LA Kings: Five most important players for 2021 season

Gabriel Vilardi

After being selected 11th overall by the Kings in the 2017 draft, Gabriel Vilardi was plagued by back injuries that seemed to be threatening a promising career. Fortunately, he seems to be over them.

Finally able to get back on the ice last season, Vilardi had a strong showing in the AHL with the Ontario Reign, scoring nine goals and 25 points in 32 games. He then got called up to the NHL and scored a goal in his first shift, adding an assist later on in a memorable debut.

It was a real feel-good moment after all Vilardi had been through. He kept up the impressive play, too, finishing with three goals and a very respectable seven points in 10 games with the Kings last season.

Before the back issues that sidelined him for so long and caused him to fall off the radar a bit, Vilardi was a very highly-touted prospect. He’s still just 21, and him showing his health issues are in the past and re-establishing himself as a big part of the Kings’ future would certainly be a very positive development for this season.