The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers, and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Make sure to check out the Los Angeles team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/los-angeles-kings/

To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

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The Los Angeles Kings tied their franchise record for wins in a single regular season with 48 en route to a second place finish in the Pacific Division. They cleared the Edmonton Oilers by four points to lock in home ice advantage in the first round, only to drop their first round series to Connor McDavid & Co. in six games. The loss ushered in a summer of change in the organization, as the team parted ways with General Manager Rob Blake after the franchise icon spent eight years in the role. 

If you can’t beat the Oilers, hire the man who built them. Ken Holland was brought in to right the ship for the Kings, and he started off by bringing in the familiar faces of Corey Perry and Cody Ceci. Following that up shortly with the signing of Brian Dumoulin, the team spent $10.125 Million on those three players alone.  

The team finished second behind the Winnipeg Jets for the least goals scored against per game, and the jury is still out as to whether this will help them defensively or cause issues in generating offence from the back end as a result of trading Jordan Spence. 

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 31 Overall, Henry Brzustewicz, RHD

The Kings replenished the cupboard on the right side of their defence by taking Brzusetwicz at the end of day one of the draft. Shortly following the selection, the Kings shipped right handed defenceman Jordan Spence to Ottawa, leaving a void on the right side in the next few seasons with Drew Doughty entering the twilight of his career and Brandt Clarke’s ascension in the lineup. 

His low-risk style of play gives him a clear ceiling of being a second pairing defenceman. He was consistently paired with Sam Dickinson in London and played great as a safety net for a defensive partner who loves to get in on the rush. All of that is not to say Brzusetwicz does not do so himself occasionally, but it is certainly fewer and further between, often opting for a true defensive stalwart on the back end. The ceiling isn’t as sexy as some of the other names in the first round like Matthew Schaefer or Radim Mrtka, but Brzusetwicz figures to become a key fixture in the lineup, and there should be a spot there for the taking by the time he is ready to shoot up the ranks. 

Round 2, 59 Overall, Vojtech Cihar, LW

Cihar is the type of player who gives 100 percent every shift and creates havoc in doing so. He uses his 6-1 frame to his advantage, playing a hard nosed style in tight and around the net. As for his offensive skills, he has great vision and requires minimal effort to create a play from nothing. He spent time at each forward position last season in the Czech league. His raw stats do not scream dynamo, but he definitely has the tools to be a key component in a team’s forward group. 

Round 3, 88 Overall, Kristian Epperson, LW

Every team wants a Kristian Epperson. Playing with some additional flair to his game, Epperson racked up 80 points in just 58 games last season with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League. Outside of his offence, he brings it all to the table. A very tenacious player on the forecheck, Epperson does everything he can to get the puck. Stick lifts, board battles, funneling pucks through traffic and to the point, you name it. While he will never be the star of an NHL team, Epperson has fan-favorite written all over him if he can reach a fraction of his offensive potential while maintaining the tenacious edge he plays with. 

Round 4, 120 Overall, Caeden Herrington, RHD

Herrington came out of nowhere in 2024-25. With just four points in sixteen appearances in his original draft year, Herrington joined the Lincoln Stars of the USHL and exploded for 16 goals and 34 points in 56 games. He is an offensively minded defenceman who is great in transition and has a booming one-timer. He certainly has the tools to become a greater defensive presence but prioritizes his offensive output. 

Round 4, 125 Overall, Jimmy Lombardi, C

Lombardi is a pure energy player who brings it every shift. He uses his speed to win races to the puck and wins battles. He had long droughts of a lack of offence which hurt his overall output. While the offense is not always there, Lombardi has the tools to show that if he can find that consistency, he has middle-six upside. Otherwise, he could be destined for a perennial fourth line role, but that looks to be the worst case scenario. 

Round 5, 152 Overall, Petteri Rimpinen, G

Another second year eligible player taken by the Kings, Rimpinen had a strong season in the top tier league in Finland. He posted a line of 16-9-14 with a 0.912 save percentage. A smaller goalie at just 6-0 and 176 lbs, he has work to do to get to the NHL. Expect him to spend time in Liiga once again in 2025-26 and to progress further. 

Round 6, 184 Overall, Jan Chovan, C

Chovan is another player with a heavy shot and can be extremely dangerous from distance. A positionally sound player with a large 6-3 frame, Chovan often engages in board battles but needs to learn how to win them with more consistency. He is constantly in the mix in the offensive zone and always looking to cause havoc. He had 23 points in 39 games in the Finnish U-20 league, showing he is a great supporting player. He can also play centre in a pinch and has won faceoffs with consistency in the past. 

Round 7, 196 Overall, Brendan McMorrow, C

The selection of McMorrow continued the trend of hard nosed players, and ones in their draft plus one season. The foundation of his game is his ability to accelerate. He is a great skater with great vision and puck handling. What McMorrow lacks in natural offensive ability he gains in his ability to manufacture it. He is a much better player without the puck than he is with it, but he has an NHL future if he can find his way into an NHL bottom-six. Another player fans will love and opponents will hate. 

Round 7, Pick 216 , Will Sharpe, LHD

Sharpe has the archetype of a player you make on “Be a Pro” mode on EA Sports NHL. He defends the interior very well while he skates very well, and well enough to be a physical force. Even at just 6-0, his physicality blended with his offensive skills make for an interesting prospect, and one who you could probably call a bit of an anomaly. The only thing holding him back is his hockey IQ, which is notably something that cannot necessarily be taught to a great extent. If he can sort out his defensive blemishes by becoming a more cerebral and aware player, there is a future for him on a third pair with second powerplay time. Otherwise, he may be destined for a career in the AHL. 

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming (Remaining Years, AAV)

Corey Perry – 1 year, $2 Million

Joel Armia – 2 years, $2.5 Million

Brian Dumoulin – 3 years, $4 Million

Cody Ceci – 4 years, $4.5 Million

Anton Forsberg – 2 years, $2.25 Million

Cole Guttman – 2 years, $775k

Samuel Bolduc – 1 year, $775k

Logan Brown – 1 year, $775k

Outgoing

Jordan Spence (Via Trade to Ottawa Senators)

Re-Signed

Alex Laferriere – 3 years, $4.1 Million

Andrei Kuzmenko – 1 year, $4.3 Million

Pheonix Copley – 1 year, $775k

Martin Chromiak – 1 year, $775k

Kirill Kirsanov – 2 years, $925k

Comments:

The Kings were the most aggressive team on July 1, doling out big contracts to Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci with an attempt to recreate and bolster their blueline. The combined $8.5 Million cap hit between the two of them for the next three seasons is a risky bet. And one that could backfire. 

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In the System

Risers 

Kenny Connors, C

Connors owns the projectable tool-kit old hockey men boast about with players. These tools include a responsible two-way game by the use of his body and stick to strip opponents of the puck while generating a respectable amount of offence. His one-timer and awareness in the offensive zone more than make up for his shortcomings when it comes to his skating. His often choppy stride prevents him from effectively being a threat in the rush, while it also allows skaters to beat him to the outside on the rare occasion he is ill positioned. 

The organization recently signed him to a two-year entry-level contract that takes him through the 2026-27 season. He will likely need those two years with the Ontario Reign to strengthen his stride and become a more effective player off the rush. He has all the offensive tools to become a modest threat, but it is his two-way game that makes him a stalwart in that category. Defensively, a strong stick with great positioning and awareness make him a candidate to see NHL time in a couple of seasons. He will report to Ontario this fall, but the sooner he gets that skating tidied up, the better it will be for his development. 

Kirill Kirsanov, LHD

Kirsanov is making the jump to North America in 2025-26. Kirsanov has spent significant time in the KHL each season since his draft year in 2021. His coaches seemed to lean on him heavier each season despite his low offensive output. His style that makes him boring and unnoticeable in a great way has benefited his rise in the Kings organization as a coveted player to get into the system. His projectable style and professional experience make him a call-up candidate should injuries occur on the blue-line. While his style lends itself to being more of a third pairing defenceman, his ceiling is that of a number four defenceman on a contending team if he can hone in his offence, but also his skating as a whole. Kirsanov’s game should translate well onto North American ice. While he does not have that offensive flair most would want him to develop, he will be an interesting case in bangers formats that reward hits and blocks. He could force his way into the lineup and make someone else expendable in the top six defensive group should he continue on his current trajectory. 

Erik Portillo, G

Portillo has been a consistent riser in the organization for a few seasons now. Since acquiring his rights from the Buffalo Sabres, Portillo has been viewed as a goalie with starting potential. Portillo struggled last year and is facing his first little bit of true adversity in his professional career. In 2023-24, he amassed a 0.918 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA. Falling back to a 0.889 save percentage last season, he surrendered starts to Phoenix Copley and fell down the pecking order. Still, with a large body of work in North American hockey and a strong track record of success, Portillo stands to bounce back. There is certainly competition in the Reign crease with Copley back for another round, but this is a golden opportunity for Portillo to shine and win back the crease. If he can do that in training camp, he could find himself in line for a call up should Kuemper or Forsberg go down with an injury. While a full AHL season is likely in the cards, Portillo has plenty of time to establish himself as an NHL goaltender before the emergence of next in line Carter George finds his way through the ranks. 

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Fallers

Francesco Pinelli, C

Pinelli’s fall in the organization has not been from a lack of development. He has become a reliable two-way player in the system with a projectable style. While he will still make the jump to the NHL soon, the offence just has not come for him. With just 29 points in 70 games, Pinelli’s potential as a middle-six forward has faded. That’s not to say he won’t break through, but his rise has not been as fast as the organization had hoped when they used a second round pick on him, and he is in danger of being vaulted over by Kenny Connors in the pecking order. Once Pinelli can find his offence, he will be back on track. 

Martin Chromiak, RW

For much of his time in the organization, some likened Chromiak to a sniper with middle to top-six potential as an offensive threat. He does not offer much more than the offence he provides. At first glance, he looked to be a potential dynamic offensive player who did not offer much in the way of peripherals in the way of hits and blocks. But as he has struggled to elevate his game and progress, a player of his archetype likely does not make it to the NHL if they can’t produce offensively. At best, he could become a bottom-six NHLer with hot and cold spurts. 

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Expected to Start in NHL

Brandt Clarke

Alex Turcotte

Alex Laferriere

Jacob Moverare

Likely to see NHL action: 

Erik Portillo

Kirill Kirsanov

Francesco Pinelli

Akil Thomas

Andre Lee

Samuel Helenius

Cole Guttman

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Los Angeles Kings prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Liam Greentree
2. Carter George
3. Henry Brzustewicz
4. Kenny Connors
5. Erik Portillo
6. Koehn Ziemmer
7. Kirill Kirsanov
8. Jakub Dvorak
9. Kristian Epperon
10. Otto Salin
11. Francesco Pinelli
12. Akil Thomas
13. Andre Lee
14. Samuel Helenius
15. Cole Guttman
16. Jimmy Lombardi
17. Petteri Rimpinen
18. Jack Hughes
19. Vojtech Cihar
20. Martin Chromiak

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To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

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Final Thoughts

The Kings did not do a whole lot to improve on last year’s benchmark season. Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin are not exactly puck movers on the back end, especially after the trade of Jordan Spence. With several key players a year away from unrestricted free agency (Kempe, Kopitar, Kuzmenko) and Doughty two years away, the window has to be now for this team. They have a few young players ascending into the lineup this year who should provide valuable cheap contracts. But for the time being while they wait for this and last year’s drafted reinforcements to arrive, this is a core on its last leg, and this is a season where they have to make it count.

Sean Crocker