Kings Rookie Camp Just Put A Few Future Core Names In Focus

Get a sneak peek at the emerging talent ready to shape the future of the LA Kings as 27 prospects gather for the 2026 Rookie Camp in El Segundo.

The next look at the LA Kings’ future arrives fast, and the roster tells you plenty about where the organization stands right now. Los Angeles has put together a 27-player group for 2026 Rookie Camp, blending NHL-experienced prospects, five members of the 2026 draft class and a stack of young players who already spent time with the Ontario Reign.

Rookie Camp runs Sept. 11-15 at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, Calif., and the Kings will also take part in the 2026 Rookie Faceoff in San Jose over that same five-day stretch. The camp roster breaks down to 14 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders, giving the club an early read on a group that could eventually feed into the NHL lineup.

Two of the most notable names are forwards Jared Wright and Kenny Connors, both of whom made their NHL debuts with the Kings during the 2025-26 season. Fourteen players from last year’s Rookie Camp are back, including defensemen Henry Brzustewicz and Jared Woolley.

Woolley is heading into his third Rookie Camp with a strong junior resume behind him. Last season, he posted a plus-32 rating in 66 games split between the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, ranking eighth among OHL defensemen and 17th among all skaters.

Brzustewicz followed up his sophomore season by turning into one of the more productive offensive defensemen in the OHL. He finished with 54 points on 19 goals and 35 assists in 59 games, tying for third among league defensemen in goals and placing seventh in points.

The Kings also have five picks from the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New York, on the rookie camp roster. That group includes second-round defenseman Adam Goljer, selected 49th overall, and forward Liam Lefebvre, who went 46th overall. Defenseman Giorgos Pantelas was taken 153rd, Lucas Ambrosio 223rd and goaltender Yegor Rybkin 89th.

There’s also a heavy pro presence in the room. Eleven players on the roster skated with the Ontario Reign in the AHL last season, including Wright, Connors, Kenta Isogai, Jack Hughes, Kaleb Lawrence, Koehn Ziemmer and Brendan Gorman among the forwards. Defensemen Jakub Dvořák, Kirill Kirsanov and Brzustewicz also got time with the Reign.

In goal, Hampton Slukynsky is worth a close look after starting his pro career with a perfect 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage. He’ll have some company he knows well, too. Grant Slukynsky is joining him in camp, marking the first Rookie Camp appearance for the two brothers with Los Angeles after previously playing together at Western Michigan University.

The Kings will then shift to San Jose for the 2026 Rookie Faceoff, where they’ll face the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights. The tournament opens Sept. 12, with all six teams in action that day and again on Sept.

  1. There are no games Sept. 14, and the event wraps up Sept. 15 with Utah against Los Angeles.

Los Angeles opens against San Jose on Sept. 12, then meets Anaheim on Sept. 13 before closing with Utah on Sept. 15.

The full schedule starts Saturday, Sept. 12 with Colorado vs. Anaheim at 1 p.m.

PT, Utah vs. Vegas at 3 p.m.

PT and Los Angeles vs. San Jose at 5 p.m.

PT. Sunday, Sept. 13 features Vegas vs.

Colorado at 1 p.m. PT, Anaheim vs.

Los Angeles at 3 p.m. PT and San Jose vs.

Utah at 5 p.m. PT.

Monday, Sept. 14 has no games scheduled. Tuesday, Sept. 15 ends with Utah vs.

Los Angeles at 1 p.m. PT.

Rink assignments for the games have not been announced.

Before the tournament starts, fans will get one public look at the group in El Segundo. Los Angeles will hold a Rookie Camp practice open to the public on Friday, Sept. 11, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the NHL sheet at Toyota Sports Performance Center.

For the Kings, this week is about more than just another camp on the calendar. With players already getting NHL games, recent draft picks entering the pipeline and several prospects coming off professional seasons, Los Angeles is getting a deeper look at the next wave.

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