Releases – Full Training Camp Roster, Schedule, 2023-24 Jersey Schedule, Reign Hire Thompson

Two press releases yesterday, Insiders.

Missed the chance to get these posted amidst a busy day and a large difference in time zones. Please forgive me in my time of need and I will not take questions at this time.

Announcement #1 was a bigger picture post. The Kings announced their full camp roster, which is comprised of players from three different groups. We already knew the 27 players who are in Australia, making up the roster for the 2023 Global Series: Melbourne. We already knew the 27 players who went to Vegas to participate in the 2023 Rookie Faceoff, which concluded earlier this week. Then there’s a third group of players, who will link up with the rookies, to begin training camp on Thursday (Pacific Time) in El Segundo. Today, we get that full group on one roster.

FULL ROSTER LINKED HERE

Interesting names on that roster include goaltender J-F Berube, who is attending training camp on a PTO with the Kings. We all know about Berube. He had two stints with the organization at the AHL level, most recently during the 2020-21 season. Berube was a 2009 draft pick of the Kings and has played in 124 games with the organization at the AHL level, in addition to 61 more in the ECHL. A PTO in goal makes sense. With three goaltenders traveling to Australia, that left just three contracted goaltenders in El Segundo for camp, with only Erik Portillo on an NHL contract. With two groups skating, Berube adds a veteran presence to that group. The players in El Segundo will large in part play the first four exhibition games scheduled in the USA. Plenty of opportunity, with the goaltenders being no exception.

Brandt Clarke is also an interesting name, for those who have missed his status. As reported yesterday, Clarke is currently out of action with a shoulder injury, but it is not expected to be serious. Would not be surprised to see him soon with the group skating in El Segundo. He is a contender, at the least, for those exhibition contests once he is cleared for contact.

The full group that will take the ice on Thursday is linked HERE. Group B includes Ontario Reign captain T.J. Tynan as well as forwards Alex Laferriere and Francesco Pinelli, two of the standouts from the event in Vegas. Clarke is expected to be in Group C, along with forward Mikhail Maltsev, an offseason signing with NHL experience, as well as veteran defenseman Kevin Connauton, who has 360 NHL games to his name.

The full roster release is shown below –

The LA Kings have announced today the roster and on-ice schedule for the team’s 2023 NHL Training Camp that will open tomorrow, September 20, at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, Calif with on-ice sessions beginning on Thursday, September 21.

The camp roster features 22 players who skated in at least one game for the Kings last season, including 15 who appeared in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Kings. Among camp participants are two-time Stanley Cup champions captain Anze Kopitar and alternate captain Drew Doughty, who are returning for their 17th and 15th season with the Kings, respectively. Kopitar led all Kings in scoring last year for a sixth consecutive season and 15th of his career, a franchise a record that trails only Gordie Howe (17) for most seasons leading a single franchise in scoring in league history. Also returning is the team’s leading goal-scorer from last season, Adrian Kempe (41G), who became the first Kings skater since Luc Robitaille in 1993-94 (44) to reach the 40-goal mark in a season, and 2023 NHL All-Star participant Kevin Fiala.

All five of the Kings top scorers from last season return, including Kopitar (28-46=74), Kevin Fiala (23-49=72), Kempe (41-26=67), Viktor Arvidsson (26-33=59), and Phillip Danault (18-36=54). The camp will also feature Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was acquired via trade from the Winnipeg Jets on June 27, 2023, after registering a career-best 36 assists and 63 points (27-36=63) last season.

Of the 68 players set to take part in camp, 27 were drafted by the Kings, including returning forward Trevor Lewis (17th overall, 2006) and goaltender J.F. Berube (95th overall, 2009). Lewis played for the Kings from 2008-20 and was signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2023. Berube signed a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) with the Kings on Sept. 5, 2023, returning to the franchise for the first time since a stint with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ primary American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in 2020-21.

Other notable Kings draftees taking part in camp are a pair of team’s most recent first round draft picks in Brandt Clarke (8th overall, 2021) and Quinton Byfield (2nd overall, 2020), who recorded his first career playoff points (1-3=4) last postseason. Clarke made his NHL debut on Oct. 13, 2022, to become 32nd teenager (19 years, 246 days) to play for the Kings, and collected first career NHL point (0-1=1) on Oct. 20 to become the 18th youngest player (19 years, 253 days) in Kings history to record an NHL point. Clarke spent the majority of last season with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario hockey League (OHL), where he recorded 61 points (23-38=61) in 31 games to earn CHL’s First All-Star team honors.

2023 LA Kings Training Camp Schedule
Through September 27

Thursday, September 21
• Group A: Australia
• Group C Practice: 10:00 a.m.
• Group B vs. C Scrimmage: 10:50 a.m.
• Group B Practice: 12:25 p.m.

Friday, September 22
• Group A: Australia
• Group B Practice: 10:00 a.m.
• Group B vs. C Scrimmage: 10:50 a.m.
• Group C Practice: 12:25 p.m.

Saturday, September 23
• Group A: Australia
• Group B Practice: 10:00 a.m.
• Group C Practice: 11:45 a.m.

Sunday, September 24
• Group A: Australia
• Game Group Morning Skate: 9:30 a.m.
• Non-Game Group Practice: 11:00 a.m.
• Game at Anaheim: 5:00 p.m.

Monday, September 25
• Group A: Australia
• Group B Practice: 10:30 a.m.
• Group C Practice: 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 26
• Day Off (all groups)

Wednesday, September 27
• Group A: Off
• Game Group Morning Skate: 10:00 a.m.
• Non-Game Group Practice: 11:15 a.m.
• Game at Vegas: 7:00 p.m.

Additionally, the Kings announced their schedule for the ‘90s Era adidas Heritage Jersey. The jersey will actually be worn several times on the road this season, beginning with the three-game trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Philadelphia, which begins on October 31 against the Maple Leafs. In total, the Kings will wear their alternate jerseys 15 times, with five of those games coming at home.

That marks, essentially, three full roadtrips, including the first one. The Kings will also bring the Chrome Domes on their East-Coast swing in early-December, as well as three games against the Central Division in March. The first time to see the alternates at home will be on December 27 against San Jose, followed by four games during 2024.

The full schedule is listed below –

October 31 – Away @ TOR
November 2 – Away @ OTT
November 4 – Away @ PHI
December 5 – Away @ CBJ
December 7 – Away @ MTL
December 9 – Away @ NYI
December 10 – Away @ NYR
December 27 – Home vs. SJ
January 2 – Home vs. TOR
January 22 – Home vs. SJ
February 24 – Home vs. ANA
March 13 – Away @ STL
March 15 – Away @ CHI
March 16 – Away @ DAL
April 13 – Home vs. ANA

Lastly, the Ontario Reign made an announcement earlier this morning, announcing the hire of recently retired forward Nate Thompson as a skills coach with the AHL club.

Thompson announced his retirement from professional hockey earlier this summer. The 38-year-old forward spent the 2022-23 season with the Reign as a player and parts of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the Kings as a depth forward. Thompson logged 844 NHL games throughout his career and played well over 1,000 professional games between the NHL, AHL and ECHL. A solid addition for the organization’s younger players to continue to learn from.

Thompson on Joining The Reign Staff
I’m excited to be part of this Ontario coaching staff that I already have a great familiarity with. Thanks to Rich Seeley, Marco Sturm and the entire LA Kings organization for welcoming me and supporting me as I begin this new chapter in my career.

Ontario Reign General Manager Richard Seeley
Nate’s long professional career and significant playing experience make him a great addition to our coaching staff. We look forward to having him work closely with our players this season as he transitions to coaching.