4 LA Kings Prospects playing in the NCAA hockey postseason today

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Laferriere #18 of the Harvard Crimson skates during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The game officially ended in a 2-2 tie with the Huskies winning the shootout 1-0 to capture the title. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Laferriere #18 of the Harvard Crimson skates during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The game officially ended in a 2-2 tie with the Huskies winning the shootout 1-0 to capture the title. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
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The LA Kings have five total prospects playing in the NCAA Ice Hockey post-season this evening. The first one mentioned was Erik Portillo of the University of Michigan. He is joined by four other Los Angeles Kings skaters in the prospect pipeline: right wing Alex Laferriere of Harvard University, center/wing Jared Wright of the University of Denver, center Jack Hughes of Northeastern University, and left-handed defenseman Braden Doyle, also of Northeastern University.

Alex Laferriere

Not to be confused with Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers, Alex Laferriere is a 6-foot, 170-pound right winger for Harvard University. Harvard is gearing up to take on Princeton University this evening at 7:00 PM on ESPN+ as a part of ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals. Last night, the Crimson defeated the Tigers 6-1, in which Laferriere scored two goals.

BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 7: Alex Laferriere #18 of the Harvard Crimson shoots the puck before a game against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 7, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 7: Alex Laferriere #18 of the Harvard Crimson shoots the puck before a game against the Boston University Terriers during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 7, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Laferriere was drafted by the LA Kings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 83rd overall pick. He has yet to sign his Entry Level Contract at this point, but the Kings do retain his rights.

Jack Hughes

The 19-year old center has the same name and plays the same position as one of the NHL’s up-and-coming stars in New Jersey Devils centerpiece Jack Hughes. But, he is two years younger than the former number 1 overall pick, and currently plays for Northeastern University. For the Huskies this season, Hughes has 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games played.

LOWELL, MA – MARCH 3: Jack Hughes #27 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the UMass Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on March 3, 2023 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The River Hawks won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
LOWELL, MA – MARCH 3: Jack Hughes #27 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the UMass Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on March 3, 2023 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The River Hawks won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

The Northeastern University Huskies are set to take on the Providence Friars at 7:00 PM tonight in Boston Massachusetts and will be streamed on the New England Sports Network premium channel, NESN+. The 6-foot, 170-pound center was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with the 51st overall pick in the draft. The Kings acquired his rights with this pick, but have yet to ink him to an NHL Entry Level Contract.

Braden Doyle

Braden Doyle is currently the teammate of Jack Hughes on the Northeastern University Huskies. Playing on the blueline for NU, Doyle stands at 6-foot, 168-pounds and plays on the left side, which has been a position of need for the Kings. Granted, he is still several years out from playing on NHL ice, but he does add a name to the prospect pipeline at a position with thin depth.

BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 6: Hunter McDonald #5 of the Northeastern Huskies celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston University Terriers with teammates Jayden Struble #3, Justin Hryckowian #29, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine #11 and Jakov Novak #10 during the third period during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 6, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 6: Hunter McDonald #5 of the Northeastern Huskies celebrates his empty-net goal against the Boston University Terriers with teammates Jayden Struble #3, Justin Hryckowian #29, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine #11 and Jakov Novak #10 during the third period during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 6, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Currently, he only has four assists for four points in 16 games, but he is only a sophomore. So, he has plenty of time to develop. The LA Kings drafted him in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft with the 157th overall pick in the sixth round. He has also yet to sign an NHL Entry Level Contract.

Jared Wright

Jared Wright is unique in that he can play all three forward positions. On CapFriendly, he is listed as a center, left winger, and right winger. The 20-year old right-hander currently plays for the University of Denver Pioneers.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 9: The Denver Pioneers capture the NCAA title 5-1 against the Minnesota State Mavericks during the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Championship game at TD Garden on April 9, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 9: The Denver Pioneers capture the NCAA title 5-1 against the Minnesota State Mavericks during the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Championship game at TD Garden on April 9, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Standing at an astounding, 6-foot-3, 184-pounds, freshman Jared Wright has already heard his name called in the NHL Draft. Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with the 169th pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Wright is several years removed from hitting NHL ice. But, his current team, the Pioneers is set to take on the Miami (OH) RedHawks in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Playoffs.

Jared Wright’s team is coming off a 6-2 win over the RedHawks, in a game in which he did not touch the ice. However, his impact on the ice can be reflected in a game from this past November.

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