As hinted at several times over the past few months, we’re happy to announce the return of our annual LA Kings Prospect Rankings. Since we’re re-launching this a little later in the hockey calendar than usual, the plan for this year’s series of articles is to break things up into four easy-to-read segments. We’ll start out with the below Honorable Mentions. Next up will be the five players ranked Nos. 11-15, followed by the Top 10 — which will be split over two articles.

For those new to our player ranking series, since its inception roughly 15 years ago, this has become some of the most popular content published on Mayor’s Manor each season. The reports provided have come to serve as a vital source of player information, as nobody outside the Kings organization talks to more coaches, scouts, and general managers about LA’s top prospects on a regular basis than the team at MM. Endless hours go into evaluating players in the pipeline and preparing our write-ups. Additionally, the final slotting of players is influenced by hundreds of hours of game action and debating the team’s prospects with a myriad of well-respected hockey people, including our key sources inside the Kings organization.

In an attempt to answer a few of the questions that come up when preparing this information, let’s clarify who doesn’t qualify this year. Looking back at the 2025 Rankings, only Liam Greentree has really been removed (via a trade with the Rangers). This makes the current rankings even tougher, as the 2025 NHL Draft class has now joined the pipeline, without a lot of offsetting players graduating to the NHL or even simply aging out.

The second biggest question surrounds future upside. One of the common mistakes when looking at a list of prospects is assuming all players are created equally when it comes to stats. A player ranked near the upper end of a top-10 list doesn’t always mean they’ll play first-unit power play or that they’re projected to score 40 goals in the NHL. The Kings roster is typically comprised of 12 forwards and six defensemen. While a third-line player may not help your fantasy hockey team much, they’re still very valuable in the real world. Ditto with a second-pair defenseman.

Therefore, our rankings typically start with a simple question, ‘How likely is this player to reach the NHL and play at least 50 games?’ (aka the industry standard for evaluating draft pick performance / efficiency). From there, we delve into impact in the NHL and then timing, i.e. how quickly is said player expected to become a full-time pro with the Kings and so on.

With all of that ground now covered, let’s really get into things.

Prospect Rankings: 2026 Honorable Mentions

NOTE: Each section is in alphabetical order, not ranked

Forwards

Martin Chromiak – Ontario Reign
5th round pick in 2020
2025-26 Stats: 28 goals, 28 assists, plus-1, 14 PIM in 71 games played

With Chromiak recently signed to a one-year contract extension, both sides are quickly approaching the proverbial fish-or-cut-bait moment. At 23 years old, there may not be much more growth in his game, having already completed four years of AHL action. However, this past season did see a significant jump in his offensive output, equating to a nearly 50% increase in goals and assists. He earned an NHL callup, it just never came. Will he be given a real opportunity to earn a spot in training camp?

Ryan Conmy – Boston College
6th round pick in 2023
2025-26 Stats: 9 goals, 18 assists, minus-1, 10 PIM in 35 games played

This coming season will be Conmy’s senior season of college, meaning it’s a critical campaign. If he’s not signed next summer, the Florida-born winger will become an unrestricted free agent. Conmy has been one of the true head-turners each of the past few summers at Development Camp (and he’s expected to be on this year’s roster, as well). After battling a few injuries this past season, we’re expecting Conmy to put together a big year in 2026-27. He wants that entry-level contract badly and knows what he needs to do to earn it.

Kristian Epperson – Denver University
3rd round pick in 2025
2025-26 Stats: 11 goals, 8 assists, plus-8, 14 PIM in 38 games played

After quietly putting together a nice freshman year during Denver’s regular season, LA’s 2025 draftee may have just been saving his best work for the playoffs. Epperson notched the game-winner in the 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship and assisted on the game-winning goal in this year’s NCAA championship game — in overtime, no less. Expect plenty of eyes to be on the Wisconsin native at Dev Camp later this month.

Kaleb Lawrence – Rochester Americans
7th round pick in 2022
2025-26 Stats: 0 goals, 3 assists, plus-2, 11 PIM in 16 games played

Lawrence was loaned, not traded, to the Rochester Americans at the end of the season in a swap for defenseman Nikita Novikov. He is still a Kings prospect, and an intriguing one at that. Standing tall at 6-foot-5, he played at a .69 points-per-game pace in his last three years in the OHL and, before injury, showed flashes of being an effective pro player in the AHL. If he can stay healthy next season, he is worth watching.

James Reeder – Denver University
7th round pick in 2024
2025-26 Stats: 10 goals, 23 assists, plus-18, 4 PIM in 41 games played

On a stacked national championship-winning roster, Reeder was one of the most trusted players on the team. He averaged the most ice time of any forward during the regular season, had the highest shooting percentage, and improved on his freshman campaign with 12 more points. He far outplayed his seventh-round draft status, and when discussing the promising young players in the Kings system, he should not be overlooked. Seeing him at LA’s upcoming Development Camp should also provide a gauge on how he stacks up to his peers in the Kings pipeline.

Defensemen

Caeden Herrington – Univ. of Vermont
4th round pick in 2025
2025-26 Stats: 1 goal, 7 assists, minus-14, 16 PIM in 34 games played

After scoring in his college debut, Herrington had a steady freshman year at Vermont — finishing with eight points in 34 games, averaging 18:25 of ice time, and ranking second on the team in shots among defensemen. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound offensive defenseman held his own against older, stronger competition all season, and he’ll look to take the next step in his development after transferring to Penn State for his sophomore campaign. Moving to a top-tier program should aid his ongoing development.

Otto Salin – Ontario Reign
5th round pick in 2022
2025-26 Stats: 3 goals, 2 assists, minus-3, 22 PIM in 41 games played

Salin had limited opportunities to show off his skillset this year while often playing on the third pair in Ontario. That said, he has the resume to warrant a good look in pro hockey. In his final season overseas in Liiga, he was a half-point-per-game player scoring 28 points in 56 games. With a full training camp and a shot at regular minutes, the upside is easy to see.

Goaltender

Petteri Rimpinen – Kiekko-Espoo/Liiga
5th round pick in 2025
2025-26 Stats: 2.31 GAA, .908 SV%, 5 SO, 2 assists, 15 wins in 40 games played

Rimpinen had a season that went well beyond his Liiga numbers. He started every game for Finland at the World Junior Championship, was voted Best Goaltender at the tournament, and now owns two of the top five spots in WJC history for most ice time by a netminder in a single tournament — including the all-time record, which he set the previous year. Despite being slightly undersized at six feet, he is quietly making the case for being one of the steals of the 2025 draft. If any ‘smaller’ goalie is going to make it through to the NHL, it’s Rimpinen.

We’ll be back soon with article two in the series, featuring five players who slot in at Nos. 11-15 on this year’s Prospect Rankings.

Follow @mayorsmanor

Epperson photo by Chris Swann

MORE LA KINGS NEWS:

Rankings Recap: Kings Top 10 Prospects for 2023, 2024, and 2025

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Hope springs eternal in the NHL’s summer offseason. While the annual Entry Draft in June typically serves as an opportunity for teams to restock their pipeline, sometimes it goes beyond simply improving positional depth. For example, it can include size, style of play, or even culture. Other options could be less esoteric, like handedness.

Up front, the Kings currently have four prospects who shoot right: Koehn Ziemmer, Martin Chromiak, Ryan Conmy, and James Reeder. While handedness isn’t usually labeled as a definitive need, having different traits can give an organization more options for roster construction now and in the future. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a player who is a righty — and brings much more to the table along with him.

Mathis Preston

Vitals

Date of Birth: July 21, 2008
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 176 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Forward

2025-26 Season

Preston spent the 2025-26 season with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs and Vancouver Giants. In 46 combined games, he had 44 points (18 G, 26 A).

Gap in Resume

The native of Penticton, British Columbia suffered a lower body injury in just his fifth game after getting traded to Vancouver, sidelining him for two months.

Good Company For 15-Year-Olds

The speedy forward was recognized at the U15 level receiving CSSHL Most Valuable Player honors. Some other notable recipients include Cole Reschny (first rounder of 2025), Zach Benson (Buffalo’s young star), and Connor Bedard (Chicago’s superstar).

Get a Grip, Take a Breath

At the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, Preston put up solid fitness numbers despite his size. He ranked among the top 10 in seven different tests.
Bench Press 50% of Body Weight: 6.8 watts/kg (4th)
Pro Agility Left: 4.4 seconds (t-8th)
Pro Agility Right: 4.3 seconds (t-3rd)
Pull Ups Consecutive: 14 (t-6th)
Wingate Peak Power Output: 17.2 watts/kg (t-2nd)
Isokinetic Squat: 3.57 lb/lb BW (2nd)
10m Sprint: 2.04 seconds (t-3rd)

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 33 by Elite Prospects. “Preston is one of the fastest skaters in the draft class, combining fully-extended strides with rapid-fire crossovers to blaze around defenders. With hands that match, he dangles opponents, often in creative ways, and masks his release with quick handling.

Speaking of his shot, it too is lethal. Preston fires with power and precision at full speed, without even breaking stride. He requires no wind-up, fires off the catch, and doesn’t need much to find a corner. One of his go-to moves is curling off the wall across the circle and firing on the move, showing far only to rip the puck short side.

Most nights, Preston gets the puck, flies down the wing full tilt, and fires from the far clutches of the offensive zone. He doesn’t give his teammates much opportunity to join his rushes, and doesn’t show much awareness to get inside or create better shooting lanes for himself. When compounded by very inconsistent motor and physical engagement, he has nights when he achieves little.”

No. 12 by Ryan Ma, “Mathis Preston is a dynamic, pace-driven offensive forward whose explosive skating, transition ability, and high-end playmaking vision give him legitimate top-six upside. While the flashes of creativity and offensive talent are outstanding, his projection will ultimately depend on whether he can attack the middle of the ice more consistently, refind that standout motor, and round out the details of his game to turn those flashes into a coherent package that constantly makes an impact.

Mathis Preston remains one of the more intriguing offensive players in this class because the skating, vision, and playmaking creativity are all legitimate weapons, but I’m still waiting for the complete package to show up consistently from shift to shift. The flashes can be outstanding. There are moments where he looks capable of driving transition, creating offense through pace, and finding passing lanes that most players simply don’t see. The issue is that those moments often feel disconnected rather than part of a consistently dominant performance.”

No. 65 by Hockey Prospect, “Preston is a dynamic rush winger, who merges exceptional zone-entry rates, with a threatening release. His stand-out quality is his superb skating, which features explosive punch-turns and sudden shifting stop-ups that have him rely on his weight transfers. This makes him very evasive in open-ice where he bypasses layered pressure when hitting the offensive blueline regularly. He also features multi-touch handling ability and exceptional shooting mechanics. When you first watch him, you think he has star potential on any given sequence given his natural offensive talent. But, we found that when we peeled back the layers that we were left with a largely unpolished and extremely raw player that has difficulty understanding how to be efficient with his skill-set.

For instance, we broke down 120 deke attempts that he made this past season, and only 5 of those attempts left him going from the outside back to the inside of an opposing player in one-on-one situations. Meaning, he almost exclusively shoots back to the outside at the end phase of his handling at this stage. We also did a large shot sample, and found that 38 percent of his shot attempts were from outside the dots. That’s not to say he can’t attack in the high danger areas, because he can, but he’s also a player who settles for lower-percentage shots at more severe angles too often. There’s a balancing act with gifted shooters who want to shoot short side often (Daniel Sprong 101) and that’s going to be part of Preston’s learning process. Despite his shooting mismanagement, he can also thread some impressive passes, and make difficult passes under pressure, but he doesn’t always operate efficiently with his playmaking rates either.”

See For Yourself

Video of Preston vs. the WHL’s Tri-City Americans:

Final Comments

When reviewing most scouting reports, Preston’s profile is fairly straightforward: small-to-average-sized, speedy, skilled, right-shot forward. His 5-foot-11 height would be the shortest LA has drafted out of the first round since Alex Turcotte in 2019. Before that? Craig Redmond in 1984. Needless to say, the Kings just don’t have a history of drafting players of below-average height with high picks.

With that said, we still feature Preston, because there are still qualities the organization could potentially benefit from. Recently, new bench boss Peter Laviolette has talked about tempo, and a speedy forward may be just the ticket to elevate that long-term. While his scoring rate didn’t seem to impress many scouts this season, the same evaluators still lauded his shooting and playmaking ability to go along with high-level skating.

When it comes to rankings, Smaht Scouting placed him highest at ninth overall back in their midseason list. Yet, in Hockey Prospect’s recent June publication, he was ranked just outside the second round at 65. Lists vary, and while we don’t favor one over another, he’s averaging closer to outside the first round.

Between the lack of historical picks for undersized players in the first as well as rankings that favor closer to the second round, we see him as more of a late second to early third round option for LA, if they wanted to go in this direction. Other teams perhaps like him better; meaning Preston could very well end up being gone already before LA even gets a real chance to consider him for selection.

To see more profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure to check out the links down below.

Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

Follow @mayorsmanor

MORE LA KINGS NEWS:

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Oliver Suvanto, Finland

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Niklas Aaram-Olsen, Norway

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Alexander Command, Sweden

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Thus far this year, we’ve produced a large volume of NHL Draft Preview articles featuring forwards. Don’t worry, we still plan on profiling a few potential rearguards before this series wraps up next week. However, given there are several options in the mid-first round among potential wingers and centers — and considering most of the blueline candidates LA may be willing to select at pick No. 17 may already have been taken by other teams — we’re going to stick with a few more players up front for now.

Oliver Suvanto

Vitals

Date of Birth: September 3, 2008
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 209 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Forward

2025-26 Season

Suvanto spent most of the 2025-26 season with Tappara in Finland’s top league, Liiga. Over the course of 48 games, he had 11 points (2 G, 9 A).

Simon(taival) Says

We at Mayor’s Manor love to look at relationships. Even when they don’t directly lead to decisions made, amusing stories ensue. In Suvanto’s case, he’s played with former Kings property Kasper Simontaival and Daniel Brickley.

Tops

Tappara was a very good experience for one of the draft’s youngest players, as they won the Liiga championship. Moreover, the native of Turku, Finland was recognized as a top-3 player with both his U-18 and U-20 squad this season.

Get a Grip, Take a Breath

At the 2026 NHL Scouting Combine, Suvanto was a top performer in several fitness tests. Among those tests were:
Left Hand Grip: 181 lbs (3rd)
VO2 Max: 59.0 ml/kg/min (6th)
Wingspan: 79.3 in (4th)
Pro Agility Left: 4.4 sec (t-8th)

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 28 by Elite Prospects. “At his best, Suvanto flashes intriguing and projectable offensive elements, mainly as a playmaker. Off the cycle, he can create space for himself with a reverse hit, then dish the puck to the slot or attempt to drive the net himself. He puts heavy emphasis on short-range passing plays and give-and-gos, preferring to pass to one of his wingers for an entry before sprinting towards the net as the F2. There are occasional flashes of manipulative skill, too, baiting defenders to commit their weight one way before exploding to the other, or opening up his desired passing lane by deceiving with his body orientation.

For a prospect who could go in the top 15 on draft day, Suvanto’s offensive upside is likely quite limited, though. He can extend cycles unnecessarily by missing options to get the puck to the inside, doesn’t bring much dynamism, and lacks a killer instinct as a finisher. His heavy stride and limited agility are also limiting factors, both showing in his overall skating grade.”

No. 19 by McKeen’s, “Suvanto is a coach’s dream due to his immaculate attention to detail, high-end defensive instincts, and a non-stop motor that translates into all three zones. When deployed down the middle, his positioning is remarkably sophisticated for a teenage forward; he routinely plays on the correct side of the puck, acts as a dedicated third defenseman below his own goal line, and tracks back with extreme urgency, frequently cementing himself as the first forward back into the defensive zone. His spatial awareness allows him to effortlessly execute game-saving defensive plays, such as identifying uncovered back-door threats and physically lifting their sticks before a pass can connect. On the forecheck, Suvanto is a relentless, suffocating force. He drives a heavy North-South game, hunting down opposing defenders, finishing massive checks, and using his wide frame to establish elite puck-protection cycles along the boards to extend zone time. He handles physical pressure with poise, willingly taking heavy contact to make simple, precise breakout passes under duress.”

No. 13 by Hockey Prospect, “Suvanto is a tenacious power-center who thinks the game at an exceptional level despite being one of the youngest players available in this class. Although he’s young, he combines his sense with a rare level of structure that had him playing up in Liiga for the majority of his season. Like his fellow countryman Hemming, he can physically dominate off the forecheck, win board battles at will, and simply overpower players including grown men. Also like Hemming, he relies on his playmaking ability as his primary skill and in the case of both of them, it is their most translatable skill. Unlike Hemming though, Suvanto operates a bit differently when it comes to using his hands and how he attacks the net. Suvanto looks to his extended trap dekes which he then turns into rapid multi-touch handling plays around opposing sticks and triangles, and he has an adept sense of timing the end phase of his handling into his lateral set-ups. He also looks to use power-cutting moves from below the goal-line so that he can directly attack net-front using his range to his advantage. This combined with his soft ice timing in high-danger areas is fundamental to his translation, since he has a lot of difficulty with his shot.”

See For Yourself

Video of Suvanto vs. KalPa in Liiga:

Final Comments

Like nearly every NHL franchise, Los Angeles seems to have a particular profile of players they seemingly prefer to have in their organization: two-way centers with size. We featured a similar prospect earlier in Ilia Morozov. With Anze Kopitar’s recent retirement, Suvanto brings a similar style of play where he would be a welcome addition.

They’re not the same player, though, so let’s not confuse the situation.

What made this young center’s season so remarkable were several factors. Most notably, he played regular third and fourth-line minutes on a championship team. Beyond that was his seemingly quick transition from playing in the U-18 circuit to against men. Even though he didn’t medal, being recognized as a top-three player on his team for both WJC squads is a major honor.

The Kings have several holes throughout their pipeline. While Kenny Connors, Jimmy Lombardi, and Francesco Pinelli lead down the middle, there’s a lack of center depth overall. Plus, they’re missing high-level pedigree, which is why a higher pick may be worth exploring another pivot to add to their mix of prospects.

On the surface, acquiring a young player who has shown the capacity to produce against men while also playing strong, defensive hockey seems like a solid approach. Further, Suvanto’s work rate and attention to detail is lauded, and that should lend toward a very coachable player moving forward.

To see more profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure to check out the links down below.

Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

Follow @mayorsmanor

MORE LA KINGS NEWS:

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Niklas Aaram-Olsen, Norway

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Alexander Command, Sweden

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Egor Shilov, Russia

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Hockey is often a game of stories and storylines. For the players we write about in the weeks leading up to the NHL Draft each year, this is the next step in their journey. And with the 2026 event now less than two weeks away, anticipation is rising by the hour. Sometimes more meager beginnings can lead to bigger opportunities. It can also set up for a variety of opinions — which could easily be said about the prospect we’re looking at below.

Niklas Aaram-Olsen

Vitals

Date of Birth: April 19, 2008
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 187 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Forward

2025-26 Season

Aaram-Olsen spent most of the 2025-26 season with Örebro HK in Sweden’s U-20 league. In 29 games, he had 40 points (20 G, 20 A).

A Hero Wearing Different Capes

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Aaram-Olsen represented his homeland in multiple circuits for international competition.

The young sniper recorded a hat trick in Norway’s relegation game versus Germany at the U18 WJC. Even though Aaram-Olsen will be too old to participate in that tournament again next year, he helped ensure his homeland stays in the top competition.

Similar heroics also took place at the WJC U20 D1-A competition. He led his team in points (and the entire tournament in goals with 6) en route to winning gold. This championship also elevated Norway’s ranking and pushed them into the main group at next December’s World Junior Championships.

You Don’t Know Lumberjacks

While he’s currently expected to stay with Örebro in Sweden next year, Aaram-Olsen was also drafted by the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Perhaps his biggest motivation for the migration would be an opportunity to adjust to North American ice. Whichever team selects him at the NHL Draft may have a strong opinion one way or the other.

Hop To It

The 2026 draft hopeful was a standout in athleticism and lower-leg strength when attending the combine. His numbers and rankings were as follows:
Standing Long Jump: 118 inches (first)
No Arm Jump: 19.3 inches (tenth)
50 percent of body weight bench press power: 6.6 watts/kg (t-seventh)
Pro Agility Left: 4.2 seconds (t-first)
Pro Agility Right: 4.2 seconds (t-first)
Wingate Peak Power Output: 17.2 watts/kg (t-second)
10m Sprint: 2.04 seconds (t-third)

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 64 by Elite Prospects. “Aaram-Olsen’s playmaking ended up often taking a backseat in our viewings. While he’s unlikely to turn into a top-tier distributor and often foregoes passing opportunities in favour of leveraging his shot, he’s shown a decent amount of potential as a play connector in transition.

Despite these tools and qualities, Aaram-Olsen was a highly contested prospect amongst our scouting staff this season. A lot of it came down to his two-way motor and overall play-driving, both of which earned very mixed reviews depending on the game and the environment.

At his best, like when he played with Norway’s men’s national team in February, Aaram-Olsen consistently flashed legitimate checking ability, took his defensive responsibilities seriously, and played with more pace with the puck. At his worst, he mostly became an off-puck shooter with limited impact at 5-on-5, being inefficient with the puck and fading into the background for large stretches at a time.”

No. 36 by McKeen’s, “Make no mistake, Aaram Olsen is in his element when the puck is on his stick. Doubly so when he’s found a skating lane through the neutral zone. If defenders are in his way, no problem. He can use his quick, shifty skating to maneuver around them, or use his strong stickhandling ability to manipulate them for his desired result: a path to the net. Aaram Olsen is a shooter with an NHL quality shot. He can pick corners and beat goalies clean from in close, far, and from sharp angles. He can freeze goalies with pre-shot fake outs. He’s a lethal finisher at high speeds, too. In true goal scorer fashion, he isn’t afraid of hunting rebounds or cutting in front of the net looking for tips. He’s a heads-up playmaker as well. Once he crosses the blueline, he uses cutbacks to survey the ice for pass options and looks to hit trailers. He’s got a feathery touch to his cross seam passes as well.

The blueprint is there for an up-and-down goal scoring winger at the NHL level. However, he still needs to work on the “down” part of that “up and down” equation. The motor is solid, but his physicality, forechecking, and neutral zone defence are still very inconsistent parts of his overall game. He won’t survive the Swedish pro game, much less the NHL, without some hardness and a need to get that puck. Based on his off-ice work ethic, there is strong belief that he will get there. Aaram Olsen has the potential to be a 20-goal scorer and transition winger, likely on an NHL team’s third line.”

No. 22 by Hockey Prospect, “Aaram-Olsen is a gritty, sniping winger who has developed better structure over the course of the season. In our earlier viewings, he was primarily relying on his skill in more of a complimentary role while displaying too much tunnel vision for translation. However, by the end of the season, and especially in some viewings against men, he showed a lot more versatility both on and off the puck, which changed our projection of him.

The bread-and-butter skill of Aaram-Olsen’s game is his shot. He has mechanical advantages as the result of his kinetic chain that he shares with some of the other top end shooters in this class like Belchetz, Klepov, and Steiner. By kinetic chain, we’re referring to specific body parts that link together to generate a force. The faster the player can generate the chain, the faster the force is generated. It’s an internal link between their skates, their hip line, their core rotation, their shoulder rotation and their arms. This in turn makes it extremely difficult for opposing players and goalies to pick up on the point of release, and that’s the separator for Aaram-Olsen.

We found his playmaking to be frankly pedestrian for much of the season, but towards the end of the year he was showcasing more advanced passing plays and he also was distributing the puck at a quicker rate in general. But, the single most improved aspect of his game is his off puck play.”

See For Yourself

Video of Aaram-Olsen vs. the J20 Nationell’s Frölunda:

Final Comments

Over 20 years ago, Los Angeles drafted a forward who came from a smaller hockey market in Anze Kopitar, and he bade farewell this season. While not a talent comparison at all, drafting a player from another smaller hockey market is almost poetic. Between the Kings draft position and Aaram-Olsen’s general ranking, it’s safe to say he won’t be picked at 11 — but he’s likely still a first-round talent.

Given the range of where different scouts place the Norwegian sniper, it’s unclear if he’ll be a primary target with LA’s first-round pick. While pace and defensive consistency get brought up, Aaram-Olsen’s commitment to better physical fitness, as evidenced by being a top performer in many lower-body strength exercises, should inspire some more confidence. Supplementing those physical qualities with a highly renowned shooting technique should get the Kings’ attention.

Should LA select him, Aaram-Olsen would likely benefit more playing at least a full season in the SHL. He was scoreless in 16 games in Sweden’s top league (though averaging 1:33 per game doesn’t give a lot of opportunity to produce). Getting regular minutes playing against men would continue the Norwegian’s story in his pursuit to play NHL hockey. If he continues to grow, the Kings could benefit greatly from a lethal triggerman.

To see more player profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure to check out the links down below.

Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

Follow @mayorsmanor

MORE LA KINGS NEWS:

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Alexander Command, Sweden

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Egor Shilov, Russia

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Nikita Klepov, USA

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

During last week’s introductory press conference, where Kings GM Ken Holland introduced new head coach Peter Laviolette, there was some mention of the team’s assistant coaches. And we now have a brief update to pass along.

When asked about the status of assistant coaches Newell Brown and Matt Greene at the time, Holland indicated it would be sort of a mixed bag. While he wanted his new bench boss to be able to largely select his staff, there seemed to be an indication that Laviolette would most likely only be adding one person to the group — and even said they’ve already talked about who that person might end up being, while stopping short of sharing a name.

“I believe the head coach needs to have his own people,” explained Holland. “We have some good people here, so we’ve talked about the people that have been here. He’s in town now for the rest of this week — he wants to meet the staff. But I think it’s important that the head coach has people that he has relationships with. He does have somebody in mind to come in here to be part of the staff. Other than that, he’s open-minded.”

As we reported that day, Brown has one year remaining on his current contract as assistant coach. That’s not to say he absolutely will be back, though.

Newell Brown is under contract for one more season. Laviolette will be meeting with him before any decisions are made regarding his two assistants. #GoKingsGo https://t.co/7WzfySGaLy

— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) June 10, 2026

Laviolette indeed got right to work and hasn’t wasted any time on this important process. Mayor’s Manor has learned through various sources that the veteran coach already met with both Brown and Greene, in addition to conducting “a lot of interviews.”

Greene is perhaps the most interesting person involved. On one hand, many players voiced their approval of the former NHL defenseman stepping into the role late last season. They valued his intensity, accountability, and communication in the temporary role — an opening that was created when Jim Hiller left the organization and DJ Smith took over as interim head coach.

His specific situation was discussed in detail during the most recent Kings Of The Podcast episode.

In brief, Greene has always appeared content with his position in LA’s player development group. He loves being on the ice and teaching young players, while the daily grind and travel of an NHL coach just didn’t seem to appeal to him. Did he maybe catch the bug over the last few months? It’s possible, yet probably not very likely.

Recently, the Kings have had three assistant coaches, along with goaltending coach Mike Buckley. We’re assuming the latter is staying. Along with Greene and Brown, the other assistant coach is Derik Johnson. After first joining the Kings in 2018, he previously served as an assistant video coach before seeing his role morph into more of a skills coach. A defenseman by trade, including a college career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth before a brief pro career, Johnson is likely staying, as well.

Circling back to Brown, he’s a veteran NHL coach, having served in an assistant role for five other clubs over the past 30 years. However, the numbers simply weren’t good enough with LA last season.

For the 2025‑26 regular season, the Kings ranked near the bottom of the league with a power‑play percentage of 17%. Further, their 220 total goals ranked 29th out of 32 teams. This came after putting up 249 goals the year before, good enough for 14th in the league.

For some quick context, Hiller was responsible for the power play when he was an assistant coach under Todd McLellan from 2022-24. When Hiller was then promoted to head coach, Brown was brought in as the ‘offensive coach’ to round out his staff in the summer of 2024 (ed note: most NHL teams have two primary assistants, one focusing on offense and the other on defense; Smith was Hiller’s ‘defensive’ assistant). Given LA’s woeful offensive output last season, Hiller took over the power play at one point. Were the issues tied to players, coaching, the structure and approach? Some combination? Regardless, it’s an area Holland has been talking about improving during his last few press conferences.

In an attempt to connect the dots a bit, let’s quickly review Laviolette’s history. Former center Michael Peca was his offensive guy in New York. He’s currently with Chicago, so getting him to come over in a mostly lateral move may be a challenge. He’s also had guys like Scott Arniel and Dan Muse under him before, they’ve advanced to become NHL head coaches in Winnipeg and Pittsburgh. Therefore, unless Laviolette has a different candidate in mind, Brown could potentially return for another year.

Over on the defensive side, former NHL defenseman Kevin McCarthy was by Laviolette’s side in Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington, and they won a Cup together in Carolina. However, he’s retired from full-time activity, opting to spend time as a development coach with the Hurricanes for a few years now.

Thus, if Greene bows out of the conversation, things will likely quickly turn to Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley. In addition to being one of the top offensive-minded defensemen in NHL history, Housley is also somebody Laviolette holds in high regard.

“I think he’s an excellent coach,” said LA’s new bench boss. “I’ve worked with Phil in the past for, I think, three years. Two of those years, we made it to the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.”

Even so, Laviolette wasn’t ready to cast aside the current staff without first meeting with them and getting to know them a little better.

“I wanted to have the opportunity to talk to the staff that was here,” he explained. “I think it’s important to be respectful of the coaches that were in place before me. They’re terrific people. … I think it’s important to take the time to talk to them. From there, we’ll work to formulate the best staff for the LA Kings. It’s just a little bit of a process. [After being hired], now we’re in a position where I can start to talk to Ken about some of the people that could help this team. So it’s in progress right now. But yeah, Phil Housley’s a great coach, for sure.”

Follow @mayorsmanor

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Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Some prospects arrive at their draft year with a reputation already built, and the scouting world largely confirms what many already decided two seasons prior. Not Alexander Command. He did it the hard way.

After spending the fall as a name buried in the back half of most draft lists — the kind of player you note, acknowledge, and move past — he just kept showing up. Shift after shift, game after game, until the people paid to watch hockey couldn’t stop writing his name down. By midseason, the previous afterthought had become a first-round mainstay. This is the story of a player who talked his way onto the board without saying a word.

Alexander Command

Vitals
Date of Birth: June 16, 2008
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 187 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center

2025-26 Season
Command spent the year with Örebro HK’s U20 club in Sweden’s J20 Nationell, where he was the most productive player on his team; posting 17 goals and 44 points. He also finished ninth overall in the league and did it as a 17-year-old, against older competition.

Slow and Steady
There wasn’t really a single breakout moment to point at, no single highlight that flipped the switch. Command’s rise was the definition of a slow burn. The longer the season went, the more obvious it became that the things he did well, he did every night. Consistency may be an unglamorous word to those in the scouting world who seem to love flash, but it’s the one that moved him up the board.

Command and Conquer
When Sweden won gold at the 2026 Under-18 World Championship, Command was right in the middle of it. Three goals and seven points in seven games, good for third on the team in scoring. He was also given a roster spot on Sweden’s World Junior A team, where he put up five points in five games, took home a bronze medal, and was named to the tournament All-Star team. That international résumé should be proof that his game can translate to a bigger stage and that he shows up when it matters.

A Nasty Streak
For a player whose calling card is a quick release and smart offensive instincts, Command plays a lot meaner than you might expect. He turns the forecheck into a problem for defensemen, leans hard on anyone trying to shield the puck from him, and treats every wall battle as essential to win. He’s the kind of opponent who’s exhausting to play against.

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 13 by Daily Faceoff: “Command isn’t flashy, but he has all the makings of a reliable, all-situations center in the NHL. His floor is very high – he fits an archetype that succeeds quite frequently. He’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. Command can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent.”

No. 21 by Dobber Prospects: “A toolsy centre who competes extremely hard and plays with a nasty bite. He wreaks havoc on the forecheck constantly disrupting breakouts with his speed and physicality. He punishes players who are between him and the puck, and once he gains possession, he has the skill to either find teammates in good scoring positions or drive the net and finish himself.”

No. 28 by Ryan Ma: “A high-effort, physically engaged centre whose value comes from defensive structure, puck battles, and net-front work rather than offensive creation. While he brings strong habits, a good motor, some decent connective play and consistent willingness to play through contact, his limited puck skill, stiff skating, and slow decision-making under pressure suggests he may top out as a complimentary piece on a line at higher levels.”

See For Yourself

Final Comments

Command will likely be most useful in the NHL when killing penalties, winning draws, and chipping in when the lineup needs a jolt. The risk is that the absence of a star-level trait may cap him as a middle-sixer rather than a game-breaker. That being said, his quick-release shot, blended with his physicality, still makes him a very interesting player. Perhaps the two most bullish takes come from TSN’s Craig Button, who says that he sees a second-line center “all day long” with shades of Joel Eriksson Ek, and NHL Network Radio’s Shane Malloy, who views him as a top-tier F4, and bearing resemblance to Sebastian Aho.

As long as his shot and consistency keep trending upward as they did this season, whichever team selects him may get even more than they expected — and he could end up taking command of a top-six role in the NHL.

To see more player profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure the check out the links down below.

Lead photo via Öreboro

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Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

With the Stanley Cup Final now over, the real off-season is officially underway. After a six week break while the playoffs continued to play out, your patience has been rewarded. On this all-new Kings Of The Podcast episode, co-hosts John Hoven and Dennis Bernstein share thoughts on Carolina defeating Vegas in six games and then really dig in on all things related to LA and Ken Holland. Among the topics covered include:

— Peter Laviolette’s hiring
— Candidates for assistant coach spots in LA
— Trade rumor updates (Larkin, Trocheck, Pettersson, Gavrikov and Nurse)
— Drew Doughty’s status with the organization
— Scott Laughton’s potential extension
— Rich Seeley leaving as GM of Ontario
— Chris Hajt’s future
— A goalie is likely on the move
— And much more!

These two articles were also mentioned:

LA Kings 2026 Development Camp: Dates and Roster Preview

REPORT: NHL Rookie Faceoff Tournament Headed Back to San Jose, Will Double in Size

Listen to this KOTP episode for free using the audio player below or find a full catalog of past shows on all the major podcast platforms, including: Spotify, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcast, Tune In, etc.

Graphic created by ALoImages

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

While many of the players we’ve featured thus far in this year’s NHL Draft Preview series have focused on what the Kings might do with selection No. 17, it’s important to remember there are seven rounds to worry about — and that doesn’t even get into options for moving up and down.

With that in mind, we’re taking a bit of a detour in this article. Let’s give a little attention to a player LA could certainly have their eyes on in Round 2.

Egor Shilov

Vitals

Date of Birth: April 30, 2008
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 176 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Forward

2025-26 Season

Shilov spent his 2025-26 season with the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 63 games, he had 82 points (32 G, 50 A).

The Road Less Traveled

Recent rule changes have allowed players in major junior hockey to migrate toward collegiate hockey. However, those possibilities weren’t really in place when Shilov moved from Russia to North America. To maintain his NCAA eligibility, the skilled forward played his first season away from home in AAA hockey and then advanced to the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. What made this path unusual was his move over to the QMJHL last season.

Lions and Tigres and… That’s It

Victoriaville’s leading scorer is expected to stay with the Tigres in major juniors for one more season. Afterwards, he’s committed to playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions beginning in 2027.

Optional Athleticism

So far, several skilled prospects we’ve looked at haven’t ranked in the top 10 for any fitness testing performed at the NHL Draft Combine, and Shilov is no exception. As mentioned in previous articles, this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. Producing while not at a physical peak can suggest a potentially higher upside.

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 26 by Elite Prospects. “One of the draft’s most purely skilled creators, Yegor Shilov has a highlight reel comparable to the very best. He’s been a scorer at every level, and continued to show it in the QMJHL.

Shilov carries pucks across zones with smooth crossovers while handling the puck at his hip, in a deceptive, multi-threat position. With a flick of the wrist, he swipes pucks to teammates on the flank and shifts the puck under defensive sticks to break right in.

It feels like Shilov perceives the game in slow motion, anticipating pokechecks and defensive counters, and reacting faster than the opposition. There’s a certain grace to the way he rushes the puck or controls it at the half-wall on the power play, as if his goal is not only to find ways around the opposition, but to do it in the most highlight-reel-worthy way.”

No. 34 by Scott Wheeler, “He has work to do to round out his game defensively, but his instincts on both sides of the puck are there, and Victoriaville used him in all situations, including on the penalty kill. He’s also decent in the faceoff circle. He’s highly skilled, with a great shot off balance (he really whips it) and a nasty release off the middle of his blade. He has a superb first touch, even in traffic, and can place pucks up under the bar from in tight with a little chip shot he loves to use around the slot. His skating can look a little unconventional, and he has work to do on his fitness, but the offensive-zone gifts, position and average size place him in this fourth tier and make him appealing in the 30s of this class to me.”

No. 101 by Hockey Prospect, “Shilov came over to the QMJHL after playing last season in the USHL and was one of the top rookies in the league, finishing top-10 in scoring overall in the league. He’s a smart center who can be a dual offensive threat, creating chances with above-average shooting skills and creativity as a passer. He excels on the power play from the right faceoff circle, where he benefits from the extra time and space a man advantage provides. He has slick hands, strong one-on one skills in tight spaces and in transition, a quick release, and velocity on his shot. He’s also a solid faceoff man — 54% in the dot this season, with only seven centers took more draws than him league-wide.

On pure skill, he looks like a surefire first-round prospect. The reality is he was never close to cracking our top-32 at any point this season, and here’s why.

The biggest issue is his pace — arguably the worst we’ve seen from any player this year. The NHL is all about pace now, and it’s hard to envision a player with such bad pace fitting into a full-time role at that level. His skating is also a problem, though it’s genuinely difficult to evaluate because he so rarely skates hard. Most of the time he’s barely moving his feet, and his speed looks well below average. His edgework are decent, but he doesn’t use them nearly enough. He rarely pushes tempo, looks un-athletic on the ice, and when he does try to accelerate to a loose puck, he simply doesn’t have the extra gear.”

See For Yourself

Video of Shilov vs. the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbrand Armada:

Final Comments

By venturing outside of prospects who fall into the 17-20 range in Round 1, we’re heading out into a territory where LA may be thinking about potential movement scenarios to nab a player they really like. Then again, the simplest option could be to wait and see if a targeted player falls to the Kings at pick 46, their first of two selections in Round 2. Judging from the variety of rankings above, that could be a gamble worth taking.

Taking a passive approach usually doesn’t lead to success for ambitious organizations, though. As a result, another option could be to trade down from No. 17 and gain an extra pick in the deal. Recently, LA used this type of strategy and earned themselves the selections used for guys like Carter George, James Reeder, and Vojtech Cihar.

Although rankings differ, there’s a general consensus in what Shilov brings: high skill, particularly in special teams, with questionable pace and consistency. This usually doesn’t match the profile of who LA targets — at least not with higher picks. As a result, the Russian native would seem more targeted outside the first round.

Questions of pace and effort can be hit or miss. If it’s tied to maturity, then a team would usually feel more confident taking a chance and letting a prospect grow up. By contrast, if an organization deems it to be more of a character flaw (and please note this is not what we’re insinuating, merely for example purposes), there will be a lot less comfort in using valuable draft capital. The biggest takeaway from this, however, should be recognizing how productive Shilov was even with questions of pace and effort.

This ties back to the importance of interviews and is one of the many reasons why Mark Yannetti, LA’s Director of Amateur Scouting, has said he values conversations and getting to know a player. Understanding what happens between the ears is just as important as what shows up on the ice.

To see more player profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure the check out the links down below.

Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

Follow @mayorsmanor

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Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Occasionally, the Kings — and other clubs around the league — are able to overlook unpleasant realities and adjust as needed. In LA’s specific case, perhaps their greatest comfort has been when Russian prospects were already committed to playing on NHL ice.

Klepov is a bit of a hybrid situation. He has dual citizenship in the United States and Russia, so there’s a possible extra layer of reassurance he won’t quickly head overseas for icier pastures. He’s also been in the OHL, in part to adjust to what he hopes is a long pro career in this part of the world.

Nikita Klepov

Vitals

Date of Birth: June 27, 2008
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 181 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Forward

2025-26 Season

Klepov spent the 2025-26 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit. In 67 games, he had 97 points (37 G, 60 A).

OHL’s Leader

The native of Deerfield Beach, Florida, made quite an impression in his one and only Ontario Hockey League season. He led the entire league in scoring; only second overall pick Michael Misa and 10th overall pick Marco Rossi have done this in their draft year since 2016.

Spirited Away

Klepov has had an unusual but not unfamiliar career trajectory. Last season, he played in the USHL before moving to the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit this year. For 2026-27, his path leads him to collegiate hockey. Los Angeles drafted a player in 2025 who took similar steps: Kristian Epperson — he too played for the USHL’s USNTDP team, went to Saginaw, then migrated to NCAA hockey.

The Rookie

Leading the OHL in scoring did not go unnoticed. He tied Rossi’s record of receiving Rookie of the Month honors three times. Moreover, he was recognized as the top newcomer for the season.

There have been only two previous times a rookie has led the Ontario Hockey League in scoring: Patrick Kane in 2006-07 and Jack Valiquette in 1973-74.

Rankings by Independent Scouting Services

No. 20 by Elite Prospects. “At his best, Klepov looked like a top-15 talent, slipping checks, dangling under sticks, and passing counter to pressure. And his skills shone even brighter on the power play, where he unleashed one-timers, dropping to one knee, dropping his full weight on his stick for added power, and rocketing the puck to the top of the net before the goalie could move.

‘There were hints of advanced processing in this game,’ Crossover Scout Simon Desjardins wrote in a February report. ‘He read the defenders’ feet and cut the opposite way, opened new lanes, and froze opponents with fakes and baits. Dominant on the power play, he displayed incredible patience and vision, leading to one cross-ice pass after the other.’

Klepov’s physical skills, defensive ability, and motor add other dimensions to his projection. Possessing a bottomless tank of energy, he works to get the puck back, hunting it deep in the opposition’s zone, establishing body positioning on pucks, and turning steals into more offence.”

No. 15 by Jason Bukala, “Klepov will be tasked with paying more consistent attention to his detail off the puck defensively, but his offensive upside is undeniable. He produced 37G-60A in 67 games this year. Klepov is headed to Michigan State.

NHL Projection: Second line winger”

No. 20 by McKeen’s Hockey, “Klepov is among the most dangerous players in the draft with the puck on his stick. He draws defenders to himself before quick changes of direction to create openings for passes or dekes. His elite hands help him convert when he’s in tight, but his shot is just average. If he can establish himself as a shooting threat from a distance, the sky is the limit. He also has a very good understanding that good defence leads to more offensive opportunities and is very good defensively for a 17-year-old winger. He backchecks hard and identifies gaps in coverage, where he fills in as additional support defensively.”

See For Yourself

Video of Klepov vs. the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers:

Final Comments

When evaluating who Los Angeles will target, we try to look at a variety of reasons a player may make sense at the spot they’re slotted to select. For example, Russians who play in their homeland are at higher risk, particularly with value picks. As mentioned, Klepov alleviates that concern, given he has already played in North America for a few seasons.

Another factor is organizational need. Trading away Liam Greentree cost Los Angeles a potential skilled, high-end winger down the road. While we always caution against drafting for need, it’s still an x-factor.

Another interesting issue to consider is history. Since Rob Blake took over in 2017, LA’s most common target for their high picks were players in the Ontario Hockey League, with five of their eight selections in the opening round coming from that league: three forwards (Greentree, Byfield, Vilardi) and two defenders (Clarke and Brzustewicz). We’re obviously not suggesting this is intentional, though it is likely more than a coincidence. Will this continue as the hockey development landscape continues to shift, especially as more players are leaving for college than ever before.

The ultimate attribute we look into is whether or not the prospect’s overall profile matches what LA typically looks for. Klepov combines the Kings need for skill and a coveted motor. The only key trait he’s missing is a larger frame, but even the acquisition of Artemi Panarin suggests it may not be prioritized as much as before. The biggest criticism levied against this talented winger is his tendency to try to do too much. Of all the flaws a prospect could have, someone who is coachable can mitigate this fairly quickly.

Putting it all together, Saginaw’s leading scorer isn’t a flight risk, fits a positional need, matches the overall type of player LA is likely looking for, and plays in a league the Kings are comfortable drafting from. Conveniently ranked around where the Kings pick, Klepov may indeed end up checking every box.

To see more player profiles from this year’s Draft Preview series, be sure the check out the links down below.

Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.

Follow @mayorsmanor

MORE LA KINGS NEWS:

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Marcus Nordmark, Sweden

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Oscar Hemming, Finland

2026 NHL Draft Preview: Forward Maddox Dagenais, Canada

Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com

Enjoy a free replay of this weekend’s Hot Stove on NHL Network Radio, where John Hoven joined hosts Dennis Bernstein, Dave Pagnotta, and Ryan Paton to dig into all the latest LA Kings roster news, including trade speculation of Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, plus rumors about a center, possibly moving one of their three goalies this summer, and the Drew Doughty situation written about here:

Doughty Situation Looms Large for Kings; Holland Shares Update on Contract Situation

This radio segment can be heard using the player below or download any of our audio files for free on the Mayor’s Manor Apple podcast page located here.