Another week has passed and it’s time for our LA Kings weekly prospect update. This week’s update was highlighted by Akil Thomas. Dealing with injuries in the forward group, the Kings called up Thomas on Easter Sunday and made his NHL debut the following day. In that debut, Thomas had only 3:42 of ice time as the Kings lost to the Winnipeg Jets, 4-3.
Two games later, he recorded his first NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks in the first period to give the Kings a 2-0 lead. That goal ended up being the game-winner as the Kings held on for a 2-1 victory. It was a wonderful moment considering all the shoulder injuries he endured within the past three years to have a healthy season in Ontario and get to this moment. He became the second Kings rookie this season to have their first career NHL goal stand as the winning goal (Brandt Clarke on 2/17/24 was the other).
#LAKingsLive starts NOW‼
📺 Baly Sports West
Stream on https://t.co/a3zeMGQrwN & the Bally Sports App!!@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/czBMcKoT2J— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 2, 2024
AKIL THOMAS YOU HAVE SCORED IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/roJKcHM2O5
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 5, 2024
Akil Thomas is the sixth different Kings skater to score their first career NHL goal this season. It is the 12th different season in team history to feature six or more players recording their first career NHL goal and fifth in the last 20 seasons: 2017-18 (6), 2007-08 (6),… pic.twitter.com/CMOqXFeoz4
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 5, 2024
That first @NHL goal feeling 😊 pic.twitter.com/qXPuHO3qaG
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 5, 2024
“I looked up and he was the first guy I saw, so it kind of meant the world to me.” 🥹 https://t.co/caWRhjRunx pic.twitter.com/xhWtNRY3tU
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 5, 2024
Here is how the rest of the players did in the pipeline:
Overseas players:
- Alexander Dergachyov: No games played (season over)
- Bulat Shafigullin: No games played (season over)
- Kirill Kirsanov: No games played (season over)
- Kasper Simontaival: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, -1, 11 SOG in two games played
- Aatu Jamsen: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, -1, 8 SOG in three games played
🚨 Kid Jämsen kääntää pehmeillä käsillään @PelicansFi:n johtoon! 💥
📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga #PelicansFi pic.twitter.com/kDL3uNTQmj
— Liiga (@smliiga) April 5, 2024
- Otto Salin: No games played (season over)
- Juho Markkanen: No games played (season over)
USHL players:
- Hampton Slukynsky: 1 GA, 13 saves on 14 shots faced in one game played
NCAA players:
- Ryan Conmy: No games played (season over)
- Kenny Connors: No games played (season over)
- Ben Meehan: No games played (season over)
- Braden Doyle: No games played (season over)
- Jared Wright: No games played (will play in NCAA’s Frozen Four this week)
- Jack Hughes: No games played (will play in NCAA’s Frozen Four this week)
QMJHL players:
- Angus Booth: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, +1, 4 SOG in two games played (QMJHL playoffs)
OHL players:
- Kaleb Lawrence: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, -1, 5 SOG in two games played
Larry's on a HEATER 🔥 @LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/FO6mWcKNEP
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) April 2, 2024
- Matthew Mania: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, +1, 8 SOG in three games played
PUT IT ON THE BOARD MARV! pic.twitter.com/OmC1vwyj7n
— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) April 4, 2024
WHL players:
- Koehn Ziemmer: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, +1, 4 SOG in two games played
Ziemmer's first goal since returning from injury!!!
We missed this SO MUCH 😍@LAKings #GoKingsGo https://t.co/oz1X7SNxgA pic.twitter.com/vRrjaVkfGm
— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 4, 2024
- Jakub Dvorak: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, -2, 1 SOG in two games played
BCHL players:
- Jack Sparkes: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +/- (N/A), SOG (N/A) in two games played (BCHL playoffs)
ECHL players:
- Jacob Ingham: 7 GA, 43 saves on 50 shots faced in three games played
AHL players:
- Samuel Fagemo: 2 G, 0 A, 2 Pts, +/- 0, 15 SOG in two games played
NEVER BET AGAINST SAMUEL FAGEMO#ReignTrain | #ONTvsHSK pic.twitter.com/nkxGgVkGUm
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 4, 2024
- TJ Tynan: 0 G, 3 A, 3 Pts, -1, 6 SOG in two games played
- Brandt Clarke: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, -2, 5 SOG in two games played
- Martin Chromiak: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +/- 0, 4 SOG in two games played
- Taylor Ward: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, -1, 7 SOG in two games played
Taylor Ward and Erik Portillo lead the charge in the shootout.@OntarioReign | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/Fz0HtooBmv
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 7, 2024
- Tyler Madden: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, -2, 4 SOG in two games played
- Samuel Helenius: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, -1, 1 SOG in two games played
Helenius drops the gloves and drops Kinal 🥊#ReignTrain | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/zPjyJELhOu
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 7, 2024
- Andre Lee: 2 G, 0 A, 2 Pts, -1, 6 SOG in two games played
3 GAMES BACK, 3 GOALS, ONE TIED GAME!! Andre Lee we love you #ReignTrain | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/18XsuHICm3
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 7, 2024
- Steven Santini: 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt, +/- 0, 4 SOG in two games played
- Kevin Connauton: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +/- 0, 5 SOG in two games played
- Francesco Pinelli: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, +/- 0, 4 SOG in two games played
Toe drag, backhand, PINELLI SCORES!!#ReignTrain | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/yLPLqpHQNh
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 7, 2024
- Cole Krygier: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +1, 0 SOG in one game played
- Hayden Hodgson: 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts, +3, 3 SOG in two games played
Hodgson makes it happen!#ReignTrain | #ONTvsHSK pic.twitter.com/pGgDt3Svid
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 4, 2024
- Joe Hicketts: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +/- 0, 2 SOG in two games played
- Kim Nousiainen: 0 G, 2 A, 2 Pts, +1, 2 SOG in two games played
- Erik Portillo: 2 GA, 27 saves on 29 shots faced in one game played
Taylor Ward and Erik Portillo lead the charge in the shootout.@OntarioReign | #SJvsONT pic.twitter.com/Fz0HtooBmv
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 7, 2024
- Aaron Dell: 4 GA, 29 saves on 33 shots faced in one game played
NHL players:
- Alex Laferriere: 1 G, 0 A, 1 Pt, +1, 4 SOG in four games played
- Alex Turcotte: No games played (injury)
- Jordan Spence: 0 G, 2 A, 2 Pts, +4, 3 SOG in four games played
- Jacob Moverare: 0 G, 0 A, 0 Pts, +/- 0, 1 SOG in two games played
- David Rittcih: 1 GA, 15 saves on 16 shots faced in one game played
Don't ask, just save 🚫 pic.twitter.com/naj7opY5QP
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 5, 2024
Featured image credit: TSN/Getty Images