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Los Angeles Kings Right Wing Prospect Linden Vey’s Goal Is To Get Out Of The Cold

August 14, 2011 by 16 Comments

Center prospect Linden Vey spoke to the media
during the Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp
at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California,
July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO, CA — With the Los Angeles Kings having been so keenly focused on amateur scouting and drafting young players since Dean Lombardi took over as President/General Manager on April 21, 2006, the team now has a stable full of talented prospects.

Indeed, no matter what position you look at, the Kings have skilled, young players who are developing in Canadian junior leagues, in collegiate hockey, and at the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.

On the offensive side of the ledger, the Kings have a few forward prospects who lit up Canadian junior hockey, finishing among the top scorers in their respective leagues, if not leading all junior leagues in scoring. Read more of this post

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Despite Long Odds, LA Kings Prospects Jordan Weal And Tyler Toffoli Have Sights Set On The NHL For 2011-12

August 5, 2011 by 20 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — With the Los Angeles Kings having acquired two, top-six forwards this summer in center Mike Richards and left wing Simon Gagne, their top two lines appear to be set for the 2011-12 season.

Center prospect Jordan Weal spoke to the media
during the Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp
at the Toyota Sports Center in
El Segundo, California, July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

Add to that the fact that the Kings have role players up front who are returning, it is safe to presume that all available positions on their forward lines have been filled, which means that, barring unforeseen circumstances, it is more than likely that there no available roster spots for any of their up-and-coming forward prospects.

Despite the astronomical odds against making it onto the Kings’ opening night roster, two of their young prospects, centers Jordan Weal from the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League and Tyler Toffoli from the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League, have their sights set firmly on the National Hockey League for the 2011-12 season.

Read more of this post

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Strong Goalie Pipeline Is A First And A Sign Of Strength For The Los Angeles Kings

July 16, 2011 by 21 Comments

Goalie prospect Martin Jones speaks to the media during the
Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp at the
Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California,
July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO, CA — With Jonathan Quick having established himself as a legitimate number one goaltender in the National Hockey League, and with Jonathan Bernier performing admirably in the backup role in his rookie year this past season, the Los Angeles Kings may have a one-two punch in goal that they have never had before.

Although Rogie Vachon is still the best goaltender in the history of the franchise, and Gary Edwards, the backup netminder during all but one of Vachon’s seasons with the Kings, was no slouch, the Kings’ current netminders have the potential to surpass the tandem of Vachon and Edwards.

Indeed, the Kings certainly appear to be set in goal for the foreseeable future. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Dustin Penner Getting Serious About His Conditioning…Finally

July 12, 2011 by 9 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — If you hang out at the the Los Angeles Kings’ practice facility for a long enough time during the summer months, there is a decent chance that you will run into one of the players before or after, working out in the weight room.

Much-maligned veteran left wing Dustin Penner appears
to be turning things around by finally getting serious
about his conditioning this summer.
Photo: David Sheehan

On this day, the local media gathered at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California for the final day of the Kings’ 2011 Development Camp for their young prospects, and during the second practice session of the day, veteran, and much-maligned left wing Dustin Penner emerged from the weight room to watch the prospects on the ice while he took a break from his training regimen.

Penner, 28, was acquired in a trade deadline day deal on February 28, 2011, in a deal that sent defenseman prospect Colten Teubert to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange, along with a first round selection in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, and a conditional third round pick in the 2012 draft that would have become a second round selection if the Kings won the 2011 Stanley Cup (see LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi Makes Two Big Moves On Deadline Day). Read more of this post

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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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