LA Kings Rookie Faceoff Recap

The most impressive skill George displays is his ability to make difficult saves look effortless. His calm and cool presence off the ice translates to his performance on it. Betting on goaltending prospects to become NHL stars is a tough task, but for George, the odds are in his favor.

Henry Brzustewicz, D (1st round pick, 2025)

I’ll admit, I didn’t know much about Henry Brzustewicz, the Kings’ first-round pick from this summer’s entry draft, coming into these games. So I was hoping to get a sense of the type of player the Kings got with the 31st overall selection, and I came away impressed.

Brzustewicz does everything well. At 6’2″, there’s a lot to like about his skating ability. He reads the play in front of him, controls the ice, holds the blueline, runs a power play, and doesn’t shy away from physicality.

Playing in both games for LA over the weekend, I thought he was the Kings’ best skater. I look forward to following his progress as he returns to the OHL with the hope of a second straight Memorial Cup championship with the London Knights.

Liam Greentree, F (1st round pick, 2024)

The player with the biggest spotlight coming into the weekend for the Kings was their 2024 first-round pick, Liam Greentree. With the possibility of an opening night NHL roster spot there for the taking, especially after the injury to forward Corey Perry, Greentree had the most to gain from the weekend as a prelude to training camp, and it was a good start.

Greentree’s vision was evident in Sunday’s game against Anaheim with two straight primary assists, including an excellent one-time pass to Kenny Connors in the middle of the ice for a power play goal.

With NHL training camp starting this week, Greentree will look to continue his success with the big club. A nine-game look with the Kings to start the season should be in the cards for the 19-year-old before he heads back to the OHL to captain the Windsor Spitfires, and hopefully, a spot on Canada’s roster for the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Quick hits

Kenny Connors: Centering the Kings’ top line in both games, Connors showcased an excellent all-around game. It was a great weekend for LA’s 2022 4th-rounder.

Kirill Kirsanov: I was excited to see Kirsanov play after following him for a while in Russia. The 2021 3rd-rounder displays a ton of poise and brings a calm consistency to the blueline. Looking forward to watching him in his first year in North America with the Ontario Reign.

Aatu Jamsen: Cheeky. That’s all I could think about watching Aatu play. He brings so much skill and a nice mix of power. Hopefully, he can stay consistent. The NHL talent is there.

Jared Wright: Speed. So, so much speed.

Kaleb Lawrence: Coaches love him. Wearing a letter for the LA Kings over the weekend tells me a lot about what the franchise thinks of the large pesky centerman. Nice touch of skill in his game, too.

Jack Hughes: I don’t know if the NHL is in the future for the 2022 second-rounder, but I’ve definitely seen some improvement in his game over the years. Important first pro season upcoming.

Jakub Dvorak: I don’t know. I haven’t seen much to get excited about. But I’ll keep being patient.