2024 Training Camp Preview – Right-Shot Defensemen

Training Camp is officially two weeks away!

As the LA Kings look towards the start of the 2024-25 season, we’ll take a look, position by position, at the group that will be hitting the ice this season for the NHL club and the AHL’s Ontario Reign.

Moving over to the right side of the blueline, there’s one constant in that area – Drew Doughty. Doughty will be around as the team’s leader on the backend, specifically on the right side. Behind Doughty, the depth that the Kings built through the draft and via trades over the years has gone down and there are fewer right-shot options than the Kings have on the left. I’d argue there’s more upside on the right, though. A look into the right side of the blueline below.

NHL Contracted Right-Handed Defensemen: Kyle Burroughs, Brandt Clarke, Drew Doughty, Jordan Spence, Reilly Walsh
AHL Contracted Right-Handed Defensemen: Jack Millar, Luke Rowe,

Where They’re At
The right side starts with Doughty.

Doughty remains as a true number-one defenseman. The statistics show it, the metrics show it, the polls and votes show it. While the Norris Trophy seems to trend towards point producers these days, Doughty remains defensively sound with an offensive game that’s still improving, even in his mid-30’s. Doughty buried 15 goals last season, one shy of a career high, crediting offseason devotion to his shot. He also hit 50 points for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in his career. Doughty wants the spotlight, he wants the challenges and he wants everything that comes with being a team’s top defenseman. No signs yet to suggest he isn’t capable of continuing to do what he does.

Beyond number eight are a pair of younger players – Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke.

Last season saw a big step for Spence, as a full-time NHL player, and some exciting glimpses for Clarke. The body of work for both was high event. Lots happened when either Spence or Clarke were on he ice, both offensively and defensively. Lots of chances for, lots of chances against, but ultimately things fell on the right side of the ledger for both players, with more good than bad.

The bulk of the action for both players came as the RD3 – with Matt Roy logging some of the harder minutes – or as the seventh defenseman. With Roy gone, more will be expected of both Spence and Clarke, who are expected to be everyday players to fill that role. Roy is more defensively-minded than either Spence or Clarke, but the offensive upside with the younger players is greater. With more of a stay at home partner for both, the Kings are counting on offensive production from both Spence and Clarke, at a greater rate than in 2023-24. Both players should crack the roster next month and both should have a good chance to play regularly. Up to both to take the next step and with the Kings not coming to terms with Roy, they are banking on strides forward from both players.

The Kings also added an interesting player to their mix on the blueline in Kyle Burroughs. Burroughs was acquired from San Jose around the draft, in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom. Burroughs was a second-pairing player last season on a very bad San Jose team. Logged the second highest TOI at even strength last season for the Sharks. He logged nearly 20 minutes per game in total and had 233 hits, fourth among NHL defensemen. His defensive numbers in Vancouver were solid but in San Jose they were not. Some of that is situational on a team that was not built to contend. Low-event, defense first, physicality. A guy who provides a different skillset to fill in or play in an 11/7 when called upon.

The Kings also signed Reilly Walsh this summer, who played in one NHL game with New Jersey. Walsh is more of a puck mover, with two 40-point seasons in the AHL. Offensively gifted, his likely starting point is in Ontario, where he is an accomplished AHL player. He’s got that NHL game, though, and a familiarity around that level of play. Perhaps an opportunity to impress for more during camp, but nothing wrong with depth.

Ontario also signed two players to AHL contracts – Luke Rowe and Jack Millar. Rowe played in five games at the end of last season out of Air Force Academy, while Millar played in one out of Colorado College. They’re on the older side as far as rookies go, with Millar 23 and Rowe 26. They’re also a bit more experienced. Two guys who should compete for games in Ontario, both with a decent chance of making the team out of camp.

What To Look For
As noted in the LHD training camp preview, the expectation at the top is a pairing of Anderson and Doughty. It’s been the top defensive pairing for the Kings since 2021 and there’s nothing to suggest that it won’t be a pairing again here this season. They played the sixth most minutes in the NHL last season of any defensive pairing, coming in over 55 percent in terms of goal share and shots on goal share.

For Clarke and Spence, the stage is set for both players to be everyday regulars, as the team’s RD2 and RD3. Who exactly they play with, between Vladislav Gavrikov and Joel Edmundson, remains to be seen but in all likelihood, it’ll be those four players paired up in one way or the other.

Burroughs is a solid depth option who represents a change in pace compared to a Spence or a Clarke. He plays a different style of hockey and could slot in either for certain matchups or as the seventh defenseman in an 11/7 alignment, something the Kings could use again here this season.

At the Ontario level, it depends on how the Kings roster shakes out. Do the Kings carry seven defensemen or eight and who are those defensemen. With Walsh and the Millar/Rowe duo as perhaps the only RH options, Ontario could be looking at dressing 4-5 left-shot defensemen on any given night, again depending on who makes the big club out of camp. Joe Hicketts and Caleb Jones are both comfortable playing on the right side, but the Reign also like Rowe and Miller, with Walsh a more established player. Lots of opportunity for sure in Ontario.

Looking Ahead
Moving to the forwards, we’ll look at both the centers and wingers early this week, before the rookies hit the ice on Thursday to begin preparation for the 2024 Rookie Faceoff! Lots of new faces in that mix, plus some old faces with new roles and new expectations.