Development Camp Day 1 Notebook

Day 1 of Los Angeles Kings Development Camp is in the books. The 2018 NHL Entry Draft saw the Kings select seven prospects and six of those players were on the ice today in El Segundo as a part of a roster of 34 players. For the first time since 2009 and 2010, the Kings made first round picks in back-to-back seasons and both of those picks, forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, were in action today.

Each positional group – forwards, defensemen and goaltenders – skated separately in the morning before the groups got together in afternoon sessions that featured an extended scrimmage.

Here are my notes from Day 1 –

The 18-Year Old Veteran

It can be weird to think of an 18-year old player as being a “veteran” but a veteran presence is exactly what Gabriel Vilardi brings to Kings Development Camp. While Vilardi did not suit up with the Kings during the 2017-18 season, an injury kept him in Los Angeles throughout training camp and into the beginning of the season, which allowed him to function around NHL players on a day-to-day basis. Vilardi’s experience with the culture of the Kings organization at the NHL level was something that Mike Donnelly of the Kings Player Development department feels is a major factor at this week’s camp.

“It’s a huge bonus, it’s the culture of the LA Kings,” Donnelly said of Vilardi’s presence around the younger prospects. “Gabe being around here, he was really quiet last year and he just did his work. He was around a lot of NHL guys and I think that made a big difference for him. He kept to himself, he did his rehab work, it was really awesome with how he handled it. Our culture here is great for him, it’s helped him and he’s helped us with the younger guys this year, it’s awesome. When you have that special personality, it’s really great for the younger players. Our culture here in LA is a really positive one and it’s an excellent place to play.”

Teachers Teach

While the on-ice action is the part of a development camp that gets the most attention, this week is as much about learning off the ice as it is on the ice. For the Player Development staff, getting to know prospects in just a week’s time can be a challenge but it’s a major piece of what this camp is about.

“It’s getting to know the players, developing a relationship with them, teaching them, the game is so complex there’s a lot of stuff that we have to teach,” Donnelly said about the off-ice facets of development camp. “We want to know them not just as hockey players and I think that’s important when you’re doing development. I’m not their coach, [Nelson Emerson]’s not their coach, [Glen Murray]’s not their coach, Mike O’Connell, we’re not their coaches, we’re almost like teachers. It’s awesome for us and I think it’s great for them. We see them in the morning and they’re excited to see us, ‘what are we going to do, what are we going to work on’ it’s a really, really good environment.
Kupari The King

Today’s skates marked the debut of forward Rasmus Kupari, the first time he’s been on the ice in a Kings’ jersey. Kupari stood out in the early sessions this morning with his quickness and slick style that was highly touted from the draft. The Finland native has had a whirlwind week, arriving in Dallas for the NHL Draft on Thursday and then heading straight to California for Development Camp this week, with today’s skate being his first organized team activity.

“When I saw this practice arena, it was like wow, it’s very nice, it has got very nice elements in here,” Kupari said. “I think a lot of the players are enjoying being here and there are very friendly and good coaches here so I’m just so excited.”

That special feeling of wearing the Kings logo for the first time was not lost on Kupari, who spoke very highly of the organization, his coaches and the city of Los Angeles.

“It was an amazing feeling,” Kupari said of wearing a Kings jersey on the ice for the first time. “I’ve heard so much good about this organization that it was an unbelievable feeling.”

The Cloud Connection

Also on the ice for day one was the “Cloud Connection” as three different St. Cloud State products – Easton Brodzinski, Mikey Eyssimont and David Hrenak – all suited up for the Kings. The trio of players were all teammates on the Huskies during the 2017-18 season as St. Cloud skated to the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Of the three, Brodzinski is perhaps best known to Kings fans as he is now in his second development camp, having also attended the 2017 edition. In addition to his St. Cloud State ties, Brodzinski is also the brother of Los Angeles and Ontario forward Jonny Brodzinski, who has skated professionally with the Kings and Reign over the past three seasons. Both ties, collegiate and family, have made the transition to a professional camp that much easier for Brodzinski.

“That always helps,” he said. “A lot of guys around here know of me because of my brother and my St. Cloud teammates, things like that so it’s nice to feel like you’re fitting in right away. It definitely helps having that here.”

Brodzinski is one of 10 returnees from development camp a season ago and his familiarity with the process has helped him to assimilate the second time around.

“It’s been nice, it feels like the same thing as last year so far,” Brodzinski said. “All the guys have been great, it’s a great development staff and everyone’s been nice so it’s nice to come back and feel right where I left off last year.

Double Trouble

Speaking of second development camps, Donnelly mentioned a notable difference between seeing players at last year’s development camp as opposed to seeing them again this season. Donnelly specifically mentioned Vilardi and forward Drake Rymsha as players that have stood out as players with experience under their belts. Donnelly pointed out the extensive amount of information and teaching that goes into a development camp week as a reason that players come back stronger in their second camp.

“There’s no doubt,” Donnelly said about players being better in a second development camp. “As long as they’re attentive and they work hard that base is there. Even if it’s four days, five days, we’re together the whole day, we do a lot of videos and instructions and they’re surrounded by a big development staff. We try to get them better in every facet of the game and it definitely makes a difference. Rymsha, he’s improved from the last development camp and you’re seeing that they’re more comfortable. They’re more used to us, used to how we teach. We want them to come in here and we’re trying to teach them how to play the right way, that’s our goal as a development staff.”

*One note – Via Kings Hockey Operations, goaltender Cole Kehler missed today’s on-ice sessions with a minor injury and is day-to-day.

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