Although MayorsManor founder John Hoven contributes a monthly prospect profile for LAKings.com and this website also puts out an independent ranking of the L.A. Kings top prospects twice a year – which includes detailed scouting information from some of the organization’s top management and coaches – readers always seem to be clamoring for more. Thus, we have some good news to share. Through the end of the post-season, we will now be publishing a weekly tracker, designed to pass along quick information about all of the Kings’ non-AHL prospects, as well as highlight one or two key things that took place.
Please note this is a work in progress, so if you see something you like or don’t like, let us know and we’ll adjust moving forward. The following results for the week ending March 15, 2015 (in alphabetical order):
MIKE AMADIO: Forward, North Bay Battalion (3rd round pick in 2014, OHL)
North Bay played one home and two away games this past week. Amadio was a non-factor on the score sheet with only one assist in the three games.
JONNY BRODZINSKI: Forward, St. Cloud State University (5th round pick in 2013, WCHA)
The St. Cloud State Huskies won their two first-round playoff games against the University of Nebraska Omaha over the weekend – and they did it on the road. With the wins, they have advanced to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Brodzinski, pictured above, had one assist in the two games. Special announcement – Hoven has a full feature story on Brodzinski coming out on LAKings.com this Wednesday.
ALEC DILLON: Goalie, Tri-City Storm (5th round pick in 2014, BCHL)
Tri-City played one away and two home games last week. Dillon started two of the games and won both of them, making a combined 42 saves on 46 shots. In the third game, he came in after his teammate was pulled and saved the 11 shots that he faced. The two wins meant more than simply four points in the standings:
STORM WIN!! Tri-City has taken over first place in the @USHL‘s Western Conference with a 5-3 win over Omaha to give them 70 points!
— Tri-City Storm (@TriCityStorm) March 15, 2015
STEVEN JOHNSON: Defenseman, University of Minnesota (4th round pick in 2014, USHL)
The University of Minnesota Gophers won their two home games versus Penn State over the weekend to claim their fourth-straight Conference Championship. Johnson was scratched for both games.
ADRIAN KEMPE: Forward, MODO (1st round pick in 2014, SweHL)
Kempe’s SHL team, MODO, didn’t have a game last week. They start a playoff series this coming week against HC White Horse. Check back next week for results. In the meantime, here is Hoven’s recent LAKings.com feature on Kempe, where they looked at the likelihood of him coming to the North America next season.
PAUL LADUE: Defeseman, University of North Dakota (6th round pick in 2012, USHL)
A quickly rising prospect in the Kings organization, LaDue has his sights set on a return to the NCAA playoffs. Over the weekend, his University of North Dakota team played in the NCHC Quarterfinals, eliminating Colorado College in two straight games to advance to the Frozen Faceoff next weekend. LaDue contributed to the victories, notching an assist, a goal and a plus-2 rating. You can see his goal, which came from just inside the blue line, starting around the 4:15 mark here:
On Friday, LaDue and UND will be facing another Kings prospect in the NCHC semi’s:
Miami beat Western Michigan tonight… so, next weekend's NCHC semi's will feature some Kings on Kings crime… @pDue54 UND vs @Brodzyy SCSU
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 16, 2015
And a final note on LaDue:
Paul LaDue is UND's first defenseman to score 20-plus points in each of his first two seasons since Brian Lee did it in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 16, 2015
ZAC LESLIE: Defenseman, Guelph Storm (6th round pick in 2013, OHL)
Guelph had two away games last week, which the split. Leslie did not play in either game, as he had season-ending surgery a few weeks back.
#LAKings prospect Zac Leslie playing final OHL game for @Storm_City today… will have shoulder surgery, then join @ontarioreign next year.
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 1, 2015
ALEX LINTUNIEMI: Defenseman, Ottawa 67’s (2nd round pick in 2014, OHL)
Ottawa came out on top in both a home and away game last week. Lintuniemi chipped in with an assist and a goal. Click here to see video of his second period power play goal on Saturday, starting around the 1:20 mark.
JOEL LOWRY: Forward, Cornell University (5th round pick in 2011, BCHL)
Lowry was injured and hasn’t played since December 6th against Denver, a game in which he scored a goal. His college career is over following back surgery in January. Thus, he will be turning pro this summer. To date, the Kings have not signed him to an Entry Level NHL contract. A decision to do so is expected shortly.
JAKE MARCHMENT: Center, Erie Otters (6th round pick in 2014, OHL)
Traded to the Erie Otters before the OHL Trade Deadline, Marchment’s team won all three of their home games this past week. Yet, he was not a big contributor on the score sheet, registering only two assists in the three games.
JACOB MIDDLETON: Defenseman, Ottawa 67’s (7th round pick in 2014, OHL)
In the 67’s two wins last week, Middleton recorded an assist. However, he also now sits with a minus-2 rating for the month of March.
MATTHEW MISTELE: Forward, Oshawa Generals (6th round pick in 2014, OHL)
Oshawa had one road loss and two home wins last week. Mistele was a big contributor in the games, with two assists and three goals.
NIKOLAI PROKHORKIN: Forward, CSKA (4th round pick, 2012, KHL)
Prokhorkin’s CSKA team played two games in the KHL’s Western Semi-Finals this past week, coming out on top in both. He was a non-factor on the score sheet, registering only one SOG for both games combined.
SPENCER WATSON: Forward, Kingston Frontenacs (7th round pick in 2014, OHL)
Kingston played two away and two home games last week, winning three and losing one. In the four contests, Watson was credited with one goal and five assists.
VALENTIN ZYKOV: Forward, Gatineau Olympiques (2nd round pick in 2013, QMHL)
Another player to have recently been traded by his junior club, Zykov and the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques won both of their games last week. He recorded two goals and two assists, giving him points in 12 of his last 13 games. Even more impressive, he has 18 points total in those 13 games, and has 25 points in the 24 games since joining his new team.
RELATED CONTENT:
LA Kings 2014-15 Midseason Prospect Rankings: The Top 5
LA Kings 2014-15 Midseason Prospect Rankings: No. 6-10
LA Kings 2014-15 Midseason Prospect Rankings – Honorable Mentions
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