An 0-2-1 performance by the parent club is never an enjoyable experience — on the road or at home. However, as we’ve discussed since the beginning of the year, part of the plan involves some growing pains. The Kings sit on the next to bottom rung, 30th overall, with one game in hand against the Red Wings. At this rate, Los Angeles would be picking anywhere from first to fifth in the 2020 NHL Draft, pending the lottery results.
Why is this significant? In the absence of enjoying the current on-ice product, there are a lot of future pieces already in the organization. The addition of top end talent (which we will begin covering in a future series) can make the current state more palatable.
EUROPE
Samuel Fagemo: Forward, Frölunda HC, SHL (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 4 goals, 2 assists, plus-1, 0 PIM in 12 games played
Fagemo had a bit of a break from the SHL this week but represented Sweden in the U-20 Four Nations Tournament. There is no official title in this tournament; it’s a prelude to the upcoming World Junior Championship which takes place at the end of the calendar year. He held his own, picking up a goal and an assist in two games.
Jacob Moverare: Defense, Frölunda HC, SHL (4th round pick in 2016)
Regular season: 3 goal, 4 assists, plus-9, 4 PIM in 15 games played
While Fagemo kept busy, Moverare is too old to participate with his fellow countrymen. Look for him and Frolunda to get back in battling in the Champions Hockey League (a variety of European teams are a part of this – as mentioned previously here: http://mayorsmanor.com/2019/10/la-kings-prospect-tracker-week-ending-october-21-2019/).
Kim Nousiainen: Defense, KalPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 1 assist, minus-6, 4 PIM in 18 games played
After a promising start in Finland’s Liiga, Nousiainen is approaching the two-month mark since registering a point. He’s representing Finland in the U-20 Four Nations Tournament, giving him an opportunity to size himself up against younger opposition. He hasn’t found himself on the scoreboard, but it must be a lot less overwhelming than patrolling the blueline of a struggling professional team.
Bulat Shafigullin: Forward, Reaktor Nizhnekamsk, KHL (3rd round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 9 goals, 8 assists, plus-7, 10 PIM in 12 games played
It was too good not to bring up last week’s article, but we want to bring it up again. Shafigullin had a hat trick the day we released our previous update, including the game winner in overtime where he could have roasted marshmallows behind the net before completing the wraparound (video here, and you have to see it). That would be impressive if that was his sole performance. He more than doubled his offensive output for the whole season with four goals and five assists this week.
NCAA + USHL
Braden Doyle: Defense, Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL (6th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 3 assist, plus-0, 2 PIM in 11 games played
The defensively stingy Fighting Saints suffered their first two regulation losses this season. Doyle picked up an assist this week, but there’s very little offense being generated from the backend. The Boston University commit leads the blueliners on his team in scoring, but he’s only averaging a shot per game.
Dávid Hrenák: Goalie, St. Cloud State University Huskies, NCHC (5th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 2-2-4, 3.24 GAA, .877 SV%, 0 SO in 8 games played
The individual numbers aren’t getting much better, but when you’re the last line of defense, the success of the team holds a higher priority. In that vein, the Huskies were 1-0-1.
Cole Hults: Defense, Penn State Nittany Lions, Big Ten (5th round pick in 2017)
Regular season: 4 goals, 5 assists, plus-9, 8 PIM in 9 games played
While the scoring rate at the start off couldn’t be maintained, particularly from the blueline, Hults is keeping a steady pace by tacking another assist while Penn State went 1-1. He remains in the top 10 in scoring among blueliners while Penn State hangs out in the upper echelon of the collegiate ranks.
Andre Lee: Forward, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (7th round pick in 2019)
Regular Season: 3 goals, 2 assist, plus-3, 4 PIM in 11 games played
As can be expected with younger players, there are periods of peaks and valleys. Lee’s enduring a scoring slump. He last found himself on the scoresheet on October 25, but his role on the third line tempers expectations.
Alex Turcotte: Forward, Wisconsin Badgers, Big Ten (1st round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 6 goals, 6 assists, minus-5, 4 PIM in 8 games played The Kings most recent top pick responded to a previously quiet week by putting up three goals and an assist. The four points in two games pushes his overall rate up to 1.5 points per game – leading all Badgers.
CANADIAN JUNIOR LEAGUES
Aidan Dudas: Forward, Owen Sound Attack, OHL (4th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 9 goals, 15 assists, plus-9, 6 PIM in 17 games played Dudas busied himself with a goal in each of his contests against his regular competition, but also represented OHL in their first game against the Russia juniors. He was blanked on the scoreboard, but he still captained the group to a 4-1 victory. Game 2 of the series will be on live TV tonight, thanks to the NHL Network.
Jacob Ingham: Goalie, Kitchener Rangers, OHL (6th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 6-3-3, 3.28 GAA, .912 SV%, 0 SO in 12 games played
An unfortunate turn of events sidelined Ingham prior to him participating in the CIBC Canada/Russia series. Currently waiting on a timetable on his return.
Arthur Kaliyev: Forward, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 21 goals, 17 assists, plus-1, 12 PIM in 20 games played
While his production has dropped as a whole, he’s riding a seven-game point streak, with goals in his last six. Paired with Arizona’s 2018 third round pick Jan Jenik, the two have combined to be the deadliest duo in the OHL with 71 points (33 G, 38 A).
Lukáš Pařík: Goalie, Spokane Chiefs, WHL (3rd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 3-1-1, 2.42 GAA, .903 SV%, 0 Shutouts in 5 games played
After returning from injury, Pařík has been dealing with a forgiving workload – he had to stop 22 shots directed his way this week en route to a 6-1 win. He should be returning to rhythm and regular form well before representing the Czech Republic at the end of December at the World Junior Championship.
Jordan Spence: Defense, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 16 assists, plus-13, 10 PIM in 19 games played
The journeyman defenseman remains as a cog in what has become one of the best teams in the QMJHL, which is also ranked second in goals against. He picked up a pair of assists in Moncton’s recent 6-3 win against the Titan, and was credited with a helper between the two games Team QMJHL played against Russia in the Canada/Russia series.
Akil Thomas: Forward, Niagara IceDogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 9 goal, 18 assists, minus-6, 22 PIM in 17 games played
In the K9 Cup (a contest between the Niagara IceDogs and Kaliyev’s Hamilton Bulldogs), Thomas arose as the top dog while engaging in some Kings on Kings crime. His four points — including a pair of goals — in the single match gave him bragging rights and propelled him to the top of team scoring, despite playing in fewer games than the other team leaders. Of note, Kaliyev also had a goal in that same game.
Keep in mind, this weekly tracker only covers prospects not playing professional hockey in North America. In essence, the report serves to provide updates on all players in the pipeline — signed or unsigned — excluding those in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL.
NOTE: Author David Hofreiter can be found on Twitter @Davidenkness if you’re interested in talking more hockey with him or asking further questions about these players.