Prospect News Week 5/26

Another award for Slukynsky

The award and championship cabinet for Hampton Slukynsky continues to fill up. A week after serving as Team USA’s number-three goalie at the World Championship, a team that won a gold medal, Slukynsky won Western Michigan University’s (NCAA) Susan Klop Rookie of the Year award. Slukynsky finished his freshman season with a 1.90 GAA and a .922 sv% in 25 games en route to backstopping WMU to an NCHC and NCAA championship. It was the team’s first national championship.

Kirsanov is a VHL champion and signs his entry-level contract

Kirill Kirsanov, LA’s 2021 third-round pick, split time between the KHL and VHL (minor leagues for the KHL) and was a member of Torpedo-Gorky’s championship team in the VHL. Kirsanov racked up five points (1 G, 4 A) in 19 playoff games for Torpedo-Gorky. However, that wasn’t the biggest news for the left-handed defenseman. On Sunday, the Kings announced they signed the 22-year-old southpaw to a two-year entry-level contract. After splitting time in the KHL and VHL for the past five seasons, Kirsanov will head to North America. I expect him to play the whole year in Ontario, which will feature a young defensive core with himself, Angus Booth, Jakub Dvorak, and Otto Salin.

Woolley helps London capture another championship

Jared Woolley joined Slukynsky and Kirsanov as the only three Kings prospects to win a championship with their clubs in their respective leagues. Woolley was part of a London Knights team that captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL) for the second straight year. Winning the OHL championship earned them a spot in the Memorial Cup. London would avenge last year’s Memorial Cup Final loss with a 4-1 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers, adding an OHL and Memorial Cup to Woolley’s resume. The 19-year-old left-handed defenseman didn’t record a point in the Memorial Cup, but did record nine points (2 G, 7 A) in 16 OHL playoff games.

Goodbye Mania?

The Kings had a decision to make on right-handed defenseman Matthew Mania on Sunday. The Kings drafted the 20-year-old in the fifth round in 2023 and held his rights until 2 PM PST/5 PM EST on June 1st, 2025. That day has passed, and it appears the Kings didn’t sign him to an entry-level contract and will lose his rights. Mania posted 45 points (7 G, 38 A) in 66 games for the Flint Firebirds (OHL) after an injury-plagued 2023-24 season.

Outlook for Hughes and Doyle

Speaking of the Kings losing Mania’s rights, they have two more decisions to make by August 15th. Those two players are Braden Doyle and Jack Hughes. I don’t see Doyle having a future in LA as he is fifth on the depth chart for left-handed defensemen in the prospect pool. As for Hughes, his offensive game and development haven’t progressed well enough for a second-round pick (2022 draft) to earn an entry-level contract. If the team doesn’t sign him by the August 15th deadline, it will be a tough pill to swallow for many Kings fans who wanted the club to draft left-handed defenseman Lane Hutson with the pick they selected Hughes with.

Draft month has arrived

The draft month has arrived! The combine starts this week, and we will see lots of mock drafts leading up to the draft. Reminder, the draft is being held in Downtown Los Angeles this year at the Peacock Theater on June 27th and 28th. As of right now, the Kings have seven picks.