How Have the Rookies Done in Ontario?

Every year NHL teams have prospects turn pro or come to North America after playing professional overseas.

The LA Kings had Francesco Pinelli , Brandt Clarke , and Erik Portillo turn pro and play their first full season in the AHL after playing in juniors (OHL) and college (NCAA) the year prior.

For Clarke, it was his first full professional season after spending time in the NHL, AHL, and World Juniors before returning to the OHL to finish the 2022-23 season.

All aboard! Next stop: Opening Night! https://t.co/3xW70SznVM #ReignTrain pic.twitter.com/S60xQ7PSe2 Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 11, 2024 The Kings have four players on entry-level contracts (ELCs) making their professional or North American professional debuts with the Ontario Reign .

With 33% of the season completed (24 out of 72 games) for the Reign, lets talk about how the rookies have done so far.

Forwards Aatu Jamsen Stat line: 14 games, 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, -1 rating Aatu Jamsen is an intriguing prospect.

The 22-year-old was drafted in the seventh round in 2020 but has a lot of skill.

Jamsen got attention in the recent Rookie Faceoff tournaments before coming from Finland, where he spent the last two years with the Pelicans (Liiga), to North America.

He even turned heads during training camp this past fall.

Hes in year one of two of his entry-level contract, which he signed in May.

Jamsen has shown plenty of creativity with the puck.

His best attributes are his skating and poise with the puck on his stick.

Any time he has the puck he looks calm with it.

While Jamsen has shown off his creativity, adjusting to the North American style of hockey will continue to be a big point of emphasis for him.

Aatu Jamsen will take some time to adjust to North American ice.

Definitely needs to get stronger.

Creativity and skating are there, though.

#GoKingsGo Kyle Garcia (@Kopitar4HOF) September 14, 2024 Aatu Jamsen and Martin Chromiak lead the Reign with three shots on goal each.

For Jamsen, the three shots on goal are the most hes had in any game.

Still adjusting to the size, speed, and timing in North America, but hes also shown flashes of creativity with the puck along...

Kyle Garcia (@Kopitar4HOF) November 14, 2024 The ice sheets in Europe are wider than in North America and the game is not as physical.

The wider ice sheet means more time and space with the puck.

A full season in the AHL will help him learn that the space and timing are smaller and shorter than in Europe, and work on getting stronger.

A natural winger, head coach Marco Sturm has used him at 4C lately, a position Sturm said he doesnt mind having him there after the Reigns shootout victory over the San Jose Barracuda a week ago.

If he continues to play him there, having more puck touches will help him get acclimated to the limited space and timing.

Sturm has also used him on the second power-play unit, where he has recorded one assist.

Jamsen has missed the last three games with an unknown injury.

From what I was told from a source within the Reign before Saturdays game, the injury wasnt related to his fight in the game he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick, and shouldnt be serious.

AATU! SHOOTING THAT THANG #RainTrain I #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/lno3BCW7gA Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 16, 2024 Gordie Jammer!! #RainTrain pic.twitter.com/I2y4TpaiPn Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 16, 2024 With his skill set, there is NHL potential in there.

Kaleb Lawrence : Stat line: 7 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points, +2 rating Kaleb Lawrence is another seventh-round pick by the Kings on the Reign roster.

Lawrence, standing at 67, is a tall forward and split time with the Reign and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL).

In seven games with the Reign, Lawrence has recorded four points in seven games.

In eight games with the Swamp Rabbits, the 21-year-old has recorded six points.

He hasnt looked out of place when playing as the 4C in Ontario.

The skating will need some work even though it isnt that bad for a player his size.

WELCOME TO THE AHL KALEB LAWRENCE!! #ReignTrain | #ONTvsCOL pic.twitter.com/uVaoPUDeHT Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 16, 2024 A turnover in a dangerous spot and Lawrence makes them pay! K.

Lawrence https://t.co/r7WJHyhOSy pic.twitter.com/ROABRSeC8r Greenville Swamp Rabbits (@SwampRabbits) December 20, 2024 Lawrence and Jamsen have developed some chemistry when both were in the lineup playing on the fourth line.

Maybe both being seventh-round draft picks is the reason why.

Lawrence doesnt have the skill Jamsen has and has a long way to go if he wants to make it in the NHL.

Well see whether hell spend more time in Greenville or back up in Ontario soon.

Defensemen Jakub Dvorak Stat line: 14 games, 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points, -3 rating Jakub Dvorak is a big (65) 19-year-old left-handed defenseman.

One of Dvoraks issues in the draft was his skating.

Most scouting reports labeled it an issue while a few said decent or adequate.

Watching Dvorak play with the Reign, I lean more toward it being an issue, especially on the lateral mobility where he has to turn.

However, I can see why the Kings selected him in the second round of the 2023 draft.

The Kings like big left-handed defensemen and Dvorak fits that bill.

Big and young, he is still raw and will take time to develop.

If all goes well, depending on how much he improves his skating, Dvorak projects to be a physical, shutdown defenseman.

Hes mainly played on the second pairing with veteran Reilly Walsh .

Due to his skating, and sometimes inability to move the puck, Im not as high on him as I am for the next defenseman well talk about.

Hell be representing Czechia in the World Juniors, which starts tomorrow.

Angus Booth Stat line: 24 games, 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, +6 rating Angus Booth is the only rookie on an ELC (not counting ones on AHL contracts) to play every game for the Reign.

Im very high on him and think hes underrated within the Kings system.

Booth seems to make the right play more often than not.

He has received praise dating back to the Rookie Faceoff and from Marco Sturm and his Reign teammates.

After the Reigns 8-4 win over Abbotsford on November 6th, Sturm mentioned the team voted for him as Player of the Month for October.

Certified Grade A Angus....Booth #ReignTrain I #TEXvsONT pic.twitter.com/302r20aNz9 Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 4, 2024 The praise has already earned the trust of Sturm.

Hes played against the opposing teams top players and seen penalty kill time.

After some tweaks with the lines early on, Sturm has Booth on the third pair with Luke Rowe .

What I like about Booth is he has good lateral mobility and gap control, can move the puck on breakouts, and, in his words, likes to keep his game simple.

I think I keep my game simple.

Im not the flashiest player on the ice.

I just try to make it simple.

If you dont see me in a game, its probably a good thing because Im doing my job, and I try to play two way, maybe a little more defensive.

But yeah, if you dont see me on the ice, thats a good game.

Booth explaining his style play after the Reigns season-opening 5-0 loss to the San Jose Barracuda.

He wont score a lot of points but has provided solid defensive play with the Reign.

Like all the players on this list, theres still plenty to learn.

However, getting praise constantly from his teammates and Sturm is a good sign.

This article first appeared on Hockey Royalty and was syndicated with permission..

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