Prospect Info: 2022-23 Kings Prospects in CHL/College/Europe

[ClayAikenFan77]

Hey Folks, hope Fiala is treating you well

Gonna go backwards with Jared's games, but will post on all the ones I missed!

Cheers!

@ North Dakota (Friday 11-11):
-Shot Attempts at 5-on-5: CF:9 ; CA:6 (60%)


@ North Dakota (Saturday 11-12):
-Shot Attempts at 5-on-5: CF:16 ; CA:7 (69%)


-Weekend Total Shot Attempts at 5-on-5: CF: 25; CA 13 (65%)
-Season Total Shot Attempts at 5-on-5 (7 Games counted): CF:111 ; CA:42 (72%)


Highlights:

Friday 11/11

-Does a good job at using his speed to find a seam for his defensemen. Gets off a decent shot for a backhand attempt.



-Effort play to clear the puck on the PK.



-Really nice shift that leads to an assist and his first collegiate point. Does a great job using his speed and strength to win possession for his team on the forecheck. Puck eventually comes back to him, somehow gets an off an off-balanced shot that pinballs to Aiden Thompson for a goal.



-Jared's first goal (GW). Does a good job beating his man to the front of the net and cashes in on the rebound.



Saturday 11/12

-Clip showing Jared's puck retrieval skills, leads to a couple of chances in front for his teammates.


-Hockey nerd clip. Wins the battle in the beginning to keep possession. The part I really like is Jared's anticipation to get inside leverage on his man behind the net and proceeds to win the race to the puck to give his defensemen a chance on the play.


-I included the next two PK clips to show the confidence Jared is playing with right now (also a nice blocked shot at the end of the period). I think he's played at this level every game this season, and has been pretty damn unlucky he doesn't have more points.




-Another chance created on the PK.



-Eventual Game Winner. Does a good job reading the strong side defensemen pinched, and uses his speed to do the rest.


-ENG


edit: Added up seasons totals wrong.

 

[BringTheReign]

Kenny Connors getting some love from The Athletic: Every NHL team's hottest prospect so far in 2022-23

Kenny Connors: Yes, Brandt Clarke and Quinton Byfield are in the AHL … but we’re focusing on prospects who are tearing it up at the moment, and that’s Connors. Selected in the fourth round in 2022, the 19-year-old forward has jumped right into NCAA play as a freshman at UMass, with five goals and 13 points in 12 games. His play for the Minutemen may put him in the conversation for Team USA at the world juniors. As a runner up, Jordan Spence has 12 assists in 12 games for the Ontario Reign as he bides his time in the AHL again while awaiting an opening on the Kings’ blue line. — Eric Stephens

It would be incredible if either he or Laferriere became top 6 talents with the extra development time afforded through the college route.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kenny Connors getting some love from The Athletic: Every NHL team's hottest prospect so far in 2022-23



It would be incredible if either he or Laferriere became top 6 talents with the extra development time afforded through the college route.

Kings really could use a late round gem to supplement their blue chips. If Connors or Chromiak or Helenius or whoever blows up--like Jesper Bratt or Robo--that goes a loooong way.

 

[Jukurit]

Aatu Jämsen nice goal:

 

[kinghock]

Aatu Jämsen nice goal:

I really liked him during this year prospect camp.

 

[lumbergh]

Aatu Jämsen nice goal:

I like that there’s a team in Assat.

 

[Reaper45]

Holy shit

Going to look like a Bond villain after that heals.

 

[Fishhead]

Laferriere still producing but at a bit of a slower pace. He's right up there with Coronato, who has been impressive as a sophomore. You can see why he was a 1st round pick. Thought Laf played well against Michigan, he has a nose for the net.

Thrun is solid, the Ducks might have gotten a solid guy in the later rounds with him.

 

[Ben Grimm]

Brandt Clarke Prepares to Prove Himself at the World Juniors and Beyond

Brandt Clarke attended every Canadian game at the 2009 world juniors as a fan. Now, he's on Team Canada looking to excel with some longtime friends.

thehockeynews.com

 

[Statto]

Brandt Clarke Prepares to Prove Himself at the World Juniors and Beyond

Brandt Clarke attended every Canadian game at the 2009 world juniors as a fan. Now, he's on Team Canada looking to excel with some longtime friends.

thehockeynews.com

This cracked me up…

Clarke is closer in age to Quick’s kids – aged 12, 10 and two – than he is to the 36-year-old netminder.

 

[BringTheReign]

Good stuff from Kenny Connors.

Ken-ited States
Lastly, Insiders, forward Kenny Connors was announced to Team USA’s roster for the upcoming World Junior Championships over the weekend. Connors was one of 25 players selected to head North of the border to compete in the annual tournament.

Connors is off to a blistering start to the season with the University of Massachusetts and leads all players on the team in scoring with 17 points (7-10-17) on the season. He’s a two-way center, who indicated that Kings veterans Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault are two individuals he tries to model parts of his game after. He’s been an offensive producer this season with the Minutemen, without sacrificing defensively, and worked his way from a summer invitation to selection camp onto the roster. Good on ya, Kenny.

Practice 12/19 - Good To Be Back! Injury Updates, Penalty Kill Timing, Connors To Team USA - LA Kings Insider

 

[Schrute farms]

I was rather disappointed in our 2022 initially...and i haven't changed my mind since. But one of the few that i was ok with, and he's been a very pleasant surprise so far, is Connors. Keep it up kid and make us Americans proud in the upcoming WJCs.

 

[All The Kings Men]

 

[King'sPawn]

Harvard beat Northeastern 8-4.

Hughes with 1 G, 2 A
Laferriere with 2 G, 2 A, including this one:

 

[King'sPawn]

 

[King'sPawn]

Alex Laferriere ends the game in OT. He also had a secondary assist earlier:

 

[mysterman2]

Alex Laferriere ends the game in OT. He also had a secondary assist earlier:

Between Laferrier, Kenny Connor & Pinelli....who has best chance to make NHL and any similar current players to compare as far as play style?

Would be hockey irony if our Laferierre became better NHL than the other french alex.

 

[King'sPawn]

Between Laferrier, Kenny Connor & Pinelli....who has best chance to make NHL and any similar current players to compare as far as play style?

Would be hockey irony if our Laferierre became better NHL than the other french alex.

I like Laferriere more than Pinelli or Connors, but he's also older and more refined.

 

[Statto]

I like Laferriere more than Pinelli or Connors, but he's also older and more refined.

I think Laferriere is a very interesting guy and could easily gate crash this roster once he’s done (this year or next?). We were all joking about maybe getting the best ‘Laf…’ at the draft but at this point, whilst I don’t think it’s very likely, it isn’t a crazy idea anymore.

 

[mysterman2]

I think Laferriere is a very interesting guy and could easily gate crash this roster once he’s done (this year or next?). We were all joking about maybe getting the best ‘Laf…’ at the draft but at this point, whilst I don’t think it’s very likely, it isn’t a crazy idea anymore.

Games 174

Goals 36

Assists 33

Points 69

This season Lafenierre is 5 goal 12 assist in 39 games.

You are right...while not overwhelmingly likely- there is a chance our guy can eclipse those numbers.

Funny as well that he is at .396 PPG average right now....Byfield is .254 PPG and had a myriad of hurdles and roadblocks to his development. Not that much difference per se.

 

[King'sPawn]

I think Laferriere is a very interesting guy and could easily gate crash this roster once he’s done (this year or next?). We were all joking about maybe getting the best ‘Laf…’ at the draft but at this point, whilst I don’t think it’s very likely, it isn’t a crazy idea anymore.

The Rangers are very much like the Kings where they aren't very good at developing forwards at a certain talent threshold.

I think the Kings are very good at developing certain skillsets, which is where we see Kaliyev and Byfield winning puck battles and protecting the puck, which is why the Kings are very successful at developing "workman-like" players. And it's also my biggest hope for things working out

Lafreniere just hasn't grown much since being drafted. Maybe the Rangers just thought as he'd gain weight and strength, that's all he needed? I dunno.

But that's where, as an overall impact, I really love Laferriere. He doesn't have a crazy skillset, but he plays in all situations with a workman's type effort. I think he can very much be a Trevor Moore type of player, even if he doesn't put up close to the same numbers as Moore.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The Rangers are very much like the Kings where they aren't very good at developing forwards at a certain talent threshold.

I think the Kings are very good at developing certain skillsets, which is where we see Kaliyev and Byfield winning puck battles and protecting the puck, which is why the Kings are very successful at developing "workman-like" players. And it's also my biggest hope for things working out

Lafreniere just hasn't grown much since being drafted. Maybe the Rangers just thought as he'd gain weight and strength, that's all he needed? I dunno.

But that's where, as an overall impact, I really love Laferriere. He doesn't have a crazy skillset, but he plays in all situations with a workman's type effort. I think he can very much be a Trevor Moore type of player, even if he doesn't put up close to the same numbers as Moore.

Yeah guys with that kind of motor can usually adapt to be useful somehow. I think he's got decent hands too, could be a strong third liner if everything goes well. Kind of applies to what I saw from Connors too, guys that just keep pedaling, play simple and predictable in supporting teammates and the system, go hard to the hard spots, even if they're of good-but-not-great size.

 

[Statto]

The Rangers are very much like the Kings where they aren't very good at developing forwards at a certain talent threshold.

I think the Kings are very good at developing certain skillsets, which is where we see Kaliyev and Byfield winning puck battles and protecting the puck, which is why the Kings are very successful at developing "workman-like" players. And it's also my biggest hope for things working out

Lafreniere just hasn't grown much since being drafted. Maybe the Rangers just thought as he'd gain weight and strength, that's all he needed? I dunno.

But that's where, as an overall impact, I really love Laferriere. He doesn't have a crazy skillset, but he plays in all situations with a workman's type effort. I think he can very much be a Trevor Moore type of player, even if he doesn't put up close to the same numbers as Moore.

Moore is a good comparison. Although it’s worth noting we didn’t expect Trevor Moore to put up Trevor Moore numbers either

 

[Reaper45]

The Rangers are very much like the Kings where they aren't very good at developing forwards at a certain talent threshold.

I think the Kings are very good at developing certain skillsets, which is where we see Kaliyev and Byfield winning puck battles and protecting the puck, which is why the Kings are very successful at developing "workman-like" players. And it's also my biggest hope for things working out

Lafreniere just hasn't grown much since being drafted. Maybe the Rangers just thought as he'd gain weight and strength, that's all he needed? I dunno.

But that's where, as an overall impact, I really love Laferriere. He doesn't have a crazy skillset, but he plays in all situations with a workman's type effort. I think he can very much be a Trevor Moore type of player, even if he doesn't put up close to the same numbers as Moore.

This is where I wish the Kings still had Bernie Nicholls or Turgeon around as a skill coach. I seem to remember the Kings doing well in the seasons they were around. I think some of the more skilled prospects would do well to have a super skilled assistant coach to highlight their talents and potentially they’d meet their potential. Then again you can look at a situation like Gretz who was a terrible coach in Phoenix.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Wanna hear how Salin, Connors and Clarke did in the WJC? From an actual pro hockey player with an unbelievable ability to discuss the game in an easy to digest way?

Then listen to this episode.