The Los Angeles Kings are off to a great start in the early going of the 2024-25 season.
Currently, they are 18-9-3, good for second place in the Pacific Division behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
Most player production has come from homegrown talent, like Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Drew Doughty.
As the Kings pursue another Stanley Cup, who are the players we should watch who are not yet Kings?
Here are the top three to keep an eye on.
Our Los Angeles Kings prospects are coming from everywhere.
Otto Salin
A 5-foot-11 and 187-pound defenseman from Helinski, Finland, Otto Salin, flew under the radar after he was drafted 148th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was still developing and making progress but was not in the same breath as Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke were in their draft year. Salin has developed to the point where his name should be mentioned along with the Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Salin has polished his game enough that he should be making his pro debut in the next couple of seasons. His overall game is better, and he has taken the necessary steps to be in the conversation about a promotion to North America.
This season for TPS Turka of SM-Liiga (Finland), he has seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 26 games. This is more than double his previous career-high eight points, set in 2022-23 with HIFK Helinski. He could be a solid and steady defenseman for Los Angeles.
Koehn Ziemmer
Kings prospect Koehn Ziemmer should be familiar to Los Angeles fans as he has been in the Kings’ development camp over the past couple of seasons. As a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, he has progressed to be an overall 200-foot threat. One thing that has not changed is his offensive ability. This season for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ziemmer has 22 goals and 12 assists for 34 points in 24 games.
He has shown more goal-scoring ability to almost a goal per game. He may be on pace to surpass his career-high of 89 points for the Cougars. Look for him to play a significant role when he makes his pro debut, which could come sooner than later.
Hampton Slukynsky
Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky has opened some eyes since being drafted by Los Angeles 118th in 2023. He put up some incredible numbers with the Fargo force off the United States Hockey League (USHL), posting a record of 28-3, with a goals-against-average of 1.86, a .923 save percentage, and five shutouts in 2023-24. This season, he plays for Western Michigan University of the NCHC (National Collegiate Hockey Conference).
A big step in his development, this style of hockey is more advanced than what he is used to, but he has shown he can play. He has a 3-3-1 record with a .941 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-against-average. He also has 209 saves in 424 minutes of play in seven games. While his record is solid, his other stats have garnered attention. He may be a few years away from Ontario, but the Kings have a good one waiting in the wings.
While we cannot take away from the sizzling start the Kings have had to start the season, we must see what may be coming sooner. The three listed above may be with the Reign in the coming years and will look to make an impact upon arrival.
The Kings have a solid foundation and have pieces at all positions awaiting their turn.
PHOTO: David Reginek/Imagn Images
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