Top prospects for Los Angeles Kings

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the Los Angeles Kings, according to NHL.com.

1. Brandt Clarke, D

How acquired:Selected with No. 8 pick in 2021 NHL Draft

2022-23 season:Los Angeles (NHL): 9 GP, 0-2-2; Ontario (AHL): 5 GP, 1-1-2; Barrie (OHL): 31 GP, 23-38-61

Clarke (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) could get a great chance this season after the Kings traded defensemen Sean Walker to the Philadelphia Flyers and Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes. The 20-year-old played nine games with the Kings to begin last season before he was sent to the American Hockey League and later reassigned to the Ontario Hockey League. He had eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games for Canada when it won the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in January.

"You look at where he's been, at the World Juniors, as the tournament got better, he got better," Kings player development coach Sean O'Donnell said. "As the games went along, he started getting double-shifted, playing more. Once he settles into a situation and sees where he's at and gets a feel for it, he doesn't get overwhelmed by situations at all."

Projected NHL arrival:This season

2. Alex Laferriere, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 83 pick in 2020 NHL Draft

2022-23 season:Ontario (AHL): 4 GP, 1-0-1; Harvard (NCAA): 34 GP, 21-21-42

The 21-year-old (6-0, 173) completed his sophomore season at Harvard leading the team in goals and finishing second in scoring behind center Sean Farrell, who was selected No. 124 by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 draft.

"He's finished college now, came here at the end of the year with us and the [Ontario] Reign [of the American Hockey League] and played and he was pretty impressive," senior director of player personnel Glen Murray said of Laferriere. "I think he understands now that, 'OK, I've got to really push myself off the ice during the offseason, if I want to keep up with the [center Anze] Kopitars and those guys."

Projected NHL arrival:Next season

3. Jordan Spence, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 95 pick in 2019 NHL Draft

2022-23 season: Los Angeles (NHL): 6 GP, 0-1-1; Ontario (AHL): 56 GP, 4-41-45

Spence (5-10, 180) has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 30 games with the Kings over the past two seasons. There's a spot or two open among the Kings' defensive group for the 22-year-old but Tobias Bjornfot and Clarke are likely filling those spaces.

"You've got Bjornfot, you've got Spence and you've got Clarke in that mix there now," Kings general manager Rob Blake said. "So, how it shakes out at the end will kind of be up to (Kings coach) Todd [McLellan]. But we know that those three younger [defensemen], a couple of them have some experience."

Projected NHL arrival:Next season

4. Francesco Pinelli, F

How acquired:Selected with No. 42 pick in 2021 NHL Draft

2022-23 season:Kitchener (OHL): 60 GP, 41-49-90

Pinelli (6-0, 185) is coming off his best season with Kitchener and added seven points (four goals, three assists) in six OHL playoff games. The 20-year-old center impressed the Kings during development camp last month.

"He's doing exactly what he needs to be doing right now," Kings player development coach Jarret Stoll said. "You can see the strength in his game now, the power in his stride, his skating. He's a lot quicker than last year. He had a great year in junior, that's awesome, that's good, but now you move on from that, you turn pro and need a big year from him."

Projected NHL arrival:Next season

5. Martin Chromiak, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 128 pick in 2020 NHL Draft

2022-23 season:Ontario (AHL): 55 GP, 15-13-28

The Kings were very happy with the development camp of Chromiak (6-0, 187). The 20-year-old went through some growing pains last season in the AHL but the Kings said it was part of the process.

"The American League's very hard," Murray said. "There are older guys there and they're battling for their jobs and they're not going to give it to you. He found out fairly quickly. He had a good six weeks last year when he scored those goals, but it's hard. It's a long season. Sometimes it takes a little time but he's going in the right direction."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season