2 LA Kings Prospects Who Could Get Called Up This Season

As the season gets underway, players will begin to suffer injuries as they sacrifice their bodies for the sake of their team, not to mention the ever-present concern of a positive Covid diagnosis. Eventually, there will be players who will need to miss games, and others will need to be called in to replace them in the lineup. Here are two such prospects who could see some playing time on the Los Angeles Kings this season.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

This may be considered an easy choice by some, given that Anderson-Dolan has already played his fair share of NHL games. He's had three stints with the Kings, the longest being a 34-game stretch last season that saw him put up 7 goals and 11 points. However, the 22-year old was beaten out for a roster spot to start the season by Arthur Kaliev and Vladimir Tkachev. Those two are good prospects in their own right, it's not so much that Anderson-Dolan's game was lacking as it was that the other two are simply higher-skill players. However, given he's clearly able to play at the NHL level based on his production last year, Anderson-Dolan won't be down in the AHL for long. He's already put up 2 points in 3 games with the Ontario Reign, which is exactly what you want to see from a guy trying to battle his way back to the NHL. With the Kings struggling out of the gate, he may not have to wait long for his next shot.

Alex Turcotte

In any other season, this would be Quinten Byfield's spot, but he is currently out indefinitely with a fractured ankle. He's going to miss significant time while he recovers, and will need to get back up to speed once he can skate again. It's unlikely the Kings are going to rush that process, and while he will eventually end up playing in the NHL this season it could be a few months from now. In steps Alex Turcotte, the Kings' 5th-overall pick from two years ago. He has yet to play his NHL debut, spending all last season in the AHL and putting up 6 goals and 21 points in 32 games. That's not bad for the kid's first look at pro hockey. He already has a goal under his belt in his 3 AHL games this season, and if his production maintains or improves on this pace, the big club will take notice. While Anderson-Dolan is the more seasoned prospect, Turcotte is absolutely expected to be the better player. With rookie Arthur Kaliev showing himself to be a bit of a sniper, a gifted playmaker like Turcotte could unlock something truly special in LA. It's only a matter of time.