeles Kings selected him in the first round (30th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.

In fact, Pearson’s career in Canadian junior hockey did not have an auspicious start, as the vast majority of legitimate NHL prospects coming out of Canada go right to major junior hockey at 16 years of age. Although Pearson was selected by the Barrie Colts in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Priority Draft, the fourth round (266th overall) selection saw the writing on the wall.

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Could LA Kings 2012 First Round Pick Tanner Pearson Be Better Than Advertised?

November 13, 2012 by 16 Comments

Left wing Tanner Pearson was the Los Angeles Kings’ first round
selection (30th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — For much of their very recent history, the Los Angeles Kings have had high, first round selections in the National Hockey League Entry Draft, picks they used to select players such as star defenseman Drew Doughty, who was the second overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Other top-15 draft picks who are making an impact with the Kings are winger Dustin Brown, center Anze Kopitar, and backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier.

But what happens when a team wins the Stanley Cup, as the Kings did last June? They get the “privilege” of selecting last (30th overall) in the first round, a pick that many downplay, referring to it as the equivalent of a high, second round pick. Read more of this post

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

November 8, 2012 by 10 Comments

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?

November 7, 2012 by 16 Comments

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

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Frozen Royalty Audio: Anaheim Ducks JV Team Has Easy Time With LA Kings Varsity In Pre-Season Action

September 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings “varsity” faced the Anaheim Ducks “junior varsity” team in pre-season action at Staples Center on Sunday night, but the results were not what you would expect, as the Ducks were dominant from start to finish, handing the Kings a 3-1 defeat.

Indeed, the Ducks dressed veterans Andrew Cogliano, Jason Blake, and Lubomir Visnovsky, but they surrounded them with young prospects.

Nowhere to be found were the likes of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, or Teemu Selanne. Read more of this post

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