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LA Kings Weekly Prospect Tracker, Week Ending October 18, 2020

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Good day, readers! As last season had an unusual end in our coverage, we now enter the 2020-21 season with a hope to bring you coverage on the Los Angeles Kings prospects on a weekly basis.

If you’re new to this series, understand these articles cover prospects in the Kings organization not playing in the NHL, AHL, or ECHL. This season begins with some unusual circumstances, as hockey is only being played in the QMJHL and Europe as of this writing. Consequently, we will see the movement of some players either on or off the list as seasons begin. We will prepare you for those transactions.

EUROPE

Lias Andersson: Forward, HV71, SEL (1st round pick in 2017)

Regular season: 1 goal, 3 assists, plus-0, 4 PIM in 4 games played

The most recent Kings acquisition via trade has sat out for a few games following a five-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head. He returns on October 22.

Tobias Björnfot: Defense, Djurgårdens IF, SEL (1st round pick in 2019)

Regular season: 0 goals, 1 assist, plus-1, 29 PIM in 6 games played

Not to be outdone by Andersson’s suspension, the Swedish blueliner also received a three-game suspension for kneeing.

Aidan Dudas: Forward, Eisbären Berlin, DEL (4th round pick in 2018)

Regular season: N/A

The former captain of Owen Sound must wait before starting his first full professional season. He, along with four other prospects, was sent to Germany to train and get some game action. The DEL season has been postponed due to COVID, though he got some exhibition action.

Samuel Fagemo: Forward, Södertälje SK, Allsvenskan (2nd round pick in 2019)

Regular season: 2 goals, 3 assists, minus-2, 0 PIM in 8 games played

The Swedish forward finished his contract in the SHL. As he hoped to join Ontario this season, he signed a short-term contract for the Allsvenskan, which acts as the AHL equivalent of Sweden. His production of over a point-per-game tapered off. He is expected to stay overseas until North American professional hockey resumes.

Helge Grans: Defense, Malmö Redhawks, SHL (2nd round pick in 2020)

Regular season: 2 goals, 3 assists, minus-2, 0 PIM in 6 games played

As one of the newest picks in the second round, the forward-converted-defenseman has a contract in the SEL and is expected to stay there for the entirety of the season. Though early, he sits in the top ten in scoring among blueliners while riding a four-game scoring streak.

Carl Grundström: Forward, IF Björklöven , Allsvenskan (2nd round pick in 2016)

Regular season: 1 goal, 5 assists, plus-5, 6 PIM in 5 games played

Technically, Grundstrom graduated as far as prospects go. However, he’s Kings property playing outside of North American professional leagues, so this is extra credit. Like with Fagemo and other skaters, joining Allsvenskan was a temporary arrangement until the AHL restarts.

Jacob Ingham: Goalie, Eisbären Berlin, DEL (6th round pick in 2018)

Regular season: N/A

Joining Dudas and three other prospects, Ingham traveled to Germany to get additional training. As stated, the start of the DEL has been delayed due to COVID, but he got some time in net. No official statistics have been made available.

Aatu Jämsen: Forward, Pelicans U20, U20 SM-sarja (7th round pick in 2020)

Regular season: 7 goals, 17 assists, plus-11, 20 PIM in 12 games played

Scoring two points-per-game has drawn a lot of attention to the most recent Kings draft pick. He extended his scoring streak to five games, and his total output has put him at the top of the league.

Tyler Madden: Forward, Eisbären Berlin, DEL (3rd round pick in 2018)

Regular Season: N/A

Madden, who has yet to play a competitive game since getting injured back in February, received an opportunity to bond with some fellow Kings prospects as he traveled to Germany. He sustained an upper body injury early in the first exhibition game and did not play the next day.

Juho Markkanen: Goalie, Ketterä, Mestis (4th round pick in 2020)

Regular season: 2-0-2, 2.92 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 SO in 4 games played

The most recent goalie picked up by the Kings began the season in Finland’s minor league. He has yet to lose in regulation in his four starts, having a nice beginning for a rookie.

Jacob Moverare: Defense, SaiPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2016)

Regular season: 0 goals, 1 assist, minus-4, 29 PIM in 6 games played

Those penalty minutes are not a typo. He received 25 penalty minutes for kneeing in his first game in Liiga. He still has averaged over 20 minutes a game, and he tallied an assist in his most recent outing.

Kim Nousiainen: Defense, KalPa, Liiga (4th round pick in 2019)

Regular season: 2 goals, 1 assist, plus-4, 2 PIM in 4 games played

The undersized blueliner netted his first two goals of the season most recently. His 0.75 points-per-game keep him just outside the top ten among defensemen.

Lukáš Pařík: Goalie, Spokane Chiefs, WHL (3rd round pick in 2019)

Regular season: 3-1-2, 3.64 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 Shutouts in 6 games played

The Czech-born netminder had an early wake-up call. In his third start, he was pulled after two periods for allowing five goals in 26 shots. He was sent down to get a start in the junior league; since returning, he has gone 2-0-1. He gets another breather, however, as the Czech Republic has canceled all games in the country until October 25.

Bulat Shafigullin: Forward, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, KHL (3rd round pick in 2018)

Regular season: 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-4, 4 PIM in 11 games played

The skilled Russian has had a less than ideal start, as he’s been blanked so far, all season. The KHL has been merciless with him, as his career includes only four assists in 61 appearances.

Kasper Simontaival: Forward, Tappara, Liiga (3rd round pick in 2020)

Regular season: 0 goals, 1 assist, plus-2, 2 PIM in 4 games played

The skilled winger continues hoping to find the back of the net in Liiga. On top of this season, he has zero goals in 13 career appearances in Finland’s top league.

Akil Thomas: Forward, Eisbären Berlin, DEL (2nd round pick in 2018)

Regular season: NA

Thomas seems to be the glue of this generation of Kings prospects. He won gold with Byfield and Dudas this past season, and now gets to play along more of the prospects in Germany.

Alex Turcotte: Forward, Eisbären Berlin, DEL (1st round pick in 2019)

Regular season: NA

The last of the bunch to travel to Germany, Turcotte hopes to rebound from the disappointing season he experienced in Wisconsin (where the team was outscored 11-2 over the weekend, eliminating them from the playoffs). Though not official in scoring, he landed an assist in his second exhibition game.

https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1317819280746950656

NCAA + USHL

Braden Doyle: Defense, Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL (6th round pick in 2019)

Regular season: NA

Doyle was slated originally to play for Boston University this season. However, due to COVID, he put off his collegiate career for another season. He’s staying in the USHL for another year, hoping to make an impact with Dubuque. He had an assist in preseason action earlier this week.

Brock Faber: Defense, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Big Ten (2nd round pick in 2020)

Regular season: NA

Faber has alternate plans compared to Doyle. To begin with, he is participating in USA Hockey’s World Junior evaluation camp with the aspirations of competing internationally. Additionally, if the NCAA season begins soon, he’ll be able to begin his freshman year..

Dávid Hrenák: Goalie, St. Cloud State University Huskies, NCHC (5th round pick in 2018)

Regular season: NA

The Slovakian goalie hopes to have the NCAA season resume sooner rather than later. As a senior, this is his last season. However, he can’t sign a professional contract, as he would lose his NCAA eligibility.

Alex Laferriere: Forward, Harvard Crimson, ECAC (3rd round pick in 2020)

Regular season: NA

Los Angeles’ third round selection also awaits on the decision for the NCAA. He was not drafted by a junior team where he could get an exception to play in during the COVID crisis. If the rumors of collegiate hockey returning soon is true, however, the wait won’t be for too much longer.

Andre Lee: Forward, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (7th round pick in 2019)

Regular Season: NA

Like the other college commitments, Lee was put in a tenuous situation due to COVID. We expect him to get more responsibility during his second season.

Ben Meehan: Defense, UMass-Lowell River Hawks, Hockey East (6th round pick in 2020)

Regular Season: NA

His freshman season is put on hold. When he begins, however, he will have fellow Kings prospect Lee to help introduce him to the Kings organization as well as the River Hawks campus.

CANADIAN JUNIOR LEAGUES

Quinton Byfield, Forward, Sudbury Wolves, OHL (1st round pick in 2020)

Regular season: NA

Los Angeles’ top pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft is in a holding pattern. Now that he has been signed, the game plan is to get him some experience representing Canada at the WJC. Beyond that, there’s not an official date for the OHL to start, and it sounds like the league has committed to making it a no-contact league this year. This raises questions of the best choice for where he’ll play going forward this season.

Martin Chromiak, Forward, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL (5th round pick in 2020)

Regular season: NA

Unlike the other junior hockey players on this list, Chromiak’s three-year extension with his Slovak home back in 2019 gave him an option to play elsewhere while the leagues try to reopen safely. However, he has opted to stay in North America. Hopefully he will compete internationally with his home country when the WJC gets scheduled.

Arthur Kaliyev: Forward, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL (2nd round pick in 2019)

Regular season: NA

Kaliyev, like Byfield and Chromiak , hopes to have the OHL schedule the league starting soon. He, too, hopes to represent his home country, wearing the jersey of Team USA. The United States had an underwhelming WJC last year, as they failed to medal.

Jordan Spence: Defense, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL (4th round pick in 2019)

Regular season: 0 goals, 2 assists, minus-2, 6 PIM in 3 games played

The newest alternate captain of Moncton opened up the season with a pair of assists in his first three tilts. However, COVID has taken its toll on the league – many teams are in red zones, Moncton had at least one positive case, and another team had 18 positive tests. Consequently, the QMJHL has shut down two of the three divisions until the end of October.

https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1314420843930284032

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. Davis Green was the lead contributor in the gathering of information used in this article. You can find him on Twitter @davisgreen_.