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LA Kings Think Cal Petersen Will Be Their Next Hot Goaltender Prospect

March 24, 2018 by Leave a comment

Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Cal Petersen, shown here during the Kings 2017 Rookie Camp
at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on September 8, 2017.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net

ONTARIO, CA — It wasn’t so long ago that the Los Angeles Kings had a bevy of riches in goal. Indeed, with Jonathan Quick becoming a superstar, he had Jonathan Bernier, once thought to be the Kings goaltender of the future, right behind him.

Bernier, who wanted to be a number one goaltender—and rightly so—was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs after the Kings won the Stanley Cup Championship in 2012. Backup goaltender Martin Jones was in the same situation after the Kings won the 2014 Stanley Cup Championship, and was traded to the Boston Bruins, who immediately dealt him to the San Jose Sharks.

The Kings have also had the likes of Jean-Francois Berube and Peter Budaj In their netminder stable. Berube was the victim of the good’ol numbers game with the Kings, and was lost to the New York Islanders, who claimed him off of waivers, while Budaj was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.

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Filed under Exclusives, News, Prospects Tagged with , , , ,

LA Kings LW Prospect Austin Wagner Has Speed Comparable To Connor McDavid

March 21, 2018 by Leave a comment

Los Angeles Kings left wing prospect Austin Wagner (foreground), shown here playing
for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League.
Photo courtesy Ontario Reign
(click above to view larger image)

ONTARIO, CA — If you’ve watched Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, you know that he has a combination of size, skill and speed the likes of which haven’t been seen in a long, long time, perhaps never before.

To be sure, McDavid is absolutely breathtaking to watch and although he doesn’t have the size and skill to match McDavid, the Los Angeles Kings have a left wing prospect in their system, 20-year-old Austin Wagner, who has speed comparable to McDavid’s.

Wagner was selected by the Kings in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2015 National Hockey League Draft. The 6-2, 185-pound native of Calgary, Alberta played four seasons with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, with his best year coming in 2016-17, when he scored 30 goals and added 36 assists for 66 points in 64 regular season games, with a +52 plus/minus rating and 94 penalty minutes. In the playoffs that season, Wagner played in 22 games, scoring 16 goals, and contributing five assists for 21 points.

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LA Kings D Prospect Jordan Subban: “Maybe We’ve Got To Slow Down His Flight Patterns”

February 16, 2018 by 1 Comment

Los Angeles Kings defenseman prospect Jordan Subban (left), shown here during a
recent game against the Texas Stars.
Photo: Jessica Harsen/Courtesy Ontario Reign
(click above to view larger image)

ONTARIO, CA — when the Los Angeles Kings sent center Nic Dowd to the Vancouver Canucks, in exchange for defenseman Jordan Subban on December 7, 2017, the question among pundits and fans alike was, “Is he anywhere near as good as P.K.?”

Indeed, the 22-year-old is the younger brother of superstar defenseman P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators, and of goaltender Malcolm Subban of the Vegas Golden Knights.

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Jonny Brodzinski Hopes “Kick In The Butt” Launches His NHL Career With LA Kings

November 22, 2017 by Leave a comment

Los Angeles Kings forward prospect Jonny Brodzinski
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net
(click above to view larger image)

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Now that scoring his first National Hockey League goal is behind him, forward prospect Jonny Brodzinski is hopeful that he will soon be able to shed that “prospect” label in short order and remain with the Los Angeles Kings.

Indeed, on November 18, during a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Brodzinski scored at 2:23 of the second period, giving the Kings a 2-0 lead on a gorgeous backhand from the slot that beat Panthers goaltender James Reimer top shelf, glove side.

“That’s not how I expected my first one to go in, but I’ll take it,” said the 24-year-old, 6-1, 217-pound native of Ham Lake, Minnesota. “I’ve been imagining it for quite some time. I just thought it was always going to be a forehand shot, but I brought it to the backhand.”

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Lest We Forget: Justin Auger Was Solid In His NHL/LA Kings Debut

October 21, 2017 by 1 Comment

Los Angeles Kings right wing Justin Auger
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net
(click above to view larger image)

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Last Wednesday, when the Los Angeles Kings handed the Montreal Canadiens a 5-1 loss, the stars of the show were forwards Adrian Kempe, who recorded the first hat trick of his National Hockey League career, and Michael Cammalleri, who scored two goals and added two assists for four points after being a healthy scratch in the team’s previous two outings.

To be sure, Kempe and Cammalleri were surrounded by a throne of reporters after the game, and they were pretty much all reporters asked head coach John Stevens about during his post-game press conference.

Completely lost in the excitement was the fact that yet another young player, right wing Justin Auger, who was selected by the Kings in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, became the fourth this season to make his NHL debut with the Kings.

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