Rookie Preview, 9/16 – Tournament Finale + Carter George Talks First Rookie Faceoff

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (0-1-1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (1-1-0)
WHAT: 2024 Rookie Faceoff, Game 3
WHEN: Monday, September 16 @ 3:30 PM Pacific
WHERE: Toyota Sports Performance Center – El Segundo, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: LAKings.com – AUDIO – LAKings.com – TWITTER: @DooleyLAK & @LAKings

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The 2024 Rookie Faceoff comes to a close this afternoon as the Kings host the Anaheim Ducks for a Monday matinee, the final game of the four-day event at Toyota Sports Performance Center.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: The Kings and Ducks play each other every year at this event and 2024 is no different.

The Kings lost 4-2 when these teams met last season in Vegas. Among the players who were on the ice for that game include Francesco Pinelli, Koehn Ziemmer, Aatu Jamsen, Kaleb Lawrence, Jakub Dvorak and Angus Booth, who could all feature in today’s game as well. Jamsen and Booth each had an assist during the game last season.

KINGS VITALS: The Kings practiced yesterday with the full group and with the early start time today, they did not hold a morning skate.

Looking at today’s matchup, look for goaltender Carter George to feature for sure. George played 20 minutes in Game 1 of the tournament and should get an even longer look in today’s game. More on George below, who spoke on his experience after yesterday’s practice.

Today’s lineup is not fully clear at this time, but showing below how the Kings lined up during yesterday’s practice –

Greentree – Pinelli – Jamsen
Ziemmer – Wise – Brodzinski
Olson – Woodworth – Lawrence
Parker-Jones – Caderoth – Tulk
Davis – Moynihan – Neutens

Dvorak – Clarke
Krygier – Vaughan
Woolley – Booth
Rowe – Millar
Berge – Mania

As for the skaters, expecting all of the players who are Kings draft picks to dress for the tournament finale. Forward Francesco Pinelli should return tonight for the Kings, after he sat out on Saturday evening in a pre-determined rotation. Defenseman Cole Krygier could also make his tournament debut. Krygier is among the older players on this roster and has a full season of AHL experience under his belt. Games like these aren’t as important for him as they are for others, thus just the one game for Krygier at the showcase, but good for him to get some action in before main camp gets underway.

The Kings moved their forwards around a bit during yesterday’s practice and we could see Aatu Jamsen slot in alongside Pinelli and Liam Greentree, as they were aligned during yesterday’s skate. The above players aren’t anything firm and we’ll get a sense soon enough of how the Kings will align for today’s game.

DUCKS VITALS: The Ducks won their first game on Friday over Colorado and fell by a 7-2 scoreline against San Jose yesterday evening.

Forward Cutter Gauthier, acquired from Philadelphia last season, led the way with a goal and an assist during the tournament-opening game and followed up with another goal yesterday versus the Sharks. Forward Yegor Sidorov also has goals in both games, including an impressive individual effort in yesterday’s game.

If he plays today, Gauthier is the top prospect on the Anaheim side. He was a Hobey Baker finalist in 2024, as one of the best players in college hockey. If he does go, one to watch how Kings defensemen handle the matchup.

Notes –
Boy George
Friday was a special day for a lot of players, who got to wear an NHL jersey in a game for the first time.

For Kings netminder Carter George, though, it was that much more meaningful. George grew up a Kings fan. He was then drafted by his favorite team back in June and when he took the ice for the third period against Vegas, it was a dream come true to play a game as an LA Kings. It’s a rookie tournament, of course, so it’s not like it was his NHL debut. But, to wear the jersey during a game, it was something to remember.

“Personally, it was really cool to put on the Kings jersey,” he said. “Growing up since I was a kid, loving the team, to actually put it on it, it meant the world to me.”

20 minutes, so far, is all we’ve seen of George between the pipes.

Marco Sturm called him “outstanding” in those minutes.

“George, high draft pick and we all couldn’t wait to see him,” Sturm said. “He was outstanding for that period. I can’t believe how calm he is already at such a young age. Really looking forward to working with him.”

For George, the 20 minutes was great and he’s hoping to get another opportunity here today.

It’s the final chance to showcase himself during the event and he’s looking to do exactly that. George will be here for training camp next week and he knows he’ll be spending this season back in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack. That doesn’t mean he isn’t looking to impress, though. He’s looking to showcase his best this afternoon, for all who are watching.

“Just trying to make a name for myself, I just want to show that I want to help my team win games,” George said. “I just want to be a backstop and make saves for my team when they need it, especially in key moments and momentum changers. I’m just gonna be back there and do my best for the team.”

In speaking with George, the maturity level is well beyond that of a typical 18-year-old prospect. Perhaps that’s why Sturm was so impressed with how calm he is in net. The demeanor is there and it shows up in his play in the crease. That’s a great trait to have for a goaltender. It’s important for a goaltender to embrace his own personality. Jonathan Quick couldn’t have been more different, but he was the absolute best at the way he manned the crease. George is a different kind of person, a different kind of goaltender and he’s looking to embrace and harness that.

The composure is especially impressive for a player who is taking a step up in competition this week.

It’s funny to mention the “pace” of the game for a goaltender, because he’s not out there skating, but the pace of the game is noticed in net. For George, he’s faced higher-level shooters both in practice against against Vegas on Friday. He’ll face plenty more today for however long he’s in the net. He’s aware of it and seems excited for the challenge.

“The reads and everything comes at you a lot quicker, puck movement’s a lot faster, so you’ve got to be a lot sharper on your feet and quicker with your decisions on what you’re going to do,” he added. ‘Obviously shots are a little harder too, so you’ve got to be better with your save selection too.”

Quick Hitters
– Francesco Pinelli is back in the lineup tonight after he was held out of Game 2. Pre-determined thing. Pinelli captained the squad in Game 1 on Friday and I’d assume he could do the same here today.

Brandt Clarke, however, is not in the lineup today. Clarke was the team’s other letter wearer against Vegas. Looking at the rest of the group, I’d think of a guy like Cole Krygier as a potential replacement in the leadership group. He, like Pinelli and Clarke, played a full season of professional hockey in 2023-24. He’s 24 and a natural candidate for that recognition.

– On Clarke, playing in just the one game was the plan from the start. Sturm said that these games aren’t as important for Clarke as they are for others. We know what Clarke is against this level of competition.

His focus now shifts towards main camp on Thursday, where he should instantly slot into the top eight on Day 1. Clarke has taken a ton of strides and said he put on muscle over the summer. He also approached playing in this event the right way, talking about his excitement to play, rather than having to play. It was clear he was a cut above the competition on Friday. The real challenge begins in four days.

– During yesterday’s practice, defenseman Angus Booth played on his off side, on a pairing with fellow draft pick Jared Woolley. Haven’t seen him on the right before, but today could be the day, depending on how Sturm shakes out the defensive pairings. More on Booth HERE from Josh Schaefer after yesterday’s practice.

Kings and Ducks, 3:30 PM puck drop! Free live stream again on LAKings.com to finish off this event. Then, the real stuff begins.