The Kings’ nationally televised schedule was released on Tuesday. Regardless of last year’s struggles, coach Todd McLellan’s squad is set to be featured on NBC and NBC Sports Network a combined seven times. Los Angeles will appear just once on NBCSN before the calendar shifts to 2020, which could be a sign that the executives at NBC have faith in the Kings’ chances of finishing near the postseason bubble.
Here is a look at the Kings’ nationally televised schedule:
- Oct. 9 | Wednesday | Kings at Canucks | NBCSN | 7:00 PST
- Jan. 8 | Wednesday | Stars at Kings | NBCSN | 7:00 PST
- Jan. 29 | Wednesday | Lightning at Kings | NBCSN | 7:00 PST
- Feb. 12 | Wednesday | Flames at Kings | NBCSN | 7:00 PST
- Feb. 15 | Saturday | Kings at Avalanche | NBC | 5:00 PST*
- Feb. 26 | Wednesday | Penguins at Kings | NBCSN | 7:30 PST
- March 1 | Sunday | Kings at Golden Knights | NBCSN | 7:30 PST/
*Part of the NHL’s 2020 Stadium Series
You can view NBC’s entire NHL schedule here.
Kings Trio Ranked in Top 50 Pipeline Prospects
Before the official start to JFTC’s Top 25 Under 25 profiles gets rolling, Sporting News’ Steve Kournianos sorted through a list of 50 promising prospects. Unsurprisingly, center Alex Turcotte received the highest ranking among Kings prospects.
Coming in at No. 16 on the list, Kournianos complimented Turcotte’s physical-yet-technical style of play.
A turbocharged 200-foot center who plays with physicality and acute attention to detail, Turcotte is exactly the type of pivot the Kings can lean on to help them return to Western Conference dominance. Of course, it may take some time to happen, but otherwise, it’s scary to think about what this Wisconsin-bound force will do in college next year with sniper Cole Caufield as a potential linemate. Remember, this is a kid, who with the NTDP, averaged well over a point per game against elite NCAA competition last year and is now the leading candidate to center Team USA’s top line at the world juniors.
Further down the rankings, fellow center Rasmus Kupari secured the No. 30 spot on the list. Kournianos praised Kupari’s potential to become a complementary piece on a squad that features Turcotte.
Kupari was one of the top teenage talents in Finland’s elite SM-Liiga, where he recorded 33 points in 43 games while playing mostly with Florida prospect Aleksi Heponiemi. A fantastic skater with a deadly shot, he is steadily growing into his 6-1 frame in preparation for the transition to North America. By potentially adding Turcotte and Kupari, it gives the Kings one of the league’s premier 1-2 punches in terms of center prospects – although it looks like neither will be expected to make the team out of training camp.
Swedish bruiser Carl Grundstrom rounded out the Kings’ placement on the rankings at the No. 41 spot.
You can read Kournianos full rankings at Sporting News.
On the Other Coast
- According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Wild have interviewed two potential candidates to fill the General Manager position that Paul Fenton was removed from last week./
On Monday, members of the Wild’s front office interviewed Bill Guerin and Don Waddell. Guerin joined Penguins organization as Pittsburgh’s player development coach in June of 2011. Waddell served as the Hurricanes President and General Manager during the construction of Carolina’s current squad. Without a current contract in place with the Hurricanes, Waddell is considered a free agent.
You can read Russo’s full article on the Wild’s GM search at The Athletic (subscription required).
—Steve/@SteveDHoops