Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Kaleb Lawrence!
Kaleb Lawrence
Birthdate: January 10, 2003
Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario
Height: 6’7
Weight: 229 lbs
Position: Center/Right wing
Shoots: Left
Draft: 7th round, 215th overall, 2022 NHL Entry Draft
2023-24 season
Kaleb Lawrence split the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa 67’s and London Knights as an over-ager (21 years of age). He started the year in Ottawa where he would record 18 points (10G-8A) in 30 games before getting traded to London at the OHL trade deadline. London is one of those teams that has had a lot of success in previous OHL seasons and they felt Lawrence could be a player that could help them in their quest for the J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL championship) and Memorial Cup (CHL champions).
In 28 regular season games with London, the 6-foot-7 forward recorded 19 points (10G-9A) while primarily playing as the third-line center. However, due to back-to-back five-game suspensions, the physical forward only suited up for eight of London’s 18 playoff games and recorded nine points as London won the OHL championship against the Oshawa Generals, but would fall in the Memorial Cup Final to the Saginaw Spirit.
KALEB LAWRENCE IS THAT GUY@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/i9uGaxipWh
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) April 13, 2024
Before the Memorial Cup, Lawrence signed his entry-level contract with the Kings, allowing him to turn pro for the 2024-25 season.
We have signed three players to NHL contracts:
▪️ F Taylor Ward (one-year, two-way contract)
▪️ D Joe Hicketts (one-year, two-way contract)
▪️ F Kaleb Lawrence (three-year, entry-level contract)Read More 📝 https://t.co/n7ambeVApH#GoKingsGo | @Enterprise pic.twitter.com/1vTBCCpq4f
— LA Kings (@LAKings) May 24, 2024
2024-25 outlook
Lawrence starting the year in Ontario is a no-brainer. With the Reign expected to have plenty of centers on the roster, I expect Lawrence to start and get eased into pro action. He’ll be the third seventh-round draft pick to suit up for the Reign (Andre Lee and Aatu Jamsen are the other two) and will bring size to the bottom six that will have plenty of it in Lee and Samuel Helenius.
If you’re a fan of physicality and size, then Lawrence is a player you will love. I don’t expect much offense out of him, but I expect him to play a physical game, fight, play on the edge, and be responsible defensively. It’ll be important that he doesn’t play over that edge as he did quite a bit in the OHL playoffs the last two years. The Reign had a similar player in Hayden Hodgson last year play that way and it got him suspended twice (once during the regular season and once during the playoffs). I have a feeling that will be Lawrence if he crosses the line just like he did in the OHL playoffs this past spring.
Featured image credit: Luke Durda/OHL Images