Going into training camp this fall, new head coach Peter Laviolette and the Los Angeles Kings have important roster decisions to make before settling on the opening-night lineup.
This will be an especially important training camp for the younger Kings' players with Laviolette taking over behind the bench. He's looking to shake things up for the Kings after another disappointing first-round postseason exit, and there will be opportunities for younger players to turn heads with the new coaching staff this fall.
Three young Kings with something to prove in training camp
The Kings have some intriguing prospects and dark horses to make the opening-night roster, depending on how various position battles and scrimmages play out in training camp and the preseason in the next couple of months.
Here are three young Kings players to watch in training camp this fall.
Alex Turcotte, C
There will be some pressure this fall on center Alex Turcotte to show that he can raise his ceiling of play on both ends of the ice for the Kings in the middle of the lineup. Turcotte showed in this past couple of seasons that he is a pretty adept bottom-six forward in the defensive zone.
The Kings have been waiting now for Turcotte to take that next step offensively to be more productive in the zone.
For Turcotte, this round of training camp this fall will be less about proving he belongs in the NHL and more about showing there's another level to his game.
The former top five pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has yet to live up to the vast expectations the Kings had of him early in his career. But Turcotte has also adapted his game well on both sides of the ice, becoming more of a complete player who can fit into a role in the bottom six at the center position.
At this point in his career, Turcotte has established a pretty safe floor as an NHL player because of his defensive ability, versatility, and energy. What remains unclear is how high his ceiling can be. A strong showing in training camp and the preseason offensively could go a long way to proving to Laviolette and staff that Turcotte deserves the chance to take on more responsibility this upcoming season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google