Dempsey
Mark it zero
The HFNHL are now a team in a slight re-building phase. Steve Rucchin and Brian Leetch are rumored to be on their way out, while forwards Todd Bertuzzi and Glen Murray were both dealt in seperate deals last week for future help. Here is a look at the team's top 15 prospects in rough order.
Cam Ward - G - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 2, 55th
Ward is regarded by the franchise as their goaltender of the future. Calm and cool under pressure, Ward has displayed his great puck-stopping skills at every level as he now competes as a backup in his first full NHL season. Has come on strong again of late after some shaky times as a 21-year-old NHL rookie goaltender.
Jack Skille - LW - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 1, 7th
The teams' highest ever draft pick thanks to the lottery due to the lockout season, Skille is still a few years away before bringing his gritty goal scoring game to LA.
Marek Zagrapan - C - Acquired: Trade with PHI
A key component in the Todd Bertuzzi deal, Zagrapan was a high 2005 draft pick and is right on track with his development in the QMJHL. Kings' management is very high on the slick offensive Slovak to excel in the "new" HFNHL.
Aleksander Suglobov - RW - Acquired: Trade with PHI
Another played acquired in the Bertuzzi deal, Suglobov is a sniper on the verge of making it in a scoring role in the NHL. At 24, could challenge for a roster spot in 2005-06.
Matt Greene - D - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 4, 127th
Greene was a acquired using a compensation pick in the 2002 draft, and has progressed steadily ever since. Now a top 6 defender in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, the 22-year-old is all defense with a definite mean streak to go along with his large 6'3" 222 lb frame. Quickly becoming the mistake-free dman all teams crave.
Jeremy Williams - C - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 5, 152nd
Willams has adjusted very well to the AHL game, scoring at more than a point-per-game in his second pro season. He is expected to make the jump to the big league, at least on a part-time basis, as early as next season.
Josh Hennessy - C - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 2, 56th
Hennessy is another product of the 2003 draft, and is progressing nicely in the AHL in his first pro season as one of the top rookie forwards.
Jarkko Immonen - C - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 5, 152nd
In his first season in north america, Jarkko Immonen has found himself in the AHL as one of the league's most complete rookies, often scoring clutch goals and out in key situations. May continue to develop fast and see himself on the 3rd line next season in the NHL.
Clayton Stoner - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 5, 151st
After a solid WHL career, Stoner has gone on to be a solid rookie blueliner in the AHL. A two-way defenseman, he will remain in the AHL for another year or two.
Johan Fransson - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 1, 26th
Fransson is a smooth-skating offensive blueliner from Sweden. The team see's him as a long-term project.
Sergei Kostitsyn - RW - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 4, 115th
The younger brother of Andrei, Sergei Kostitsyn is a candidate for rookie of the year in the CHL playing for the London Nights and scoring at almost 2 points per game in his first north american season.
Adam Munro - G - Acquired: 2001 Draft, Round 2, 59th
Munro continues to get spot duty in the NHL at his young age, and has delivered thus far in 2005. Should be a capable HFNHL backup goalie given time.
Niklas Hjalmarsson - D - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 3, 67th
Hjalmarsson is an offensive defenseman currently playing in Sweden. He is years away before coming over to North America.
Karri Ramo - G - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 7, 216th
Ramo was barely beat out by Tukka Rask, a much more well known Finnish goaltending prospect, as the starter for the 2005 Finnish WJC team. The Kings will let him play in Finland until he is ready to come over, and are hoping he turns into a nice surprise.
Tomas Pospisil - C - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 2, 54th
The Kings' 2005 2nd rounder is having a successful first year in the CHL.
Kevin Nastiuk - G - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 4, 120th
Nastiuk is currently a 20-year-old AHL rookie who saw bench time in the NHL before making his AHL debut while Canes' goaltender Martin Gerber was injured earlier in the season. Expect Nastiuk to have a long AHL career before getting spot call ups as a potential backup in the HFNHL.
Mark Fistric - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 2, 56th
An NHL first rounder not two years ago, Fistric is a rugged stay-at-home defenseman who plays a sound game. This season has been hampered by injuries, and starting in the AHL next season seems like a lock.
Alexander Nikulin - C - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 4, 117th
Nikulin is an offensive center currently trying to break in with a team in the RSL. Is said to have a nice array of talent.
Alexei Mikhnov - LW - Acquired: 1998 Draft, Round 1
Yes, the HFNHL did have a 1998 draft, and the Kings used their late round pick on Alexei Mikhnov, who has yet to come to North America.
Recently graduated: Dan Fristche, Tomas Surovy, Curtis Sanford
Cam Ward - G - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 2, 55th
Ward is regarded by the franchise as their goaltender of the future. Calm and cool under pressure, Ward has displayed his great puck-stopping skills at every level as he now competes as a backup in his first full NHL season. Has come on strong again of late after some shaky times as a 21-year-old NHL rookie goaltender.
Jack Skille - LW - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 1, 7th
The teams' highest ever draft pick thanks to the lottery due to the lockout season, Skille is still a few years away before bringing his gritty goal scoring game to LA.
Marek Zagrapan - C - Acquired: Trade with PHI
A key component in the Todd Bertuzzi deal, Zagrapan was a high 2005 draft pick and is right on track with his development in the QMJHL. Kings' management is very high on the slick offensive Slovak to excel in the "new" HFNHL.
Aleksander Suglobov - RW - Acquired: Trade with PHI
Another played acquired in the Bertuzzi deal, Suglobov is a sniper on the verge of making it in a scoring role in the NHL. At 24, could challenge for a roster spot in 2005-06.
Matt Greene - D - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 4, 127th
Greene was a acquired using a compensation pick in the 2002 draft, and has progressed steadily ever since. Now a top 6 defender in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, the 22-year-old is all defense with a definite mean streak to go along with his large 6'3" 222 lb frame. Quickly becoming the mistake-free dman all teams crave.
Jeremy Williams - C - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 5, 152nd
Willams has adjusted very well to the AHL game, scoring at more than a point-per-game in his second pro season. He is expected to make the jump to the big league, at least on a part-time basis, as early as next season.
Josh Hennessy - C - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 2, 56th
Hennessy is another product of the 2003 draft, and is progressing nicely in the AHL in his first pro season as one of the top rookie forwards.
Jarkko Immonen - C - Acquired: 2002 Draft, Round 5, 152nd
In his first season in north america, Jarkko Immonen has found himself in the AHL as one of the league's most complete rookies, often scoring clutch goals and out in key situations. May continue to develop fast and see himself on the 3rd line next season in the NHL.
Clayton Stoner - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 5, 151st
After a solid WHL career, Stoner has gone on to be a solid rookie blueliner in the AHL. A two-way defenseman, he will remain in the AHL for another year or two.
Johan Fransson - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 1, 26th
Fransson is a smooth-skating offensive blueliner from Sweden. The team see's him as a long-term project.
Sergei Kostitsyn - RW - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 4, 115th
The younger brother of Andrei, Sergei Kostitsyn is a candidate for rookie of the year in the CHL playing for the London Nights and scoring at almost 2 points per game in his first north american season.
Adam Munro - G - Acquired: 2001 Draft, Round 2, 59th
Munro continues to get spot duty in the NHL at his young age, and has delivered thus far in 2005. Should be a capable HFNHL backup goalie given time.
Niklas Hjalmarsson - D - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 3, 67th
Hjalmarsson is an offensive defenseman currently playing in Sweden. He is years away before coming over to North America.
Karri Ramo - G - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 7, 216th
Ramo was barely beat out by Tukka Rask, a much more well known Finnish goaltending prospect, as the starter for the 2005 Finnish WJC team. The Kings will let him play in Finland until he is ready to come over, and are hoping he turns into a nice surprise.
Tomas Pospisil - C - Acquired: 2005 Draft, Round 2, 54th
The Kings' 2005 2nd rounder is having a successful first year in the CHL.
Kevin Nastiuk - G - Acquired: 2003 Draft, Round 4, 120th
Nastiuk is currently a 20-year-old AHL rookie who saw bench time in the NHL before making his AHL debut while Canes' goaltender Martin Gerber was injured earlier in the season. Expect Nastiuk to have a long AHL career before getting spot call ups as a potential backup in the HFNHL.
Mark Fistric - D - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 2, 56th
An NHL first rounder not two years ago, Fistric is a rugged stay-at-home defenseman who plays a sound game. This season has been hampered by injuries, and starting in the AHL next season seems like a lock.
Alexander Nikulin - C - Acquired: 2004 Draft, Round 4, 117th
Nikulin is an offensive center currently trying to break in with a team in the RSL. Is said to have a nice array of talent.
Alexei Mikhnov - LW - Acquired: 1998 Draft, Round 1
Yes, the HFNHL did have a 1998 draft, and the Kings used their late round pick on Alexei Mikhnov, who has yet to come to North America.
Recently graduated: Dan Fristche, Tomas Surovy, Curtis Sanford
