The Los Angeles Kings may still be looking to add more top-end talent to their prospect pool, but in goal, they’ve got a real bright spot.
The Athletic’s summer ranking of the top 20 goalie prospects put the Kings in a strong position, with Hampton Slukynsky landing at No. 12 and Carter George right behind him at No. 13.
For one organization, that’s a pretty enviable setup. For the Kings, it means two young netminders sitting side by side near the top of the list.
Slukynsky, a fourth-round pick in 2023 at No. 118 overall, is already a little further down the road than George. He’s been viewed by scouts and people inside the Kings organization as one of the franchise’s top five prospects this offseason, and he’s already gotten a taste of pro hockey by starting multiple games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign this past season. The Kings also made a clear statement about his future in the spring, signing him to a three-year, entry-level contract.
George is newer to the pipeline, having been selected in the second round of the 2024 draft at No. 57 overall, and he’s younger too. But his stock is right there with Slukynsky’s. He’s described as technically sound in the crease, with strong puck tracking and excellent recovery speed, traits that help explain why he’s seen as one of the most important young goalie prospects in the system.
What stands out for Los Angeles is the depth of the situation. The Kings were one of only a handful of teams with multiple goalie prospects on The Athletic’s top-20 list, and they had two in the top 13. That gives them something plenty of other clubs don’t have: more than one real candidate who could grow into an NHL starter or at least become a contributor, instead of putting the whole future of the position on one young goalie’s shoulders.
The Kings also had another notable prospect recognized this summer, with Swedish winger Elton Hermansson showing up among The Athletic’s 100 best overall drafted prospects for 2026. Hermansson was the Kings’ first-round pick at No. 19 overall in this summer’s 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Of course, none of this comes with guarantees, especially when it comes to goaltending. Slukynsky and George still have plenty of development ahead of them. But for the Kings, having two well-regarded goalie prospects on different timelines gives the organization more than one path toward finding its long-term answer in net.
In Other News...
Kings Fans Are Already Eyeing A 2027 Class That Could Change Everything
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For a franchise always looking ahead, the appeal is obvious: DuPont brings the kind of blue-line skill set that can alter a teams ceiling, Privalov offers a heavy, dynamic wing presence, and Joseph has the sort of size and upside that can anchor a future lineup down the middle. None of it is set in stone this far out, of course, and the order will keep shifting as the 2026-27 season unfolds and the lottery reshapes the board, but this is exactly the kind of early look that has fans mapping out possibilities long before the picks are actually made. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Malott Just Reopened A Familiar Kings Roster Debate
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Malotts usage in the first round only sharpened the question of where a player like that fits in the Kings long-term picture, especially when he was trusted to stay in the lineup throughout the series. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to balance skill with sandpaper, his season served as a reminder that those roster decisions rarely stay simple for long, even when a player clearly earns his keep in one part of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Are Still Waiting On One Massive Kopitar Answer
The Kings roster shuffle has come with a fresh round of jersey-number housekeeping, and it has quietly filled in a few blanks for the newcomers. Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula and Erik Gustafsson now have their numbers in place, while Corey Perry is set to wear No. 90, a choice that stands out given the numbers novelty in franchise history. Jared Wright is also making a switch, moving from No. 53 to No. 25 as the team continues to sort out its look for the upcoming season.
For all the movement on the back end of the roster, the bigger number question around the Kings still hangs over the organization. Anze Kopitar remains the face of the franchises modern era, and fans have been waiting for clarity on when his jersey might one day join the rafters. Right now, there is no sign that will happen in the 2026-27 season, which only pushes the conversation farther down the road and leaves one of the most meaningful milestones in team history unresolved. [Read more 🡒]