The 21-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut March 10 for the Los Angeles Kings against the San Jose Sharks and was thrust into the thick of the team's push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs after injuries to Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson, Matt Roy, Alexander Edler and Tobias Bjornfot opened up a spot on the blue line.
"It was a lot to process," Spence said. "It was a big year for me, you know, playing in the American Hockey League with Ontario
, the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
That won't deter the Australia-born defenseman. After Los Angeles reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018, he is focused on sticking around as the Kings push to become postseason regulars again.
"I think when I just got called up it was around March, so we were trying to make the playoffs," Spence said. "So it was every game was important, and as the playoffs went on, it's another level. There's more compete. There's a lot of guys [who] have more speed, have more intensity in their game. So for me it's good to experience that so I can be ready for the next playoffs."
