Roster Preview: LA Kings 2015 Development Camp

While most of the hockey world has now turned its attention to free agency, we’re moving toward next week’s Development Camp in Los Angeles. As is the annual summer tradition, nearly all of the Kings top prospects will be descending upon Los Angeles this weekend, with on-ice activity set to open on Monday at the team’s training facility in El Segundo.

While the official roster has yet to be released, below is the list of names expected to attend. From what we have been able to gather, all of the Kings 2015 draft picks are expected to attend, with some last minute issues being worked out with Alexander Dergachyov (selected in the third round out of Russia).

In years past, most prospects aged out of Development Camp after around three years pro, so the status of some ‘older’ prospects may be in question. Goaltender J.F. Berube is definitely not attending, while somebody like Nic Dowd (who only turned pro a few months ago), could still be among the participants. Meanwhile, we wouldn’t expect Andy Andreoff or Jordan Weal to attend this year, but we’ll see.

NOTES: Lowry is still recovering from back surgery and has yet to sign his pro contract. He may or may not attend the off-ice activities, as other injured players have in the past. Most years, Dev Camp also features a small handful of non-drafted invitees. Thus far, only one name has come up (see below), yet we would normally expect a few more to attend – especially on defense. Several other players, like Paul LaDue, will be in Los Angeles for training in July, but are not expected to be part of next week’s official activities.

Update on #LAKings 2015 draft picks – Erik Cernak taken by Erie (OHL) and Alexander Dergachyov by Shawinigan (QMJHL) in CHL import draft.

— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) June 30, 2015

First draft of the names attending…

Forwards:
#52 – Mike Amadio – third round (90th overall) in 2014 – North Bay Battalion, OHL
#36 – Alexander Ruuttu – camp invitee (22-year-old originally drafted by Phoenix, TPS)
#76 – Jonny Brodzinski – fifth round (148th overall) in 2013 – St. Cloud State
#57 – Alexander Dergachyov – third round (73rd overall) in 2015 – St. Petersburg Jrs., Russia
#68 – Joel Lowry – fifth round (140th overall) in 2011 – Cornell University
#29- Samuel Laberge – camp invitee (18-year-old undrafted forward, Rimouski Oceanic / QMJHL)
#43 – Jake Marchment – sixth round (157th overall) in 2014 – Erie Otters, OHL
#80 – Matthew Mistele – sixth round (180th overall) in 2014 – Oshawa Generals, OHL
#83 – Matt Schmalz – fifth round (134th overall) in 2015 – Sudbury Wolves, OHL
#51 – Austin Wagner – fourth round (99th overall – Regina Pats, WHL
#20 – Spencer Watson – seventh round (209th overall) in 2014 – Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
#38 – Valentin Zykov – second round (37th overall) in 2013 – Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL

Defensemen:
#58- Erik Cernak – second round (43rd overall) in 2015 – Kosice HC, Slovakia
#78 – Steven Johnson – fourth round (120th overall) in 2014 – University of Minnesota
#62 – Zac Leslie – sixth round (178th overall) in 2013 – Guelph Storm, OHL
#45 – Alex Lintuniemi – second round (60th overall) in 2014 – Ottawa 67’s, OHL
#56 – Kurtis MacDermid – free agent signee – Erie Otters, OHL
#59 – Jacob Middleton – seventh round (210st overall) in 2014 – Ottawa 67’s, OHL
#82- Chaz Reddekopp – seventh round (187th overall) in 2015 – Victoria Royals, WHL
#41 – Alex Roach – free agent signee – Ontario Reign, ECHL
#81 – Matt Roy – seventh round (194th overall) in 2015 – Michigan Tech, WCHA

Goalies:
#23 – Alec Dillon – fifth round (150th overall) in 2014 – Tri-City Storm, USHL

UPDATE:

News of camp invitees are still rolling in through twitter.

Congrats to Empire's Jack Flinn (@AttackOHL) – heading to @LAKings Development Camp next week! #SuperFlinntendo pic.twitter.com/NlMmEN3LLQ

— Brad MacCharles (@TheGoalieEmpire) July 2, 2015

Jack Flinn

Jonas Müller und Kai Wissmann freuen sich auf ein Abenteuer bei den @LAKings im Development Camp: http://t.co/RoH7XEYR2k #ebb #brw #LAKings

— Eisbären Berlin (@Eisbaeren_B) July 2, 2015

Both Wissmann and Muller participated in the World Junior Championships this season for Team Germany

Jonas Muller

Kai Wissmann

UPDATE 7/5:

Best of luck to this guy , @NickMcBride40 @PARaidersHockey off to the LA Kings camp. Go show em Nick pic.twitter.com/vc1Ks3YATX

— Sean Murray (@SeanVanCityPFGS) July 4, 2015

Nick McBride

To see our most recent rankings of the Kings’ Top-10 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.

As for the schedule, there are usually separate groups for the forwards, defensemen and goalies running from about 8:00-11:30am daily. Then, a full session with all prospects typically follows later in the afternoon, around 3:00pm. Expect the official schedule to be released shortly.

MORE PROSPECTS CONTENT:

NHL Draft: Kings Select Erik Cernak in Second-Round

Scouting Info on Alexander Dergachyov, Kings Third-Round Draft Pick

Scouting Info on Austin Wagner, Kings Fourth-Round Draft Pick

Follow @mayorNHL