LA Kings: Four defensive defensemen to watch out for this season
The 2020-21 season is still young, and as expected, some rust still needs to be shaken off. For LA Kings fans, the first two games may have been frustrating but let us not forget that this team has gone ten months without playing.
When — not if — the Kings do return to form, there are a few defensive defensemen to watch out for.
Like Rob Scuderi, Willie Mitchell, and Matt Greene before them, these blueliners may not be as celebrated as the likes of Jonathan Quick or Anze Kopitar, but they should be lauded as game-changers nonetheless.
Here they are:
4. Tobias Bjornfot
He may only have three games of NHL experience under his belt, but Tobias Bjornfot is nonetheless a defensive asset.
Not only does the 19-year-old defend well against the rush, but he possesses a great hockey IQ while being very well-positioned. This, coupled with his high anticipation of where the opposition is going, makes Bjornfot a turnover machine if you will.
The big uncertainty surrounding Bjornot’s promise on the defensive side of things is how well he fares after a good amount of time in Los Angeles. Time will only tell, though, but if his experience in the AHL with Ontario and in Sweden are any indication, the Kings may just have a solid defensive gem in Tobias Bjornfot.
3. Sean Walker
Unlike Bjornot, Sean Walker has a good amount of NHL experience under his belt.
Walker’s first taste of the NHL came in 2018-19 when he suited up for 39 games for the Kings. During that time, the native of Keswick, Ontario, wasted little time showing just how strong he was defensively.
In those 39 games, Walker recorded 40 blocked shots and dished out 43 hits. The latter is especially impressive given that Walker’s 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame doesn’t make him the most intimidating figure on the ice. Nevertheless, Walker is fearless on top of being defensively sound.
Look for more of this from No. 26 this season.
2. Matt Roy
Drafted in the seventh round of the 2015 Draft, some wondered whether Matt Roy would ever see playing time with the LA Kings, much less anywhere in the NHL. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old made the wait worthwhile.
When he was called up from Ontario during the 2018-19 season, Roy made the most of his time with the Kings.
In 25 games for the big club, the Michigan Tech alum registered 47 blocked shots before registering 100 more in 70 games the following season. Roy even improved physically, going from 38 hits registered in 2018-19 to 132 last season. And like Walker, Roy’s not the biggest player on the ice at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. No matter.
While he has yet to record either of the aforementioned stats this season, do keep in mind that Roy and the Kings are coming off 10 months of inactivity as far as in-game competition goes.
Be patient, though. After all, his wait to get to the NHL was worthwhile. This won’t be any different.
1. Mikey Anderson
As far as in-game experience goes, Mikey Anderson doesn’t have much of it in the NHL, having played just six games for the Kings last season. Still, the Fridley, MN native made the best of his limited time.
In those six games, Anderson registered 10 blocked shots and dished out 10 hits. Again, not the biggest guy (6-feet, 197 pounds), but the UMD alum is nonetheless fearless.
In two games this season, Anderson registered four blocked shots and added two hits to his total.
Not only can Anderson consistently play a sound defensive game, but he even has the ability to quickly join the rush on the offensive side of things.
Next. Vilardi wants to be a faceoff wizard for team. dark
After how the first two games of the season ended, it’s hard to blame fans of the LA Kings for feeling frustrated. In fairness, though, there are 54 more games to go in the campaign, so look for plenty of things to turn around and look good. Mikey Anderson’s defensive prowess will be no exception.