LA Kings: Jaret Anderson-Dolan receives ringing endorsement from Anze Kopitar
By Ryan Sikes
LA Kings forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan has shined since being inserted into the lineup, and Anze Kopitar couldn’t stop praising his young teammate.
I don’t think many could have expected the impact Jaret Anderson-Dolan has had on the LA Kings‘ bottom-six forwards, making his 2021 debut on February 5 in the series opener against the Vegas Golden Knights. That game is one the Kings will want to burn the tape and never watch again, but it was an important game for Anderson-Dolan, who scored his first NHL goal in game two of that series.
He also scored a goal with an assist in the LA Kings convincing 6-2 win over San Jose, leaving a few days off before we get the opportunity to see more from JAD. Not only has head coach Todd McLellan sang his praises, but veterans on the LA Kings roster have taken notice. Of those include Anze Kopitar, who has been housing Anderson-Dolan as he has split time between Los Angeles and El Segundo with the Ontario Reign.
But Kopi, who recently spoke with The Hot Stove on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio, indicated he has liked what he’s seen not only from JAD, the player, but also the person.
"“Well, obviously you’re trying to help him out and make him as comfortable as possible as you can, and just kind of show him the way – first of all, around town and just see how life in the NHL is,” the LA Kings captain said. “He’s a great kid, so humble, so respectful. It’s very easy to have him as a guest. We actually have him at the house right now too. So it’s been good times for him. I’m very excited for him and his start in the NHL, and hopefully, he can continue playing like that and obviously, be with us for good.”"
As the Kings continue to sort out their lines that ultimately yield the most consistent results, Anderson-Dolan appears to be part of the future, whether at the 3C or 2C. Gabe Vilardi has a loose grip on second-line centerman duties, but McLellan has insisted that the team needs more from their 2017 11th overall pick.
Of course, having Blake Lizotte back into the fold presents an interesting scenario. I think, right now, JAD offers more than Lizotte, but Lizotte offers more than Michael Amadio, so 4C could be the landing spot for Lizotte.