LA Kings: Ranking the top ten prospects post-NHL Draft

2. Alex Turcotte, C

Alex Turcotte developed under new Ontario Reign head coach John Wroblewski for the USNTDP. In 2018-2019, he scored 12 goals with 22 assists in 16 games of USHL play. For the U18 team, he tallied 27 goals with 35 assists in 37 games. And in the World Juniors, he was outstanding, scoring 4 goals with 5 assists in only 7 games.

He was part of a disappointing Wisconsin Badgers hockey club last year, scoring 9 goals with 17 assists in 29 games. Turcotte is currently loaned to Eisbären Berlin for the team’s training camp. With the NHL’s tentative start date pushed back to January 1, there’s a decent chance he plays in live-game action over there. Back in the States, Turcotte will play for Ontario this year.

3. Arthur Kaliyev, LW

Kaliyev is going to be a top-end winger for the Kings one day. The guy can flat out score, as demonstrated by his 95 goals with 105 assists in 124 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL. He played for the USA U20 team in the World Juniors this past winter, scoring 4 goals with 2 assists in 5 games.

The former 33rd overall pick in 2019 is expected to begin the 2020-2021 season with Hamilton, but he’ll get a look in Kings’ training camp and could end up in Ontario for most of the upcoming season. Look for Kaliyev to be a full-timer in the 2021-2022 season.

4. Gabe Vilardi, C

Finally beyond his injuries, Gabe Vilardi gave Kings’ fans a preview of what he was capable of in a 10-game sample size last year. He was taken with the 11th overall pick in 2017. Vilardi is a dangerous two-way center, who scored 3 goals with 4 assists for 7 points before the shutdown.

With Ontario, the 21-year-old tallied 9 goals with 16 assists in only 32 games. He and line partner Martin Frk are expected to form a nice 1-2 punch on the Kings’ second line this year. Look for Vilardi to make some noise in the Calder Trophy voting.