Three Kings Prospects That Continue to Impress
The Los Angeles Kings have three prospects that have been on the rise for some time now, but have been spectacular this season: Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky, and defensemen Kirill Kirsanov and Jared Woolley.
All three have had massive seasons and have either won a medal or a tournament this season.
Woolley is the only one who will make his pro debut with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League next season, but Slukynsky and Kirsanov are not far behind.
Hampton Slukynsky
The 118th pick by the Kings in the 2023 NHL Draft, Slukynsky has been the most impressive, reaching heights no one thought he would do this soon. He won the WMU’s Susan Klop Rookie of the Year award, which is a team award, for his stellar play with the Western Michigan Broncos.
This past season, he went 19-5-1 with a 1.92 goals against average, one shutout, and a .922 save percentage. As part of Team USA, he won a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. He has been progressing smoothly, and his play has been steady throughout. He is going with the flow and waiting for his opportunity to play with the Reign whenever possible.
Kirill Kirsanov
Defenseman Kirill Kirsanov was the 84th pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by Los Angeles and has improved greatly since the draft. He is reliable in all three zones and should be counted on as a player you want on the ice in crucial situations. He was part of a winning VHL (Russian Hockey League) champion, playing a steady role and shutting down the opposition with his aggressive defensive play.
In the 2023-24 season, he played for both Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and Torpedo Gorky of the VHL. He combined for four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 62 games. He signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Kings that expands through to the 2026-27 season.
Jared Woolley
Jared Woolley, a 6-foot-4 and 215-pound defenseman, has had one of the better seasons for Los Angeles’ defensive prospects. The 164th pick by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft, he had a consistent flow to his game that gives us a look into his promising future with Los Angeles. A defenseman for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he had a solid 2023-24 season, recording nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points. He also had 75 penalty minutes and was +49, showcasing his overall game. His season concluded with the Knights capturing the Memorial Cup, as they won their third Memorial Cup championship. Woolley would then sign a three-year entry-level deal with the Kings.
If these three make an impact during their first pro season, as they have since being drafted, the Kings are in good hands and have a foundation they can build around for the future. All three have the potential to become perennial NHL stars when their time comes, and there’s no reason to think they won’t be steady, regular roster players in the NHL.
The Kings are in good hands with these three, as they all have tremendous potential.
PHOTO: Connor Hamilton/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Kings