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LA Kings: Three can’t-miss breakout candidates to watch next year

By Ryan Sikes

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 05: Gabriel Vilardi #42 of the Los Angeles Kings shoots the puck against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Staples Center on March 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 05: Gabriel Vilardi #42 of the Los Angeles Kings shoots the puck against Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Staples Center on March 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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LA Kings Carl Grundstrom
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. Carl Grundstrom

As part of the Jake Muzzin trade in January 2019, Carl Grundstrom embraced scenery changes in stride. He finished the 2018-2019 season with 16 goals and 23 assists split between LA’s and Toronto’s AHL affiliates. He was also promoted to the NHL for 15 games, tallying 5 goals and an assist.

The former second-round pick in 2016 spent the majority of the following season in Ontario but played sparingly for the LA Kings throughout the year. In all, he tallied 12 goals with 16 assists in 40 games for Ontario and 4 assists in 13 games for LA.

The Kings just extended him on a two-year deal, and Grundstrom will get a long look at the NHL level this season. He’s great at crashing the net where many scoring opportunities will present themselves.

He’s currently loaned to Björklöven of HockeyAllsvenskan and is 8th in the league with 5 points (1 G, 4 A) through six games.

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