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The World Juniors are back, with the annual tournament kicking off with four games today.
While the Los Angeles Kings may not have as many prospects to watch as in previous years, there are still three players to keep an eye on.
BRANDT CLARKE - CANADA
Obviously, Clarke is the clear top attraction for Kings’ fans at the tournament. He played his nine NHL games through October, before being sent to the AHL to spend five games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign on a conditioning loan.
It’s only Clarke’s first time representing Canada, after he didn’t make the cut for the roster in the 2022 tournament. Given Clarke’s abilities and readiness to play at even the NHL level though, we can expect him to be counted on for a big role with Canada.
The Kings still have a really difficult decision to make after the tournament, in terms of whether or not to keep him for the rest of the season and burn the first year of his entry-level contract. For now though, we’ll get to see him against players his own age, where we can probably expect to see just how dominant he can be.
KENNY CONNORS - UNITED STATES
A fourth-round pick from this year’s draft, Connors has put up great numbers in his first NCAA season. In 16 games with UMass-Amherst, the forward has managed seven goals and 17 points, leading the team in both categories.
This will be Connors’ first time representing the United States at an international tournament. He’s playing with two projected 2023 first-round picks Charlie Stramel and Gavin Brindley.
OTTO SALIN - FINLAND
Salin, a right-handed defenseman, was selected by the Kings in the fifth round of this year’s NHL Draft. He’s in the midst of his first full season of professional hockey, where he has six points in 23 games in Finland’s top league.
While it’s his first year at the tournament (suiting up for Finland’s overtime loss against Switzerland this morning) Salin will still have another year of eligibility left for the tournament as well. He’s paired with New York Islanders prospect Aleksi Malinen.
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