Prospect Brandon Kozun puts the ball in the Kings court

Sometimes the NHL Draft can be a bit confusing for the casual observer.

Jordan Eberle was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers back in 2008. The following year, the Kings took Brandon Kozun in the sixth round.

At the end of the 2009-10 season, Kozun had 107 points and beat out Eberle for the WHL scoring title.

Since then, Eberle has played 69 games in the NHL. Meanwhile, Kozun proclaimed 'I'm ready for the NHL' earlier this summer.

At the very least, he'll most likely be playing an NHL pre-season game on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Coyotes.

"I have him penciled in for an exhibition game," said Kings head coach Terry Murray. "I like the way he played (in the Rookie Games last week, ironically against Phoenix). He made some huge plays in the offensive part of the games, setting up the winning goals and scoring goals on the power play himself. That's what he needs to do. He's put up big numbers in junior and we're looking for that to carry over to the pro side of it."

Kozun also believes he put his best foot forward last week.

Yet another d-man invited to Kings Development Camp

Adding to the roster notes posted earlier today for the Kings upcoming Development Camp, word is that another defenseman has been invited.

The annual sessions, held at the team's training facility in El Segundo, usually features all of the top signed and unsigned prospects in the organization, along with a few key free agent invitees.

Already listed as invited were right wing Michael Kantor (Soo Greyhounds, OHL) and three defensemen - Pierre Durepos (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL), Colin Miller (Soo Greyhounds, OHL) and Saverio Posa (Windsor Spitfires, OHL).

You can now add to that list Alexander Roach of the Calgary Hitmen.

In 61 regular season games this year, the 6-foot-4, 217 pound blueliner posted 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) and 77 penalty minutes. Although 18 years old, it was his rookie season in the WHL.

According to his agent, he was tendered the invitation moments after the conclusion of the NHL Draft this past weekend in Minneapolis.

For more information on the players invited to this year's Development Camp click here or for some pre-camp interviews with several of the Kings top prospects follow these links - JF Berube interview (link), Tyler Toffoli interview (link) and Jordan Weal interview (link)...more to follow.

The Mayor
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What to do with Martin Jones?

One game doesn't make a career. He isn't a bust. The Kings shouldn't trade him.

Just sayin' - he sure hasn't risen to the occasion when there's a crown on his chest.

I interviewed over a dozen players selected at this past June's NHL Draft. Every one of them who played in the WHL listed Martin Jones as the toughest goalie they had ever faced. His teammates from the Canadian contingent at the World Junior Championships sang his praises. In April he was crowned the WHL goaltender of the year.

Rewind to last September, when the Kings met the Coyotes in game one of their annual two-game rookie series. Final score, 6-1 Phoenix. Jones suffered the loss and gave up all six goals.

After that game, he had the following to say of his performance "It’s hard to bring a bunch of guys together and try and get them game ready in a week and try and get chemistry going...In a game like that you need your goalie to make a save, keep you in it early and I don’t think I did that tonight".

Fast forward twelve months, this time it was the late saves.

In game one of this year's doubleheader between the same two teams, Jones gave up four goals - including three in the third period...with the final one inside of two minutes left in the game.

Goose Eggs All Around

If only it was Tuesday night...or Thursday night...we could've used the tired ol' radio expression TwoFer Tuesday in the headline...

It was a double dose of shutouts Friday night for a pair of Kings prospects.

Jonathan Bernier and the Manchester Monarchs blanked the Worcester Sharks 5-0 to take a 2-1 lead in their second round AHL series.  Bernier's sixth playoff win with the team moved him into a tie with Jason LaBarbera for the most in Monarchs history. 

Bud Holloway, featured here yesterday, picked up an assist in the game - running his points streak up to seven games.  Shockingly, it was somebody other than Bud with the game winning goal...this time the honor went to Gabe Gauthier.  The four other Monarchs goals were scored by Trevor Lewis (2), Corey Elkins and David Meckler. 

Bernier and Lewis were both drafted in the first round by the Kings back in 2006 - just a few months after Dean Lombardi took over as General Manager.  Meckler was taken that same year, in the 5th round.

You can click here to read the official Monarchs recap of the game.

Up north in Calgary the Hitmen, led by Kings goalie prospect Martin Jones, blanked the Tri-City Americans 7-0 in their opening game of the WHL Finals.  League scoring champion - and Kings 6th round pick last summer - Brandon Kozun scored yet again.

Both series resume tomorrow night.  And...as a special bonus - you can catch the Hitmen v Americans game on TV (it's on tape delay, but still)...Fox Sports NorthWest will be showing the game at 12:30am PST on Sunday Morning (or late Saturday night, depending how you look at it)...DirecTV viewers can tune to 687.  Tell your DVRs to record WHL hockey...watch Jones and Kozun...enjoy.

You can view FSN's full TV schedule for the series by clicking here.

One more bit of news for you on the way out the door today...

Kyle Clifford, the only other Kings prospect of note still playing, had a pair of goals on Thursday night for the Barrie Colts...however, it wasn't enough, they lost...and are now down 0-2 in the OHL Finals vs. the Windsor Spitfires.  That series resumes in Windsor on Sunday afternoon. 

Readers of this site may recall back in September when Kings Assistant Coach Mark Hardy had plenty of good things to say about Clifford coming out of Rookie Training Camp.  Drafted last summer in the second round, he looks like a kid to keep an eye on.

The Mayor
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Draft Watch - Lots of prospects on TV

Want to see some Kings prospects on television this weekend? How about some of the kids that will be drafted by NHL teams at the 2010 Draft being held in Los Angeles? How about some college hockey tournament action?

All three can be seen over the next three days, including a Calgary Hitmen game - which features LA Kings goaltending prospect Martin Jones in net and possible WHL scoring champion Brandon Kozun at right wing. So fire up the DVRs...

Here is a quick rundown on games you can choose from:

Seattle Thunderbirds vs. Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Unless you've been living under a rock (or not reading this site), you know how much Kings GM Dean Lombardi loves the Western Hockey League. So much so that the last three years running he's taken a player from the Dub in the first round - Thomas Hickey ('07), 'Mr. Nasty' Colten Teubert ('08) and Brayden Schenn ('09).

Tonight's game starts at 7pm PST on Fox Sports NorthWest (DirecTV channel 687). The showcase player in the game will be T-birds goalie Calvin Pickard. He's currently ranked #1 among all North American goalies by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. The 6'1" netminder is expected to give Team USA phenom Jack Campbell a run for his money at the draft. One of them is expected to go early in the opening round as the first goalie taken this year.

Kelowna also features two ranked players of their own...Mitchell Chapman (ranked #151) is a 6'2" defenseman who loves to drop the gloves. To see his latest fight, as well as some other clips of his physical altercations, click here to see some clips from hockeyfights.com.

Brett Bulmer, a 6'2" right wing, is ranked #164.

Also playing in the game are Tyson Barrie (selected in the third round of last year's draft by the Avalanche) and Prab Rai (a 5th round pick of the Canucks in '08). Both are among the top 20 scorers in the WHL's Western Conference.

Becuase the Olympic talk never ends around here...Nashville Predators and Team Canada defenseman Shea Weber played his junior hockey for the Kelowna Rockets.

And one final note on Kelowna...in two weeks the Detroit Red Wings will take a very rare late season bonding trip to Kelowna. It seems that GM Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock figured it would be a great way to spend the off days between a Monday game in Calgary and a Friday game in Edmonton. They'll be hosting an open practice for the town and have a few other events planned. To read more about their unique plans click here.

Saskatoon Blades vs Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

This game is on Sunday afternoon and will be a double treat...you can catch five ranked players for this year's draft in action...plus catch two Kings prospects.

Martin Jones has been an outstanding free agent signing for the Kings. He played a little at the recent World Junior Championships for Canada (winning a silver medal) and has been rock solid in goal for the Hitmen all year - winning WHL player of the week honors in February.

Meanwhile, last year's 6th round pick by the Kings, Brandon Kozun, has been a one man wrecking crew. He also played for Team Canada at the World Jrs and is the only 2x player of the week this season in the WHL. He currently has 94 points, only 3 behind league leader Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats.

Saskatoon's ranked players for the 2010 draft:
#56 - Curtis Hamilton 6'2" LW
#68 - Charles Inglis 5'11" C

Calgary's ranked players:
#85 - Matt Mackenzie 6'1" D (to read a scouting report on him click here)
#181 - Cody Beach 6'4" RW

Mackenzie also played for Team Orr at the recent CHL Top Prospects game. He finished the night with zero points and a +1 rating.

Calgary and Saskatoon are two of the top three teams in the WHL, with Calgary leading all teams at 97 points. Saskatoon has 93 points, good for third best in the Eastern Conference. So, on paper, this looks to be an outstanding game.

It will be the first WHL game of the year to be broadcast in the U.S. on the NHL Network (DirecTV channel 215). The puck is scheduled to drop at 4pm PST on Sunday.

NCAA College Hockey

Friday 4:30pm PST - #5 ranked Boston College at #10 New Hampshire (Rob Scuderi went to BC and helped take his team to the NCAA hockey championship game three of his four years, finally winning it all in 2001...his final season as an Eagle) - NESN (DirecTV channel 628)

Friday 5:30pm PST - Michigan Tech at #7 ranked North Dakota (Kings d-man Matt Greene played for the Fighting Sioux, losing out on the NCAA championship to Denver during his final season there, 2004-05) - NESN (DirecTV channel 628)

Friday 6:30pm PST - Colorado College at #1 ranked Denver - FSN Rocky Mountain (DirecTV channel 683)

Saturday 4:30pm PST - CCHA Tournament - Lake Superior State at Michigan (like Jack Johnson says 'Go Big Blue') - Fox Sports Denver (DirecTV channel 663)

Saturday 6pm PST - #1 ranked Denver at Colorado College - FSN Rocky Mountain (DirecTV channel 683)

Take lots of notes, there will be a quiz later.

Read. Watch. Enjoy.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Kozun named WHL Player of the Week...again

For the second time this season Kings prospect Brandon Kozun has been named the WHL's Player of the Week. He was previously awarded the honor for his play during the week of October 19-25th. His Calgary Hitmen teammate and fellow Kings prospect, goalie Martin Jones, was selected for the award last week.

The WHL is full of some of the Kings elite prospects right now, including 'Mr Nasty' Colten Teubert of the Regina Pats and Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Along with Thomas Hickey, who is in Manchester this year, the trio represents three straight years of first round draft picks from the WHL by Kings GM Dean Lombardi.

Kozun meanwhile was taken in the sixth round of this past June's draft.

Brief highlights from the WHL press release:

"Kozun picked up eight points, scoring six goals and two assists to go with a remarkable +8 rating, in four games over the past week, helping the Hitmen post a 4-0 record in that span.

...

Kozun’s eight points over the last four games has him sitting tied for 1st among WHL Scorers with 83 points (29 goals, 54 assists) in 51 games played. The Calgary Hitmen have stretched their winning streak to eight games and currently sit second in the WHL Eastern Conference with a 40-16-1-1 record for 82 points."

To read the full press release click here.

The Mayor
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