Ranking the Forward Prospects

15) Jan Chovan (18 years old, drafted in 2025; 6th round)

Jan Chovan was taken in the same draft as McMorrow. One of the upsides to Chovan’s game is that he is a two-way forward who can play center and wing. It’s great to have versatility, but his offensive upside seems to be limited. He currently has zero points in four games with the Sudbury Wolves (OHL).

14) Kaleb Lawrence (22 years old, drafted in 2022; 7th round)

Kaleb Lawrence surprised me last year with the Ontario Reign. I was expecting a player to play over the edge and rack up penalty minutes, but that wasn’t the case. Lawrence was a reliable fourth-line center down the stretch of the season for the Reign, whom Marco Sturm could depend on. However, like Mcmorrow, he has a long way to go to make the NHL.

13) Vojtěch Čihař (18 years old, drafted in 2025; 2nd round)

Speed, hard work, and energy. Those are three things I see in Vojtěch Čihař’s game when watching his highlights. Čihař is playing in Czechia’s top league for HC Energie Karlovy Vary and has three points (1 G, 2 A) in 12 games. His speed, hardworking energy, and two-way game are traits most players in the Kings’ pipeline possess.

12) James Reeder (20 years old, drafted in 2024; 7th round)

James Reeder was a seventh-round pick in 2024 and another prospect the Kings will track at the University of Denver. Reeder, like some of the prospects above, has speed. He is also a great passer, can play on the penalty kill, and from some of the games I was able to watch Denver play last year, he likes to get to the middle of the ice.

Known for his two-way game and speed when drafted, Reeder fits the mold of what the Kings like. He finished his freshman season at Denver with 21 points in 44 games, playing mainly a third-line role.

11) Jimmy Lombardi (18 years old, drafted in 2025; 4th round)

Jimmy Lombardi will play in the OHL this year with the Flint Firebirds before heading off to the University of Michigan next year. Drafted in the fourth round by the Kings this June, Lombardi’s effective vision and passing stand out. His offensive game will need more time to round out, but I like the pick for Los Angeles. He currently has three assists in four games with the Firebirds.

10) Jack Hughes (21 years old, drafted in 2022; 2nd round)

Jack Hughes was a player I wasn’t high on when drafted by the Kings in 2022, but I have him at number 10. He was known for his complete game, but it never showed consistently in college. I do think he is a good playmaker, but he eventually shifts from center to the wing. The two-year AHL contract he signed in July buys him time for his development.

9) Martin Chromiak (23 years old, drafted in 2020; 5th round)

Martin Chromiak was once a possible hidden gem in the Kings’ pipeline, but now finds himself on an island of his own. Chromiak’s shot and quick release of it were reasons he was highly rated in the system, but that seems to be the only tool in his offensive game. This year could be the last chance the former fifth-round pick has to make an impression on the organization. A consistent and strong start to the year can help his case.

8) Aatu Jamsen (23 years old, drafted in 2020; 7th round)

Aatu Jamsen is another seventh-round pick on this list, but his skill, edgework, and craftiness draw my attention. He’s not the fastest player on the ice as he goes at his own pace, but he has silky hands and edgework to complement his pace. Where he will need to improve is getting stronger. As mentioned with McMorrow, the chances of a seventh-round pick making the roster are slim, but Jamsen’s skill set could make him a sleeper to do so.

7) Kristian Epperson (19 years old, drafted in 2025; 3rd round)

Kristian Epperson had a phenomenal season with the Saginaw Spirit, playing alongside Michael Misa. Watching Epperson’s tape mix, I can see why the Kings chose him in the third round this past June.

Epperson brings a lot of energy to every shift and excels in transition, in addition to being outstanding on the forecheck, despite not being the fastest skater. He likes to hang around the front of the net in the offensive zone at times without the puck and set up teammates when he does have it. Time will tell if he was a product of Misa, but I’m excited to watch his games at the University of Denver.

6) Francesco Pinelli (22 years old, drafted in 2021; 2nd round)

This season marks Francesco Pinelli’s third year with the Reign and the final year of his entry-level contract. Pinelli thrives when skating east to west, using his excellent vision and silky hands to create offense. This year, I would like to see him be more assertive with his shot. We’ve seen flashes of promise in Ontario, but this year will need to be the year he takes the next step in his development.

5) Jared Wright (22 years old, drafted in 2022; 6th round)

Speed, speed, and more speed! That’s the first thing that comes to mind when watching Jared Wright. That speed of his is a great weapon on the forecheck. In addition to his speed, Wright also has size and is a good two-way player. He could potentially make an impact as a bottom-six forward for the Reign this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some NHL games within the next few years.

4) Kenny Connors (22 years old, drafted in 2022; 4th round)

Kenny Connors enters his rookie season after three solid collegiate seasons. Connors prides himself on playing a 200-foot game, setting up chances for his teammates, winning faceoffs, and contributing in all situations. It wouldn’t surprise me if he could be a potential third-line center for the Kings in the future.

3) Ryan Conmy (20 years old, drafted in 2023; 6th round)

Ryan Conmy is a player I’ve liked since the Kings drafted him. Having watched plenty of University of New Hampshire games over the past two years, Conmy always stood out. When the puck is on his stick, he finds a way to get the shot off. When he doesn’t have the puck, he puts himself in a position to get the shot off by finding the soft spot in the offensive zone.

Conmy will be playing at Boston College this year.

2) Koehn Ziemmer (20 years old, drafted in 2023; 3rd round)

Koehn Ziemmer is the second-highest forward in my ranking. Ziemmer is known for his scoring, but also plays a net-front presence and isn’t afraid to play a bruising game. He was also able to play center last year with the WHL-Prince George, adding playmaking to his repertoire.

His minor flaw is his skating, which could pose a problem with keeping up with the pace. Playing in three regular-season contests with the Reign near the end of last season was a noticeable issue. However, if that improves, look out.

1) Liam Greentree (19 years old, drafted in 2024; 1st round)

This was easily the properly ranked forward within the pipeline. Liam Greentree has star potential and lit up the OHL with a 119-point season as captain of the Windsor Spitfires. While it’s not always a guarantee it will translate over to the professional rankings, Greentree is Los Angeles’ most skilled prospect. Pass, shoot, create, you name it. At 19 years old, he’s not eligible to join the AHL this year, but next year, fans will get an up-close look at the organization’s top prospect.