{"id":13987,"date":"2017-08-03T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=13987"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:45","slug":"tsp-los-angeles-kings-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/03\/tsp-los-angeles-kings-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Los Angeles Kings Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Los Angeles Kings Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>For the second time in just three years, the Los Angeles Kings<\/a>\u00a0missed the playoffs. While Jonathan Quick<\/a><\/strong> missed most of the season, goaltending was not the biggest problem in Los Angeles. Instead, it was a more familiar problem, an inability to score goals that was the Kings downfall. After winning just one playoff game in the last three years, the kings opted for changes. Dean Lombardi<\/strong> and Darryl Sutter<\/a> <\/strong>are out, while Rob Blake<\/a><\/strong> and John Stevens<\/a><\/strong> are in. \u00a0On the ice, the Kings haven’t made any huge moves, at least not yet. Their biggest off-season additions are\u00a0Michael Cammalleri<\/strong> and Darcy Kuemper<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Gabriel Vilardi<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Jaret Anderson-Dolan<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Matt Villalta<\/strong>,\u00a0Mikey Anderson<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Markus Phillips<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Cole Hults<\/strong>,\u00a0Drake Rymsha,\u00a0<\/strong>
\nGraduates: Kevin Gravel<\/a><\/strong>, Derek Forbort<\/a>, Paul LaDue<\/a> <\/strong>(age 25 before next season) Michael Mersch<\/a><\/strong> (age)<\/p>\n

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Top Prospect: Gabriel Vilardi<\/h3>\n

The Kings drafted Vilardi with the 11th overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we did an in-depth scouting report on Vilardi. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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#2 Prospect: Adrian Kempe<\/a><\/h3>\n

Left Wing \u2014 shoots Left
\nBorn September 13th 1996 \u2014 Kramfors, Sweden
\nHeight 6\u20192\u2033 \u2014 Weight 202 lbs [185 cm \/ 85 kg]
\nDrafted by the\u00a0Los Angeles Kings\u00a0in the 1st round,\u00a0#29 overall at the\u00a02014 NHL Entry Draft<\/p>\n