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State of the Los Angeles Kings prospects and future

By Geoffrey Godfrey

Feb 15, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Kings center Blake Lizotte (46) enters the ice against the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Kings center Blake Lizotte (46) enters the ice against the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Alex Turcotte poses for a photo after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Alex Turcotte poses for a photo after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The royalty in the Kings pipline could be the next LA dynasty

The LA Kings pipeline is one of the best in the league with multiple top-end picks. They drafted 20th in 2018, 22nd in 2019, 2nd in 2020, and 8th in 2021. Since 2018 the Kings have had 28 draft picks and 11 of them have been in the first two rounds. Even if you don’t hit on all of them, that’s a lot of talent and depth waiting to be unleashed at the next level.

With Defensemen Brandt Clarke and Center Quinten Byfield looking to be break-out stars for years to come in back-to-back drafts.

It’s hard not to fantasize about what this team could look like in two to three seasons with how they continue to draft, and the amount of cap space they have in addition. Having a solid pipeline is the way to win for a long time in this league. Not only will it keep you young and full of depth, but it will free up cap space to go out and get that one player you need or two to change your fortunes around.

Byfield at the center, Alex Turcotte wing, Arthur Kaliyev wing, and Akil Thomas center are their best prospects at the moment and all of them could be up by the end of the season.

Even if only three out of the five of them become top-six players they will make a massive impact not only on this team but in the league. To be able to be middle-ground in your division with franchise players waiting in the wings before the deadline could instantly change this franchise around. Should the Kings string together wings we may see these kids wait a little longer to come up, but should the trade deadline favor the bold as they could unload older guys and gather more picks we could see a much different team in the silver and white.

There is a lot to like and look forward to in this pipeline and it will only continue to get better as the Kings have all their picks this year and their promising young players are spread out at positions. We won’t see a youth log-jam at positions as we have seen in the past with other teams.

How are the young LA Kings kids looking?

Currently, the top has had the following stats through all leagues and games 2021-2022:
Byfield- 19 games, five goals, and two assists, and a +/- of 0 betwen the NHL and minors.
Turcotte- 34 games, six goals, 12 assists,  and a +/- of 18 between the NHL and minors.
Kaliyev- 47 games, nine goals, six assists, and a +/- of -4 (all in NHL.)
Thomas- 13 games, no goals, one assist, and a +/- of -4. In 2020-2021 however, 40 games with 11 goals and 40 assists.

(Keep in mind COVID has hurt a lot of minor leagues and teams 2021-2022 with ability to play games)

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