Official information has yet to be released on the Kings annual Development Camp. However, MayorsManor has confirmed prospects are scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles this coming weekend and it appears camp will run July 8-12 (give or take a day).
With that in mind, we wanted to get started on a preliminary roster. Again, this isn’t official, but more of an educated guess at this point.
Typically, LA uses this camp for players with less than two years of pro experience. It’s also one of the rare times the team gets to work with their college prospects, as those players are in school during the fall and cannot attend Rookie Camp (which is right before main Training Camp opens with the pros in mid-September). And, this camp serves as introductory for new prospects who were just selected at the 2013 NHL Draft.
While coach Darryl Sutter would likely say it’s never about just one player, you can expect Tanner Pearson to draw a lot of attention this year. The team’s first round pick in 2012 entered 2013 as the Kings second best prospect and eventually made his NHL debut during the playoffs. Assuming he attends, his every move is sure to be watched closely. There’s even an outside chance he could make the Kings roster out of camp, pending other moves made this summer.
Another exciting aspect of camp this year is based upon something Assistant GM Ron Hextall confirmed to us recently – word is that left wing Maxim Kitsyn is expected to sign this week. If he comes over from Russia, it will be interesting to see how his skills have developed since being drafted in 2010.
Here’s a look at what the bulk of the roster should look like (note: many of these players have already been confirmed by MayorsManor, a few others are educated guesses based on the criteria mentioned above)…
Forwards:
#64 – Andy Andreoff – third round (80th overall) in 2011
### – Justin Auger – fourth round (103rd overall) in 2013
### – Jonny Brodzinski – fifth round (148th overall) in 2013
#72 – Nic Dowd – seventh round (198th overall) in 2009
### – Hudson Fasching – fourth round (118th overall) in 2013
#52 – Tomas Hyka – sixth round (171st overall) in 2012
### – Dominik Kubalik – seventh round (191st overall) in 2013
#49 – Joel Lowry – fifth round (140th overall) in 2011
#55 – Michael Mersch – fourth round (110th overall) in 2011
#70 – Tanner Pearson – first round (30th overall) in 2012
### – Scott Sabourin – free agent signing by Manchester (AHL) in 2013
#76 – Nicholas Shore – third round (82nd overall) in 2011
#60 – Jordan Weal – third round (70th overall) in 2010
### – Valentin Zykov – second round (37th overall) in 2013
Cam Maclise has also been invited to camp on a tryout basis. Each year there’s usually a small handful of players who get similar offers. It’s led to guys like Colin Miller getting drafted by the team and Kurtis MacDermid signing a free agent contract. We’ll update this list when other invitees are confirmed.
Another possibility at forward would include 6-foot-2 sniper Nikolay Prokhorkin (fourth round, 2012). His situation was very complicated at the beginning of last season – one that involved lawyers and arbitration, with him eventually returning to Russia (see here for more details). The Kings were very high on him last summer and loved his skill set. So, perhaps there’s a chance he comes over for camp – but, it’s probably doubtful considering he’s still under contract to CSKA Moscow and the KHL until 2015.
Defensemen:
#40 – Nick Ebert – seventh round (211th overall) in 2012
#84 – Derek Forbort – first round (15th overall) in 2010
#54 – Kevin Gravel – fifth round (148th overall) in 2010
#42 – Paul LaDue – fifth round (181st overall) in 2012
### – Zac Leslie – sixth round (178th overall) in 2013
#56 – Kurtis MacDermid – free agent signing in 2012
#61 – Colin Miller – sixth round (151st overall) in 2012
#41 – Alex Roach – free agent signing in 2011
Options for camp invites on the blueline could include Vincent LoVerde and Chris Huxley. Both players started the year in Ontario with the Kings’ ECHL affiliate before eventually spending the bulk of the season in Manchester. Neither is signed to a contract with LA, so it remains to be seen what happens with either player.
Goalies:
#35 – J.F. Berube – fourth round (95th overall) in 2009
### – Patrik Bartosak – fifth round (146th overall) in 2013
If a third goalie is desired, it will probably be German netminder Mathias Niederberger, who spent the last two seasons with the Barie Colts in the OHL.
To see our most recent rankings of the Kings’ Top Ten Prospects, click here. This camp will serve as part of the evaluation process for the next edition of the rankings, which should publish right before Rookie Camp opens in September. With at least two players graduating off that list, there will be some new names included next time around – perhaps even from the group attending Dev Camp.
As for the schedule, it will probably look something like this: 8:00am forwards, 9:30am defensemen/goalies, 3:30pm full group. Once official, we’ll post the daily schedule.
For more info on the Kings picks at the 2013 NHL Draft – or if you’re wondering where goalie Christopher Gibson is – please see the links below.
RELATED CONTENT:
Info on LA Kings 2nd Round Pick: Valentin Zykov
Info on LA Kings 4th Round Pick: Justin Auger
Info on LA Kings 4th Round Pick: Hudson Fasching
Third time’s the charm for Kings 5th rd pick, Jonny Brodzinski
Kings officially saying goodbye to two prospects this week
What to expect from the LA Kings at the 2013 NHL Draft
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Good! Good!
No yellow horn? Or is he too old?
Signed to play in Europe next season.
“i score ze goals”
I might actually attend this. Free admission if you wear a MayorsManor T shirt, amirite?
What’s with Vey and Deslauriers?