With the 2026 NHL Draft wrapped up, all eyes are now on the LA Kings' Development Camp, a much-anticipated event that kicks off on Monday, June 29, at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo. Running through Thursday, July 2, the camp promises to be a showcase of budding talent, with split morning sessions for forwards and defensemen, followed by afternoon scrimmages. The highlight of the camp, the black-and-white scrimmage, is set for Thursday, and it's sure to be a must-watch for fans and scouts alike.
Camp Schedule
Here's a look at the official schedule:
- Monday, June 29 9:30 am - Forward Group Practice 11:00 am - Defense Group Practice 3:30 pm - Scrimmage
- Tuesday, June 30 9:30 am - Defense Group Practice 11:00 am - Forward Group Practice 3:15 pm - Scrimmage
- Wednesday, July 1 9:30 am - Forward Group Practice 11:00 am - Defense Group Practice
- Thursday, July 2 9:30 am - Defense Group Practice 11:00 am - Forward Group Practice 3:30 pm - Scrimmage
Roster Preview
The roster for the camp is packed with promising talent. Here's a breakdown:
Forwards
- Nolan Buttar, Vojtech Cihar, Tyler Challenger, Jan Chovan, Hank Cleaves, Ryan Conmy, Kristian Epperson, Elton Hermansson, Alex Kostov, Tobias Krestan, Liam Lefebvre, Jimmy Lombardi, Brendan McMorrow, James Reeder, Elias Schneider, Grant Slukynsky, Hayden Stavroff, Thomas Vandenberg, Daniel Walters, Louis Wehmann, Jared Wright, Ivan Zadvernyuk, Blake Zielinski, Koehn Ziemmer.
Defensemen
- Lucas Ambrosio, Henry Brzustewicz, Nate Corbet, Jakub Dvorak, Adam Goljer, Ty Hanson, Caeden Herrington, Kirill Kirsanov, Moritz Kretzschmar, Tyson Moss, Isaiah Norlin, Giorgos Pantelas, Otto Salin, Will Sharpe, Jack Sparkes, Vertti Svensk, Jared Woolley.
Goaltenders
- Carter George, Petteri Rimpinen, Yegor Rybkin, Hampton Slukynsky.
Additional Notes
The Kings have once again demonstrated their knack for attracting top talent, landing a premier NCAA center for the camp. Moreover, one of the NCAA's highest-scoring defensemen is also set to make an appearance, adding to the excitement.
Coaching Staff
The camp will be led by the Kings' development coaches, including Matt Greene, Jarret Stoll, Sean O’Donnell, Mike Donnelly, Jeremy Clark, Bill Ranford, and Adam Brown. They're joined by guest coaches Jason Tapp from Dartmouth College, Tyler Naugler from Saint Mary’s University, and Brad Fast from Michigan State University.
Camp Invitees
For those new to the scene, camp invitees aren't officially part of the team. They typically fall into three categories: undrafted college-bound players, those invited through connections within the organization, and Canadian junior players who weren't picked in the NHL Draft. While many are free agents, they remain so only briefly, as draft-eligible players must be signed by October or re-enter the draft the following year.
Most invitees are also invited back for Rookie Camp in September, unless they're heading to college, as those players aren't eligible to return. It's not unusual for an NHL team to sign a standout invitee following an impressive camp performance.
This year, the Kings have welcomed 13 invitees to the camp.
2026 Draft Class
All 2026 selections will be present at the Development Camp. The draft class includes:
- Elton Hermansson, forward (R1, 19th overall)
- Liam Lefebvre, forward (RD2, 46th overall)
- Adam Goljer, defense (RD2, 49th overall)
- Blake Zielinski, forward (RD3, 80th overall)
- Yegor Rybkin, goalie (RD3, 89th overall)
- Thomas Vandenberg, forward (RD4, 103rd overall)
- Vertti Svensk, defense (RD5, 145th overall)
- Giorgos Pantelas, defense (RD5, 153rd overall)
- Alex Kostov, forward (RD6, 177th overall)
- Tobias Krestan, forward (RD7, 209th overall)
- Lucas Ambrosio, defense (RD7, 223rd overall)
Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage from Development Camp throughout the week.
In Other News...
Kings Still Have One More Chance To Win After The Draft
The Kings finished the 2026 NHL Draft with 11 selections, headlined by first-round pick Elton Hermansson, but the work around the draft board is not done. With development camp approaching early this week, the organization is shifting into the next phase of its summer evaluation, where undrafted players can still carve out a path into the pipeline.
One name to watch is Jakub Frolo, a Czech forward the Kings could look to bring into the mix as an undrafted addition. He fits the kind of player that can catch an eye in this window, with a reputation for strong two-way play, size and physicality, and this is exactly the sort of low-risk opportunity teams use to uncover a useful piece before camp gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
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Holland and Doughty are expected to revisit the situation after the 2026-27 season, which leaves the door open without forcing an immediate decision. It is a notable stance for a franchise cornerstone who has long been part of the Kings' identity, and it comes with the understanding that the picture could look very different by the time they sit down again. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Linked To The Blue-Line Target Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Kings have already locked in Brandt Clarke on a long-term extension, and that has only sharpened the search for a blue-line partner who can grow with him. One name now in the mix is Alexander Nikishin, with Elliotte Friedman reporting Los Angeles is among the clubs looking at the 24-year-old defenseman as Carolina sorts through what to do next.
Nikishin is still unsigned as a pending restricted free agent, which means any move would require both a trade package and a fresh contract on top of it. Carolina is unlikely to let a player with his upside go cheaply, but the fit is easy to see from the Kings side, especially with the need for a long-term answer on defense still sitting near the top of the list. [Read more 🡒]