July 26, 2011
Top 10 Prospects
Los Angeles Kings

by Corey Pronman

Full list of NHL Organizational Rankings

The Los Angeles Kings Top 10 Prospects

1. Andrei Loktionov, Center
2. Viatcheslav Voynov, Defense
3. Derek Forbort, Defense
4. Jake Muzzin, Defense
5. Tyler Toffoli, Right Wing
6. Thomas Hickey, Defense
7. Maxim Kitsyn, Left Wing
8. Dwight King, Left Wing
9. Martin Jones, Goaltender
10. Brandon Kozun, Right Wing

Organizational Ranking: 8th

System Overview: Losing an elite prospect like Brayden Schenn is never easy on a system, but the Kings pipelines still stand strong. Andrei Loktionov is one of the better forward prospects in hockey, and based on my observations and talks with NHL sources, he's not that far off from Brayden Schenn. After Loktionov, the Kings have several quality defense prospects in Viatcheslav Voynov, Derek Forbort, Jake Muzzin and Thomas Hickey.

Amongst their top 10 prospects, there's a decent amount of risk/upside on players like Tyler Toffoli, Maxim Kitsyn and Derek Forbort. This system could generate several significant producers, or could produce only one or two of those and some nice depth. There is definitely talent in this organization any way you look at it though.

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1. Andrei Loktionov, Center
Date of birth: 05/30/1990
Age: 21
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 34 GP, 8 G, 31 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Fifth round, 123rd overall in 2008 by Los Angeles

The Good: Loktionov is a brilliant playmaking center, with top-end possession skills and he has all the looks of one of the top forward prospects in all of hockey. His puck skills are plus if not better, and he's quite a player to watch with the puck. He's very coordinated in tight; he's quick with the puck when handling it and has the skills to make players miss with consistency. Loktionov couples that with plus hockey sense, and that combo lets him be a scoring threat on nearly every shift. He has great vision, anticipation and reads the play quite well. He's an above-average skater, with a great motor and has a top speed that is threatening enough to force pro defenders to back up a little bit. Loktionov is a sound two-way player, who plays fine defensive hockey at even-strength and on the penalty kill. His work ethic is very notable, and he's quite a feisty player.

The Bad: Loktionov has a below-average physical game, and can be pushed off the puck by bigger players. He has a decent amount of muscle, but I don't see his physical game ever getting to NHL average. He's pretty much ready to score at the next level, and the only thing impeding him will be space and ice time on the Kings roster.

Projection: Ideally, an above-average first line forward who should at the least become a below-average first line forward.

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2. Viatcheslav Voynov, Defense
Date of birth: 01/15/1990
Age: 21
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 193
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 76 GP, 15 G, 51 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Second round, 32nd overall in 2008 by Los Angeles

The Good: Voynov's an above-average skater with a desirable top gear who moves pretty fluidly. His hockey sense is above-average, especially his offensive instincts. He's the kind of player you want bringing the puck out of your zone or controlling it on the power play as he shows good vision on top of reading the play well. Voynov is an above-average passer who can distribute the puck quite well. He shows good coordination with the puck, although he isn't an above-average puck skills/flash and dash type of player, but can handle it fine. Voynov has a hard shot and can be a trigger guy on the power play on top of being the main puck mover.

The Bad: Voynov is a very slight player and projects to have a fringe physical game at the highest level. His defensive awareness isn't truly below average, but he can get caught out of position every so often trying to help on offense.

Projection: An above-average second pairing defender at best, who safely projects onto a top four.

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3. Derek Forbort, Defense
Date of birth: 03/04/1992
Age: 19
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 38 GP, 0 G, 15 P (University of North Dakota-WCHA)
Acquired: First round, 15th overall in 2010 by Los Angeles

The Good: Forbort is a tremendous package of tools with top-end upside. He's a solid-average and possibly beyond skater and moves very well for a defender his size. Very few 6'5" defensemen can push the pace up the ice like Forbort can or have the lateral agility to evade pursuit. He can be an above-average passer and like his skating, his offensive skills and puck-moving abilities are unlike many defenders of Forbort's stature. His physical game projects as plus if not plus plus at the highest level, although he could stand to use his frame a little more, but he's not completely shy from contact. His defensive game is decent, with his combo of gap control and stick-work being impressive.

The Bad: Forbort looks many years away, as he's quite raw and has some work to do in regards to his overall awareness and decision-making. His hockey sense looks fringe at times, and despite the fine abilities with the puck, he coughs it up regularly. His frame is quite skinny, and he has a lot of gym work ahead of him. Forbort's pivots and backwards skating could use some work too as he can be beaten by faster forwards.

Projection: Forbort has the raw ability to be an average first pairing defender in a perfect world, but his projection as of now is an average second pairing defender who safely projects as a below-average second to above-average third pairing defender.

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4. Jake Muzzin, Defense
Date of birth: 02/21/1989
Age: 22
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 213
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 45 GP, 3 G, 18 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Major Junior free agent

The Good: Muzzin's development has been tracking straight upwards the last two seasons. He is more than physically ready for the NHL, and I'd say he easily projects to have an above-average physical game in the league. Muzzin's a decent puck-mover—he won't stretch the ice or anything—but he can move it around the ice fine and he's not a liability in that regard. Muzzin has a big shot and can really unload on some of his point blasts. His defensive game is solid and he plays a quiet, yet effective positional game in his own end. Muzzin's offensive instincts are fair—he's not a highly offensive-minded defender—but he will jump into the rush if he senses he can help, and he can spot on a power play.

The Bad: Muzzin's skating has developed quite a bit and it flashes pro-level, but there are times when it looks just a notch below that. There isn't really a glaring weakness in Muzzin's game, but there isn't a true stand out facet either.

Projection: Potentially an average second pairing defenseman who should at least end up a below-average second pairing defenseman.

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5. Tyler Toffoli, Right Wing
Date of birth: 04/24/1992
Age: 19
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 181
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 68 GP, 57 G, 108P (Ottawa-OHL)
Acquired: Second round, 47th overall in 2010 by Los Angeles

The Good: Toffoli is a very skilled winger who had a tremendous year in the OHL. He's one of the better goal-scoring prospects in hockey with what NHL scouts regularly describe as "an unbelievable shot" that has pinpoint accuracy and comes off his stick very quickly. He has very good offensive awareness, and I regularly hear things like "the puck just follows Toffoli around the ice" from scouts. His puck skills are solid, as he can hold it and distribute it well. His offensive instincts carry over to his vision with the puck and he can be quite a fine playmaker on top of his goal-scoring abilities. Toffoli plays with an edge to his game, and doesn't mind playing a chippy game when he needs to.

The Bad: Toffoli needs a lot of attention towards his defensive game, and while he showed progress this year, that area still has a ways to go. His skating improved somewhat, but the tool is below-average with an underwhelming top gear although he does have decent agility. Scouts note there are times when Toffoli can absolutely dominate, but then will vanish for a stretch.

Projection: An above-average scoring second line winger who is a great power play option and needs coaching protection if some things go right, whot could also end up as a career AHLer.

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6. Thomas Hickey, Defense
Date of birth: 02/08/1989
Age: 22
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 185
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 77 GP, 6 G, 24 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: First round, fourth overall in 2007 by Los Angeles

The Good: Hickey wrapped up a fine first full professional season after having his 2009-10 season cut short by injury. Hickey is an above-average skater with an effortless stride and good all-around mobility. He accelerates quickly and can join the attack effectively. Hickey is decent with the puck—not really the flashiest player—but his possession skills are powered by his above-average hockey sense. Hickey is a calm and aware player with the puck who controls a power play well and moves the puck around efficiently. His defensive awareness is also solid, as he plays his assignments and reads the play in the defensive half of the ice well. He's put on a decent amount of muscle since Junior, and he has just about as much strength as a player his size is going to.

The Bad: Hickey's physical game is below average, as despite a decent work ethic on the ice physically and the fact he can win some battles, he's not going to be NHL average in that aspect. He can be victim at times of trying to be too involved offensively.

Projection: A below-average second pairing defenseman whose floor projection isn't far away from that.

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7. Maxim Kitsyn, Left Wing
Date of birth: 12/24/1991
Age: 19
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 183
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 32 GP, 9 G, 26 P (Mississauga-OHL)
Acquired: Sixth round, 158th overall in 2010 by Los Angeles

The Good: Kitsyn is a solid all-around offensive talent who doesn't dazzle in one particular area, but is a fairly gifted player. He's a solid skater with a fine stride and he moves up the ice at a notable pace. He's a shifty player who can be elusive and tough to check. His abilities with the puck are above average, as Kitsyn has a fine arsenal of moves and he is also able to protect it quite well. Kitsyn has a big frame which he's grown into quite well, and shows decent strength during battles and in front of the net.

The Bad: Kitsyn has the ability to be an above-average distributor, but doesn't always look for his teammates and overall I'd say his two-way hockey sense is below average. He disappears for stretches of time; with his talent level, he should be performing at a higher level over a long term sample.

Projection: He could be an average second line forward if things go right, or he may never become a league regular.

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8. Dwight King, Left Wing
Date of birth: 07/05/1989
Age: 22
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 227
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 72 GP, 24 G, 52 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Fourth round, 109th overall in 2007 by Los Angeles

The Good: Dwight King is a hard-nosed big body winger who is close to locking up a full time job in the league (if roster room allows for it). He's got a wide, muscular frame and projects to be have a plus physical game. He goes to the net with regularity and is good at protecting the puck in the cycle game. King shows a good work ethic coming back into his zone and will support his defenders down low. He can play well in front of the net on the power play with decent hand-eye coordination getting his stick on pucks.

The Bad: King is a below-average skater, who gets to average in full gallop but has a poor stride that has a hard time getting him started. He has some skills, but he's awkward with the puck and isn't really a pro-level offensive player skills- or instincts-wise.

Projection: An average third line forward at best who could easily find some role in a bottom six.

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9. Martin Jones, Goaltender
Date of birth: 01/10/1990
Age: 21
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 191
Catches: Left
Statistics: 39 GP, .924 SV% (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Undrafted free agent

The Good: Martin Jones is a well-rounded netminder who gets praise for the technical and athletic aspects of his game. He's the kind of goaltender who can square up pucks, and has the above-average hockey sense to read the play well and get in the right position, but also has a fair amount of athleticism that allows him to scramble if needed to make the desperation save. He has grown into his tall frame quite well and fills up the net nicely. Jones plays the puck well, and his hockey sense translates into that aspect of his game.

The Bad: There's not a whole lot to put here, as Jones just needs some more experience at the pro level fine-tuning some of his reads and reactions, but there's no real weakness to his game. His upside is not that high though.

Projection: An average NHL starter in a perfect world, who safely projects as a below-average NHL starter to above-average NHL backup.

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10. Brandon Kozun, Right Wing
Date of birth: 03/08/1990
Age: 21
Height: 5'8''
Weight: 165
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 72 GP, 23 G, 48 P (Manchester-AHL)
Acquired: Sixth round, 179th overall in 2009 by Los Angeles

The Good: Kozun is an above-average skater who flashes plus and is a good all-around mover. He has a desirable top speed, but is also quite agile and shifty from a standstill. He has a good motor, and a quick, efficient stride that complements his work ethic well. Kozun is above-average with the puck with quick hands and good coordination. He's a talented playmaker, with above-average vision and when he creates space for himself he can find his options quite well. Kozun's hockey sense is an impressive tool, with one scout noting how he almost never turns the puck over. His shot is above-average, and while it's not particularly hard, it's very accurate.

The Bad: Just another one of those cases of "look at the height and weight." Bigger players can just easily erase Kozun off the puck, and that was apparent in the pro game.

Projection: A below-average second line forward if he makes it, but there's a good chance he simply ends up a career minor leaguer.

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The Sleeper: 2009 seventh round pick Nic Dowd is a forward with a good physical game, who excels on the cycle, has fine hockey sense and decent skills. Entering his sophomore season at St. Cloud, he could be a candidate for a big season.

Extra Notes: For the Kings #10 spot on my list, I debated between three smaller forwards, with the other two being Linden Vey and Jordan Weal. I had Weal right behind Kozun, as I really like Weal's hockey sense and skills with the puck, even if he's simply an average skater and poor for a smaller player.

My report on Nick Shore can be found here and on Michael Mersch here.

Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus. You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.