RinkRoyalty will be reviewing the progress of Los Angeles Kings prospects every Wednesday as the season continues into full swing.
This week’s edition of Prospect Watch takes a look at defensemen Kurtis MacDermid.
20-year-old Kurtis MacDermid became a King in 2012, taking an unusual path to the NHL. Kurtis is the brother of NHL player Lane MacDermid.
MacDermid went undrafted in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. At the time he was only 18-years-old. MacDermid was under the radar because of his limited play in junior hockey’s most elite level, Junior A. During the 2011-2012 season MacDermid started the season as the captain of the Owen Sound Grays, a Junior B team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. After racking up 3 goals, 9 points, and 80 penalty minutes in 20 games, MacDermid was called up to play in Junior A.
MacDermid joined the Owen Sound Attack, a team that’s part of the famed Ontario Hockey League which is home to hundreds of the NHL’s prospects, for only 9 games. MacDermid registered 2 assists and 7 penalty minutes. Hardly number to catch a scouts eye.
What caught the eye of Kings scouts was MacDermid’s size. The young defensemen is 6’4 and 216 pounds. To put it nicely, he’s a man-child. So, the Kings offered MacDermid a chance to attend the Kings 2012 Development Camp, the preparatory camp for prospects before the start of the 2013 season. The Kings were so impressed with MacDermid they offered him a three-year entry-level contract in September of 2012.
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MacDermid returned to the OHL for the next two seasons. In 2012-2013, MacDermid played in 65 games for Owen Sound upping his production by scoring his first OHL goal and adding 7 assists, for 8 points a +7 and 110 Penalties In Minutes.
During the 2013-2014 season MacDermid was traded from Owen Sound to the Erie Otters. For the Otters MacDermid could serve as a solid defender and a protector of young superstar and expected 2015 top pick Connor McDavid. In the split season, MacDermid played 38 games with the Attack, and 28 games with the Otters. Over the combined 64 games MacDermid put up 7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points, 165 pims, and was a +22.
MacDermid has attended the last two Kings camps. After participating September’s camp this year MacDermid was sent down to play with the Kings American Hockey League affiliate the Manchester Monarchs. In two preseason games MacDermid already has one assist. Experience at the next level will help the young, man-child, defensemen develop the skilled aspects of his game while allowing him to adjust to the speed and rigorous schedule of professional hockey.
Puck Prose
MacDermid shares some common qualities of a player he personally admires:
“When I was down in L.A. I saw Matt Greene playing live for the first time. I just love the way he plays. He’s physical and has a big presence factor. He’s really good at simple plays too. That’s just the type of guy I want to play like.”
MacDermid’s trending in that direction. Many might think it’s easy to master making simple plays in hockey, or making a play look simple, but especially for defensemen on the breakout it is anything but. MacDermid’s areas of question are his puck-handling ability and skating. His bonus assets are his size, physical play, and willingness to drop the gloves, which he exemplified during a game with the Kings against the Arizona Coyotes this preseason:
A full season with the Monarchs will give MacDermid much needed experience, and more evidence that the Kings should keep him around.