Day 4 Camp Primer – 3 Groups, 2 Continents, 1 LA Kings

Happy Thursday/Friday Kings Fans!

For the first time during training camp, we’ll expect to see three groups in action, though as it’s been all week, expect a different approach to previous years. Group A is the Melbourne group and we know what that group looks like. They’ll be on the ice at Rod Laver Arena today, home of tomorrow’s preseason opener, in a skate that is open to the public. Today’s skate will be the final practice for Group A until they return to the United States, with two preseason games and some league-mandated off days in between now and then.

As far as Groups B and C go, it’s our first time seeing many of these players since the 2022-23 season ended. Several players in these groups were a part of the Rookie Faceoff in Vegas, but others will make their camp debuts today. The former category includes players like Alex Laferriere, Francesco Pinelli and Martin Chromiak, the “veterans” from that crew. The latter consists of players like T.J. Tynan, Mikhail Maltsev and Kevin Connauton, all of whom bring NHL games to this group. Those guys will be the expected leaders of the squad that will head to Anaheim on Sunday and to Vegas on Wednesday, as guys who have been through this process several times before.

Groups B & C will be skating at Toyota Sports Performance Center and those skates are open to the public, should you like to attend. Groups B & C will be instructed by the Ontario Reign coaching staff, led by Head Coach Marco Sturm.

Group A Schedule, Roster
Practice @ Rod Laver Arena: 10 AM Australia Time (9/22), 5 PM Pacific Time (9/21)

Expected Lines
Quinton Byfield – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Phillip Danault – Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Arthur Kaliyev
Carl Grundstrom – Blake Lizotte – Trevor Lewis
Jaret Anderson-Dolan – Alex Turcotte – Samuel Fagemo – Jacob Doty

Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
Vladislav Gavrikov – Matt Roy
Andreas Englund – Jordan Spence
Tobias Bjornfot – Jacob Moverare

Pheonix Copley / David Rittich / Cam Talbot

Group A will practice for the final time before tomorrow’s preseason opener against Arizona. The expectation surrounding the Global Series is that all 27 players who traveled to Australia will get at least one game, while some will go back-to-back and play in both contests. Unsure exactly how it will play out, but thinking that tomorrow might look a bit more veteran-laden, with others who are trying to state their case getting a look on Sunday. To be determined though, as the Kings will see 8 of 12 forwards and 4 of 6 defensemen play both games, meaning it’ll be a pretty stacked lineup for both games.

Groups B & C Schedule, Roster
Group C Practice: 10:00 AM
Group B vs. C Scrimmage: 10:50 AM
Group B Practice: 12:25 PM
*all times for Groups B & C are listed in Pacific time

Group B Roster
Forwards (11)
36 – T.J. Tynan
37 – Tyler Madden
42 – Martin Chromiak
48 – Nikita Pavlychev
54 – Charles Hudon
60 – Nathan Burke
62 – Sean Tschigerl
73 – Francesco Pinelli
76 – Easton Armstrong
78 – Alex Laferriere
89 – Koehn Ziemmer

Defensemen (7)
40 – Joe Hicketts
58 – Cole Krygier
64 – Wyatte Wylie
67 – Chase Pauls
70 – Kim Nousiainen
71 – Samuel Mayer
86 – Jacob Modry

Goaltenders (2)
1 – Erik Portillo
85 – J-F Berube

Group C Roster
Forwards (11)
41 – Akil Thomas
47 – Andre Lee
50 – Mikhail Maltsev
52 – Taylor Ward
57 – Hayden Hodgson
59 – Isaac Johnson
63 – Ty Thorpe
79 – Samuel Helenius
87 – Sam Alfano
88 – Kaleb Lawrence
90 – Ryan Francis

Defensemen (7)
6 – Kevin Connauton
49 – Steven Santini
56 – Tyler Inamoto
81 – Angus Booth
82 – Max Coyle
83 – Hunter Mayo
92 – Brandt Clarke

Goaltenders (2)
35 – Jacob Ingham
65 – Jacob Oster
75 – Erik Bednard

For this group, there is opportunity for a few names on these lists to make a statement. When Group A returns from Australia, Groups B & C will have two exhibition games to their name. The players in Groups B & C will likely play the games the following weekend as well, with the possibility of some names from Group A beginning to sprinkle back into the lineup. With that being said, players on this list could see as many as four exhibition contests, on top of their experience in Vegas, to make an impression. The group of 27 in Australia isn’t the only collection of players vying for a roster spot. There is an opportunity to see a couple from Groups B & C impress to the point of getting a look with that group down the road. Who that might be will be played out on the ice.

Full coverage from both skates to follow throughout the day. As always, thanks for reading Insiders!