***

The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects! Every day in August, we will bring you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft and insights into their off-season movements thus far. Following this up in September, we will dive into every team’s prospect depth chart with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check back often because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

***

By: Cameron Riggers

A new, revamped look for the Los Angeles Kings this season could bring a newfound energy to the City of Angels, as they vie to be atop of the Western Conference like veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty were over a decade ago, decked in new tarps that resemble the 90s squad that captivated the hockey-loving audience in LA. 

Losing to the Edmonton Oilers for the third season in a row, however, the Kings and General Manager Rob Blake felt they needed to change the squad’s identity and add even more of a physicality element to them.

He acquired LW Tanner Jeannot from Tampa and D Kyle Burroughs from San Jose. He then shipped the big personality of C Pierre-Luc Dubois away, a move that felt inevitable. The Kings were able to strike a deal with Washington while, in turn, bolstering their already pretty solid netminding situation by reacquiring Darcy Kuemper from the Caps in a one-for-one deal.

The Kings stayed relatively quiet during free agency, adding Warren Foegele and Joel Edmundson on favorable three- and four-year deals, respectively. They could also cash in on a five-year Quinton Byfield extension, $6.25M, solidifying him as a piece to build around for the next half-decade.

With all these roster and coaching staffing changes, the team is committed to keeping the window of competitiveness open for a while longer. But will all these changes lead to more prosperous success in the playoffs?

******

Draft Recap

Round 1, 26th overall – Liam Greentree, RW

The Kings’ first pick, one of only four in the 2024 NHL Draft, was 6-2, 215 lb right winger Liam Greentree from the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. 

Many called Greentree one of the draft’s steals, going at no. 26 overall. LA wound up trading up with the Montreal Canadiens for the right to select him. He was then signed to an entry-level contract during development camp.

Unafraid to try and make any move virtually possible in the offensive zone, Greentree, ranked number 14 by NHL Central Scouting for North American Skaters, uses his bigger frame to hold off defenders when puck handling while using elite shiftiness to gain positioning in the middle of the ice or attack towards the net. 

He could benefit from upping his pacing, but he has the physical acumen that often translates to productive NHL usage and a career trajectory.

Round 2, 57th overall – Carter George, G

The second selection by the Kings came in the second round, taking the imposing 6-1, 194 lb goaltender from the Owen Sound Attack, Carter George.

George is an excellent puck handler and very technical regarding positioning. He’s smooth when making adjustments for opportunities point blank and is typically very well positioned in his crease.

The Thunder Bay, ON native, sometimes has trouble creating enough leverage to adjust quickly to either cross-crease or slot passes. His stance leaves some larger areas for shooters to find, typically towards the top of the net. 

Round 6, 164th overall  – Jared Woolley, D

The Kings would not pick again until the sixth round, where they took 6-5, 207 lb defenseman Jared Woolley from the OHL’s London Knights.

Woolley played in only 37 regular-season games for the Knights in 2023-24. Still, he made a name for himself with his imposing size, defensively one of the most overpowering the Kings could’ve found in the later round, and some clever puck advancement methods.

Round 7, 198th overall – James Reeder, RW

The Kings’ last pick in the draft would be 5-10, 168 lb right winger James Reeder from the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.

Committed to playing at the University of Denver this upcoming season, Reeder plays quickly, allowing him to create space for himself when fending off defenders. 

***

Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Reilly Walsh signed a one-year contract

Glenn Gawdin signed a two-year contract

Jack Studnicka signed a one-year contract

Jeff Malott signed a two-year contract

Joel Edmundson signed a four-year contract

Warren Foegele signed a three-year contract

Darcy Kuemper was acquired from Washington

Kyle Burroughs was acquired from San Jose

Tanner Jeannot was acquired from Tampa Bay

Outgoing

Cam Talbot, UFA

Hayden Hodgson, UFA

Matt Roy, UFA

Steven Santini, UFA

Viktor Arvidsson, UFA

Aaron Dell, UFA

Kevin Connauton, UFA

Blake Lizotte, UFA

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Traded

Re-signed

Andre Lee re-signed to a one-year contract

Akil Thomas re-signed to a two-year contract

Alex Turcotte re-signed to a three-year contract

Samuel Fagemo re-signed to a one-year contract

Tyler Madden re-signed to a one-year contract

Quinton Byfield re-signed to a five-year contract

Pheonix Copley re-signed to a one-year contract

Trevor Lewis re-signed to a one-year contract

Tyler Madden re-signed to a one-year contract

*

Development Camp

The Kings held their development camp between July 1 and 3 at their practice facility, where 39 players took the ice with fellow prospects and non-roster invitees. Although this event was a couple of days shorter than years prior, prospects still had a prosperous learning experience.

For newly drafted Carter George, it was a dream come true.

The 2024 class showed up during the scrimmage, with notables Ryan Conmy, Jakub Dvorak, and Koehn Zimmer being on the puck more often than not.

*

Final Thoughts

It will be interesting to see how much the Kings’ prospect pool evolves over the next few years and how they continue replenishing assets and strengthening their farm system.

The Kings’ window of opportunity looks to stay open for a while longer. Still, as their younger pieces continue to grow into themselves and garner important experience in the playoffs, results will have to show sooner rather than later. Getting over the pesky Oilers will likely be the first step in that process.

Thanks for reading! This was my first editorial for Dobber Prospects! I look forward to sharing more throughout the year. Follow me on Twitter/X for more LA Kings prospects updates @CammRiggs