Most of the news this past week surrounding younger players in Los Angeles was fairly bright. Gabe Vilardi’s return added center depth, Johan Sodergran potted his first career goal in North America, and Nikolai Prokhorkin’s development continued to show positive strides – albeit that was all at the professional level. Our prospect coverage below offers a wider view of what’s happening throughout the organization and reinforces expectations of potential good times ahead.
EUROPE
Samuel Fagemo: Forward, Frölunda HC, SHL (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 5 goals, 4 assists, plus-5, 2 PIM in 16 games played
Fagemo was blanked in the Champions Hockey League, but he and his teammates advanced to the quarterfinals after winning 8-2. Otherwise, his SHL performance this week included a goal and an assist, with his pass going to top 2020 NHL Entry Draft candidate Lucas Raymond.
Fagemo's assist on Raymond's goal #LAKings #2020NHLDraft https://t.co/5VGi6TqPpM
— The Armchair Scout (@Davidenkness) November 23, 2019
Jacob Peterson @DefendingBigD
to Samuel Fagemo @JFTC_Kings for Frölundas 2-1 goal. #Stars #LAKings pic.twitter.com/J9P50wvDzE— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) November 23, 2019
Jacob Moverare: Defense, Frölunda HC, SHL (4th round pick in 2016)
Regular season: 4 goals, 6 assists, plus-13, 6 PIM in 19 games played
With a pair of assists (one of which was on Fagemo’s goal), Moverare continues to build on his career high in scoring. He quickly eclipsed his previous high of seven points in 42 games, already picking up 10 points in less than half as many contests.
Kim Nousiainen: Defense, KalPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 2 goals, 2 assists, minus-7, 8 PIM in 23 games played
Backstopping the second pairing didn’t yield any points for Nousiainen since our last update, yet KalPa has picked up some overall team success, including their second shutout.
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 (MHL)
0 goals, 0 assists, minus-1, 0 PIM in 2 games played (KHL)
Shafigullin didn’t play much this past week. As we understand things, he’s been resting the hand he had surgery on a few months ago (see our previous report below).
Overseas news….
Kings prospect Bulat Shafigullin broke his wrist in KHL exhibition game. Had surgery, expected back in about 6 weeks.
This could be a big season for him. Came into camp in great shape & skating looked good, per reports.
Out last report https://t.co/XIsSbnPEs0
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) September 6, 2019
NCAA + USHL
Braden Doyle: Defense, Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL (6th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 8 assists, plus-5, 2 PIM in 15 games played
Doyle picked up another pair of assists since our last update, but what’s more impressive is his four-game scoring streak.
Dávid Hrenák: Goalie, St. Cloud State University Huskies, NCHC (5th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 2-6-4, 3.22 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 SO in 12 games played
We at MayorsManor love to look at two elements of a prospect’s development: personal growth and team success. The Slovak netminder’s personal numbers improved this week, while success from a team standpoint was not found, though, in a pair of losses (one of which in overtime).
Cole Hults: Defense, Penn State Nittany Lions, Big Ten (5th round pick in 2017)
Regular season: 4 goals, 8 assists, plus-9, 12 PIM in 13 games played
Two more assists this week kept a steady scoring rate for the junior Nittany Lion. Coming off an exchange of wins with Ohio State should keep Penn State highly ranked, and Hults’ contribution from the blueline played a key role.
Andre Lee: Forward, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (7th round pick in 2019)
Regular Season: 3 goals, 2 assist, plus-2, 4 PIM in 13 games played
The River Hawks and Lee had a week off. Look for them to return to action on Friday, November 29. Then, they’ll see some Kings on Kings Crime when Lee and Hults faceoff on Sunday.
Alex Turcotte: Forward, Wisconsin Badgers, Big Ten (1st round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 6 goals, 9 assists, minus-8, 8 PIM in 12 games played
Unfortunately, Turcotte was held off the scoreboard as Wisconsin met up with top-ranked Minnesota. His lack of production wasn’t from failure of trying, though. He had multiple opportunities to be a hero for the Badgers, especially late in Saturday’s game.
Same fancy stuff from Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield late in the first OT.
Turcotte ends up hitting Roman Ahcan, who can't beat Jacxk LaFontaine. #Badgers #GoHabsGo #NTDP pic.twitter.com/YpCT9LjrrF
— Stars n’ Stripes Hockey (@StarsStripesHKY) November 24, 2019
This week's college hockey rankings (Kings prospects)
7. Penn State (Hults) ⬇️ 1
15. UMass Lowell (Lee) same
19. Wisconsin (Turcotte) ⬇️ 3
N/R St. Cloud (Hrenak)Kings on Kings crime – Hults vs Lee this Sun, UW v MICH on TV Sat/Sun, SCSU off
Full Top 20 https://t.co/nTpwomLXj3
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 25, 2019
Canadian Junior Leagues
Aidan Dudas: Forward, Owen Sound Attack, OHL (4th round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 11 goals, 19 assists, plus-13, 10 PIM in 22 games played
Dudas scored 20 seconds in and picked up an assist in the final 30 seconds of his first tilt this week. After missing Saturday’s game, he returned to action Sunday and added another apple to his stat line.
20 seconds into the game, Kings prospect @AidanDudas lights the lamp… https://t.co/mNMYrhvtIJ
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 22, 2019
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
As we mentioned previously, he is considered week-to-week.
Update on Kings goalie prospect Jacob Ingham:
Hearing the news was fairly positive after multiple Dr. visits. Word is, he's skating today in lower gear for the first time in two weeks. Not expected to play this coming weekend, yet on the mend. Will be a week-to-week situation. https://t.co/nMMsBVDjiM
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 18, 2019
Arthur Kaliyev: Forward, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 27 goals, 24 assists, plus-4, 14 PIM in 26 games played
The OHL scoring race intensifies, as Kaliyev’s six points (3 G, 3 A) push him back on top among his peers. His scoring streak extends to 13 games, picking up 13 tallies and 13 helpers in that span. He has scored in all but two contests, constantly keeping goaltenders honest, and leading the OHL with 141 shots on goal. Second overall is a good distance away, only compiling 114 SOG.
Lukáš Pařík: Goalie, Spokane Chiefs, WHL (3rd round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 7-1-1, 2.44 GAA, .916 SV%, 0 Shutouts in 7 games played
There’s another scoring race going on with LA’s prospects – and it comes from the goaltender’s crease. Not only did Pařík pick up a pair of wins (and was a little over five minutes away from getting his first WHL shutout), the Slovak stopper was also credited with a powerplay assist. Now, both Ingham and Pařík have helpers this season.
Another game by @LAKings #TopGoalieProspect Lukas Parik with @spokanechiefs as he stops 34 of 37 shots for a 5-3 win. Lukas has 7-1 won-loss record this season.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) November 24, 2019
Jordan Spence: Defense, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL (4th round pick in 2019)
Regular season: 1 goal, 16 assists, plus-14, 10 PIM in 20 games played
As reported last week, Spence suffered an injury and has not returned yet. We look forward to reporting on his progress again soon, though. In the meantime, he’s likely still a leading candidate of the anti Cy Young Award.
#QMJHL #LHJMQ Highest percentage of assists to points (min. 10 assists)
1. J. Spence, @monctonwildcats – 94.1%
2. C. DesRoches, @SJSeaDogs – 93.3%
3. M.-A. Pépin, @Cataractes_Shaw – 91.7%
4. N. Laaouan, @IslandersHKY – 90.9%A. McCormick & G. Kreutzer tied at 88.9%
— Geoffrey Brandow (@GeoffreyBrandow) November 12, 2019
Akil Thomas: Forward, Niagara IceDogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2018)
Regular season: 11 goal, 27 assists, plus-1, 26 PIM in 22 games played
Thomas quietly continues to rack up points, having six straight multi-point games (4 G, 11 A in that span). He’s sixth overall in league scoring, and separating himself from the rest of his Niagara teammates, statistically speaking, with a six-point cushion over Nashville’s 2019 first round pick Philip Tomasino.
Trident power 🔱@AkilThomas2 #GoKingsGo | #IceDogs pic.twitter.com/nKW62D92yR
— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) November 24, 2019
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.
ABOUT THE 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.
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