As expected, the Kings have reduced their training camp roster, sending 15 players to the Ontario Reign and releasing five players from their try-out contracts to go to the Reign.
The players assigned to Ontario are:
Forward: Mikey Eyssimont, Boko Imama, Matt Luff, Brad Morrison, Sheldon Rempal, Drake Rymsha, Johan Sodergran
Defense: Daniel Brickley, Kale Clague, Sean Durzi, Markus Phillips, Chaz Reddekopp, Austin Strand
Goaltender: Cole Kehler, Matt Villalta
Forwards Mason Bergh, Brett Sutter, and Lance Bouma and defensemen Max Gottlieb and Ryan Stanton were released as well in order to attend Reign camp.
Additionally, earlier in the week, the Kings reassigned Akil Thomas to the Niagara IceDogs and loaned Samuel Fagemo back to the Frolunda Indians.
The players remaining on the roster currently battling spots include forwards Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Martin Frk, Mario Kempe, Rasmus Kupari, Blake Lizotte, and Nikolai Prokhorkin, and defensemen Mikey Anderson, Tobias Bjornfot, Kurtis MacDermid, Matt Roy, Joakim Ryan, and Sean Walker. Paul LaDue is also still on the roster, although has not played yet as he rehabs a knee injury.
Matt Luff’s reassignment is likely the biggest surprise, given that he already has NHL experience under his belt. However, compared to the other young forwards trying to earn a spot on the team, Luff hasn’t stood out as much. Luff has previously used being passed over as extra motivation to improve his performance, so if he gets out to a strong start in Ontario, he’ll be an easy candidate for a quick call-up.
With eight defensemen already assigned to the Reign and several more still to be cut from the Kings, that makes for a crowded blue line. While the Kings don’t have an ECHL team of their own this season, as the Manchester Monarchs ceased operations, they will still be able to assign players to the ECHL, albeit with slightly less control over their usage than if it was to their own team.