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Playoff Updates for the Prospects

Originally posted on Hockey Royalty  |  By Kyle Garcia  |  Last updated Mar 24, 2026 1:43 PM ET

As the LA Kings’ season is winding down, the playoffs for some of their prospects have begun, or are about to begin, in their respective leagues. Today, we will break down which prospects have made the playoffs or those who have already started.

Here we go!

Rimpinen helps Kiekko-Espoo stave off elimination

Liiga (Finland) already started its playoffs this past weekend. As a memory refresher, the top 12 teams make the playoffs, with the top four seeds getting a bye in the opening round, while the fifth through 12th seeds play in a best-of-five series.

Petteri Rimpinen and Kiekko-Espoo finished as the ninth seed and face the eighth seed, HC Ässät Pori (Aces). Kiekko-Espoo dropped the first two games, but staved off elimination in Game Three with a 5-2 victory. Rimpinen has posted a 2.36 GAA and a .909 save percentage in the three games. Game Four is this morning, and Kiekko-Espoo will look to force a winner-take-all Game Five.

Brzustewicz and George face off in the OHL’s first round

All five of the Kings’ prospects playing in the OHL will be in the playoffs. The headline, though, will be the London Knights (Henry Brzustewicz) and the Soo Greyhounds (Carter George), featuring a King prospect versus a King prospect.

Unfortunately, one of them will be going home early.

Jan Chovan will look to lead the charge in an upset against the OHL’s best regular-season team, the Brantford Bulldogs. Jared Woolley will look to help lead the Kitchener Rangers on a deep playoff run, and so will Jimmy Lombardi’s Flint Firebirds.

The OHL playoffs start on Thursday.

Cihar looking to lead WHL-Kelowna on a deep playoff run

Vojtěch Čihař finished his WHL season with 31 points (12 G, 19 A) in 31 games. Kelowna is hosting the Memorial Cup this year, so Čihař will look to lead the Kelowna Rockets on a deep playoff run. Game One of their first-round playoff series against the Kamloops Blazers is on Friday.

Four make the NCAA tournament

The Kings have four prospects playing in the NCAA tournament. Hampton Slukynsky (sophomore) will represent Western Michigan University, while Kristian Epperson (freshman), Brendan McMorrow (freshman), and James Reeder (sophomore) represent Denver University.

Both Western Michigan and Denver are in the same bracket, so if they both win their opening game, they will face off in the following game. Wouldn’t that be something if that happens? Western Michigan faces Minnesota State while Denver opposes Cornell. Both games are on Friday at 11:30 AM PST (Western Michigan) and 3 PM PST (Denver)

This article first appeared on Hockey Royalty and was syndicated with permission.

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