For the first time since the event began in 2018, the LA Kings will host the NHL Rookie Faceoff this fall. Games will be played in El Segundo, CA at the Toyota Sports Performance Center – the practice and operations home of the LA Kings – from September 13 through September 16.
A long time coming!
The event has been hosted in Vegas (x2), Anaheim, Arizona and San Jose, but never yet by the Kings. One obstacle in that process during the first few seasons was the lack of two, NHL-sized ice sheets at TSPC, but that was rectified a few years back with the conversion of the second sheet from Olympic ice to NHL ice. As of this summer, the only organizations not to host, among those who have participated, were Los Angeles and Colorado and the Kings will take their turn here this fall.
From a Kings perspective, they’ll play three games over four days, all on the main ice sheet at TSPC. The first two games will be 7 PM puck drops, with the Kings set to host Vegas and Utah, followed by a Monday afternoon matinee game against Anaheim. The full Kings schedule is below –
Friday, September 13 – Kings vs. Vegas – 7:00 PM
Saturday, September 14 – Kings vs. Utah – 7:00 PM
Monday, September 16 – Kings vs. Anaheim – 3:30 PM
All games will be ticketed events, with limited space and seating available. More information on that will be released at a later date. It’s also expected that the Kings will have a few team practice days, as well as morning skate sessions before the games on Friday and Saturday.
In terms of roster composition, look for the Kings to have several of their drafted players in attendance. Of those to participate last season, nine players played professional games in either the NHL or AHL, with Alex Laferriere among those who suited up prior to his 86 games with the Kings between regular season and playoffs.
The biggest difference between Rookie Camp and Development Camp is that college players cannot attend the former and are not eligible to participate in the Rookie Faceoff. School is in session, after all, so players like Ryan Conmy, Jack Hughes and Jared Wright will not be on this roster.
In terms of the players who could be, guys like Liam Greentree, Carter George and Jared Woolley from the 2024 Draft Class should all be expected to participate. It would be the first time in a Kings jersey, on the ice, for all three players in game situations. Greentree was the team’s first pick in the first round since Brandt Clarke in 2021 and he was a standout on Day 3 of Development Camp with his combination of physicality and ability on the puck. Against stronger opposition, it will be good to see what his impact is.
Others who could be included on the roster are guys like 2023 second-round selection Jakub Dvorak and third-round selection Koehn Ziemmer, who both played last year and return as more experienced prospects. Both are eligible to begin their professional careers this fall in the AHL but are not yet determined on their path forward for the upcoming season.
The Rookie Faceoff also tends to be a bit more experienced than a Development Camp roster does. Francesco Pinelli was the only player this summer with professional experience, but others like Martin Chromiak, Andre Lee, Samuel Helenius, Erik Portillo and Cole Krygier, who all played in Ontario this past season, would be eligible to play. Also eligible are the pair of Aatu Jamsen and Kirill Kirsanov, who were at development camp but did not participate in on-ice sessions due to injury. It’s unlikely that we would see Kirsanov, who is under contract in the KHL, but we could see Jamsen, who recently signed his entry-level contract.
Expecting to see a full, confirmed roster closer to the event. Things can always change between now and then, so the names listed above are not confirmed attendees, just my own take on the players we could see on the roster.
More information is available in the team’s full release, below –
The LA Kings have announced that the organization will host the 2024 Rookie Faceoff. The annual event, which rotates locations each season among the participating teams, will be held September 13-16 at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, Calif.
The 10-game showcase will feature the top prospects from seven NHL clubs, including the Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Utah Hockey Club and Vegas Golden Knights. Six of the seven clubs will play three times during the weekend tournament while Seattle is slated for two contests.
The four-day event will feature three games on Friday, September 13, two games on Saturday, September 14 and two games on Sunday, September 15 before it concludes on Monday, September 16 with six of the seven teams taking the ice. The full game schedule can be found below.
All three Kings games will be streamed live for fans in the Los Angeles market at LAKings.com.
More information regarding rosters, broadcasts and tickets for the 2024 Rookie Faceoff will be announced at a later date.
Tournament Game Schedule
Friday, Sept. 13
Game 1 – San Jose vs. Utah, 1:00 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)
Game 2 – Colorado vs. Anaheim, 3:30 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 2)
Game 3 – Vegas vs. Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)Saturday, Sept. 14
Game 1 – Seattle vs. Colorado, 3:00 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)
Game 2 – Utah vs. Los Angeles, 7:00 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)Sunday, Sept. 15
Game 1 – Vegas vs. Seattle, 1:00 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)
Game 2 – Anaheim vs. San Jose, 4:30 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)Monday, Sept. 16
Game 1 – Colorado vs. San Jose, 11:30 a.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)
Game 2 – Utah vs. Vegas, 12:30 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 2)
Game 3 – Anaheim vs. Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. PT, (NHL Rink 1)
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