Youth battling to take advantage of “opportunity” on Kings roster

Two springs ago, Nic Dowd scored twice and Nick Shore and Adrian Kempe added goals as part of a 6-3 Manchester Monarchs win over the Utica Comets in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Final. The very next night, Kempe opened the scoring – the 18-year-old’s eighth and final goal in 17 postseason games – to punctuate the Monarchs’ five-game Calder Cup romp.

The Monarchs are no longer the Kings’ top affiliate, but the learning and development experienced by 2015 champions Kempe, Shore, Dowd, Derek Forbort and Kevin Gravel remain an influence in their play with the parent club. Now, with other young players in Paul LaDue and Jonny Brodzinski having been called up to the NHL, Los Angeles is reaping the benefits of a minor league system that does not have as much high end skill or depth as other organizations but can still bank on the collective experience by this young group as it looks to usher in a new wave of players who will vie to make an impact.

“LA’s probably one of the best in the league with the development process and I’ve got to thank them a lot,” said Brodzinski, a fifth round pick in 2013 who will make his NHL debut tonight against the New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports GO / KABC 790 / I Heart Radio). “Coming out of college I was kind of just a raw talent and they kind of just built me into the structurally sound player that I am and I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done. It shows a lot with how many guys they’ve put in the league the last couple years.”

Gravel isn’t expected to skate tonight, but with Dowd (at 26, he’s technically a “first-year player,” not a “rookie”), Forbort, LaDue, Brodzinski and Kempe slated to play, an illustration of the team’s youth will be among the storylines for tonight’s game.

Kempe has scored a pair of important goals but played just 9:46 in Thursday’s win over Winnipeg, while LaDue has handled his mid-teen minutes assignment capably. Forbort has largely performed well since slotting alongside Drew Doughty, a partnership formed when Brayden McNabb suffered a collarbone injury in late October.

“I think it’s about opportunity,” Associate Head Coach John Stevens said. “It’s these guys earning the right to be in the lineup. We’re trying to win hockey games, so some of these young guys, Derek took advantage of an injury earlier in the year and has really played well. Some of these young guys that weren’t here to start the year have gone down and really worked hard with their game and improved to the point where we think they can help us win, and probably the latest example of that is Jonny Brodzinski. Age is a factor. You always want to have guys that move on for one reason or another, but at the same time, I think you’re trying to get the best players in the lineup that are deserving and can help your team win game in and game out.”

This may all be window dressing surrounding the largest story with the team, which is that it has struggled to score consistently this season. It was one of several factors the team was looking to address when it acquired Jarome Iginla from Colorado. The team wasn’t willing to part with its top flight prospects or draft picks, so Iginla, who won’t cost Los Angeles anything beyond salary and cap space should the team fail to make the playoffs and he not re-sign with the Kings, was targeted for his ability to add a scoring touch as well as to provide a Hall of Fame presence within the dressing room and serve as a model of preparation and focus for the team’s younger players.

“We brought Vinny back last year because we needed help at the center ice position, we needed secondary scoring and we needed leadership – we needed all of that – and Jarome’s a lot of the same,” Stevens said. “We need somebody that can contribute to our scoring, we need somebody that can play in a lot of situations and can bring leadership and experience. You watch Jarome, just the seriousness in how he prepares, I think is very impactful on our hockey team for everybody. I know I’ve been impressed with it, but I think you check a lot of boxes off in bringing him in.”

While Forbort said its “cool to see guys get called up though and guys that you’ve battled with in the minors,” the Kings aren’t as interested in storylines as they are in wins. The rookie defenseman acknowledged the team will ultimately be judged by its record while also noting the pride inherent in seeing players transition from the AHL to the NHL.

“Yeah, I guess you could say there’s a little bit of that, but I mean it comes down to ‘can we win?’ and ‘how can we play together up here?” he said.

Derek Forbort, on maintaining relationships with Kevin Gravel and teammates while battling for playing time:
I think that’s kind of something you go through during training camp and it’s obviously something that never carries off the ice. We’re a pretty tight group here and we all get along well and we all want each other to do well and I think if we all just go out there and honestly compete our hardest, there’s nothing either of us can do about it.

Forbort, on bring up previous battles with new teammates:
Yeah it’s obviously a good start-off point. Just kind of talking about your battles in the past and stuff like that. And the [inaudible] kind of carries along as you go on, too. It’s kind of fun to look back and see how your teams are doing but I mean, it never manifests in anything serious.

Forbort, on North Dakota’s single elimination loss in double overtime:
Yeah, it sucks that that’s the way the tourney’s set up with just like a one-game crapshoot but I mean, that’s the way it is. Just so many little bounces that determines who goes home that it kind of sucks, like that offsides call, but it was tough. The boys played hard, though. Battled back and definitely proud to be a Sioux alumni.

Paul LaDue, on maintaining relationships with teammates while battling for a spot on the roster:
You kind of just push each other. You don’t really think that you’re battling against your friend, you’re just trying to be the best player that you can be and I think we use that to help each other and help each other get better so it’s kind of a mutual thing. You like seeing your buddy have success and you want everyone to come up together but you just keep working hard together and keep pushing each other.

LaDue, on North Dakota’s double overtime loss after having a “pretty good season”:
They did, and they had their ups and downs but I thought they played great yesterday. Obviously I think they deserved a better outcome but they fought hard. It was weird watching from the other side. I kind of wish I was out there last night but it was great to see them fighting in a good game like that and BU’s a good team but it’s tough with single elimination. It’s just bounces and I’ve been there before. It’s a terrible feeling but you’ve got to keep your head high. They had a good season.

LaDue, on having 12 Americans and 10 Canadians on the Kings, and whether there is any rivalry:
On this team there is? [Reporter: Yeah.] Yeah I’d say there’s a little pride factor. There’s always a never-ending battle between the Canadians and the Americans. Obviously it’s nothing serious but just little jabs back and forth and you like to see the Americans have the numbers on that.

Jonny Brodzinski, on his feelings entering the game:
[Reporter: Nervous? Excited? A combination of everything?…] Yeah, all of the above. It’s obviously pretty exciting getting the call today so just going to prepare the same. Just treat it as another game, but obviously a lot bigger stage.

Brodzinski, on what he’s most excited for or anticipating in his first NHL game:
I’m not even sure. It’s just something that you work for as a kid. The whole time it’s something you dream of so to see the dream come true, it’s pretty awesome, but the work starts now and we’re still trying to make the playoffs, so.