In the midst of Free Agency opening up around the NHL, it was still all about prospects for most of the people inside Toyota Sports Performance Center on Tuesday afternoon. After all, the Kings four-day summer Development Camp is well under way and there was plenty to report on, as usual.
Just like Monday, we’re back with 10 Tidbits from Day 2 of Dev Camp 2025.
1. Beach Day is Back!
Let’s begin with a little scheduling update. For many years, Dev Camp was a full week of activities, but the plans have been in flux pretty much ever since the pandemic. Last year, Dev Camp was a jam packed three days and then it was over. This time around, it stretches over four days (Monday – Thursday), with three scrimmages. And perhaps even more exciting — especially for many of the prospects — Beach Day is back on the schedule. For those unfamiliar, the camp schedule typically includes two on-ice sessions per day, leaving little time available for daytime activities away from the rink. But… Tuesday only featured one on-ice session for each of the groups (aligned by position), so the entire collection of campers could have a little team bonding on the South Bay beach. Some prospects had never even seen a beach before, so it was a whole new experience.
Longtime readers may also remember the good ol’ days, when prospects like Tyler Toffoli would go to the beach and get fried to a crisp because he didn’t understand the importance of sunscreen. While some like to work on their tan, other guys will play some volleyball or other activities on the sand. Good times for all.
2. Sparkes Shines on Defense
3. Jack is the Beanstalk
If you’ve ever been near a rink when Jack Sparkes is playing, you can’t miss him. He was 6-foot-8 and weighed in at nearly 250 lbs. last time we checked. He’s big, to say the least. Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Ottawa native has come to LA for a few Dev Camps now and each time, he catches the eyes of a few more people. Even though he’s a right shot defenseman known more for his shut down skills, Sparkes did score his first college hockey goal last year while playing as a freshman at Dave Taylor’s former home, Clarkson University. He’s not expected to turn pro for at least two more years, so he’ll continue to develop at the NCAA level for the foreseeable future.
4. From London, With Love
The other pair of defensemen mentioned in our tweet from yesterday are a duo from the OHL’s London Knights. Wooley was taken in the sixth-round last summer by Mark Yannetti and crew, while Henry Brzustewicz was LA’s first round pick last weekend. Not only are they best friends, but they’re also expected to be paired together next season in the OHL — which should only be a good thing long-term for the Kings organization.
5. Up, Up, and Away
Each year, we try to pass along a few notes on some of the camp invitees. Although most of them are not very likely to ever earn an NHL contract with the Kings, it doesn’t hurt to bring them in for further evaluation. Occasionally, some earn either AHL or NHL deals.
In our Day 1 report, we zoned in on forward Grant Slukynsky, who is coming off a national championship with Western Michigan. Next, let’s move out to the blueline.
Left shot Chris Hedden is obviously somebody the Kings like; he’s back for his second straight camp. Now 22-years-old, he’s coming off his third straight season at the Air Force Academy. While he saw his goal output take a tick up (from eight to 11) during his junior season, the assists were down about 50% from his high-water mark of 29. Either way, he’s going back for his senior season, so the scouts will be monitoring his progress.
Here’s an interesting little nugget too for those who enjoy NHL contract details. Although it’s quite common for college players to leave after their junior season and sign entry level contracts with an NHL club, there’s a good reason why it usually doesn’t happen with Air Force kids. If a player leaves early who is on a scholarship, the signing team has to play the school about a $100k reimbursement penalty. That’s significantly more expensive than signing a prospect out of a regular university (i.e. Denver, Boston, or Penn State) — where NHL teams don’t have to pay the school anything.
6. Long Distance Award
Speaking of invitees, Kenta Isoga might turn out to be an intriguing story. Originally from Nagano, Japan, he spent three seasons in the USHL — where he won a championship with the Youngstown Phantoms — before jumping up to the WHL in 2023. Last season, he was traded from Wenatchee to Victoria at the trade deadline. His first season of CHL hockey saw him produce 88 points (31G, 57G) in 64 games. Then, last year, Isoga potted another 32 goals. Locals say he’s a great skater with a high-level of skill and can be pretty electric with the puck on his stick. Possible AHL contract?
7. Back to the Kings Prospects
With one of their two fourth-round selections at the recently concluded NHL Entry Draft, LA selected 19-year-old defenseman Caeden Herrington. He’s off to Vermont in the fall, and is brining plenty of momentum with him, as he paced the USHL in goals by a defenseman (16) last season. In talking to scouts about him over the weekend, we heard things like ‘high character, leader, really good skater, and has a bomb of a shot.’ Additionally, Herrington transitions pucks well and will jump into the play to add offense; plus, he has a good defensive stick and defends well with his feet. Best of all, he has some snarl in his game.
8. Hearing it from Herrington
We had a chance to catch up with the right shot defender to get some early thoughts on Dev Camp and being selected by the Kings. “It’s been unbelievable, obviously,” began Herrington. “Getting drafted by an NHL team is a dream — and I’m in the Kings organization! I can’t say enough good things; I didn’t want to go anywhere else other than this place. This place is the cream of the crop, right? They do everything the best here, and you can see as you walk around. All the great people here, from the equipment staff to the trainers, great hockey players, legends. It’s unreal here. I’m just privileged to be here. And I’m very grateful, so humble to be part of such a good organization.”
Which Kings scouts were perhaps his biggest advocate? “Probably Andy Johnson. I talked to him quite a bit throughout the years, even on zoom. He’s a really good dude — him and Teddy Belisle. They’re both good guys, and Teddy actually saw me play some of my worst games this year. But being an advocate [must have] still helped me out.”
9. Rooming with the Unknown
Herrington also revealed he’s rooming with fellow 2025 draftee Will Sharpie this week. The two didn’t know each other prior, as the latter came up through the WHL. That didn’t stop the two from trying to become fast friends. Herrington already calls him by his natural nickname — Sharpie — and has found it interesting to swap stories about their vastly different experiences in hockey. He stopped short of one thing, though. “We haven’t gotten there yet,” Herrington said while laughing, after being asked if they’re chirping each other about anything yet. “I think eventually we’ll get there. By Thursday, they’ll definitely start flying.”
10. Speak Up and Be Heard
11. Bonus Time
It’s the most anticipated episode of the hockey season, when Mark Yannetti (Kings Director of Amateur Scouting) stops by Kings Of The Podcast to debrief LA’s latest draft class. And you’re in luck. He just joined KOTP for a conversation that lasted well over an hour. They do a deep dive into the Jordan Spence trade, LA’s depth in goal, and look at each of the team’s NINE draft picks from last weekend. Give it a listen here.
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