Coming off an OHL season where Liam Greentree put up 119 points, including 49 goals, is he ready for the NHL? Well, the question is actually a bit more complicated than simply that singular question.
In a vacuum, it’s possible.
When looking at all the other factors that go into that decision… it’s definitely more likely today than it was a week ago.
How probable is it, though? Let’s get into it.
Greentree’s Chances Pre-Camp
To quickly reset for those who may have been away from hockey for a few months, here’s a look at how our way too early projected lineup article had sized up the situation in a nutshell:
Kuzmenko – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Byfield – Laferriere
Moore – Danault – Foegele
Perry – Turcotte – Armia
Helenius
Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci
Kuemper
Forsberg
Corey Perry’s injury changes things ever so slightly.
As later noted in our detailed look at players LA is at risk of losing via waiver claims before opening night, there are essentially six players fighting for the remaining spots on what will become the Kings 23-man opening night roster:
Forwards: Greentree*, Martin Chromiak, Andre Lee, Jeff Malott, Akil Thomas
Defenseman: Kyle Burroughs, Jacob Moverare
* note: Greentree is the only player in this entire group who is waiver exempt
That group was going to be whittled down to two players. However, the Perry injury now means three players will be added to the core roster.
Salary Cap Compliance
Conversations like these almost always start with salary cap considerations. And the good news for new GM Ken Holland is the cap isn’t going to be an issue for LA to start the year — a departure from the past few seasons. With everybody else currently healthy, the Kings should begin their 2025-26 campaign with 24 players comfortably tucked under the cap ceiling (23 active players, plus Perry on IR).
We should note, Perry is not expected to be placed on LTIR to give the team additional cap space. It isn’t an option at the moment for reasons reviewed in greater detail here.
Essentially what this means is coach Jim Hiller should be free to select whichever 23 players he wants to start the season. The salary cap won’t be an impediment to making the final call on two or three guys to round out the roster.
Key Considerations for Two Spots
In no particular order, some of the questions to be asked next are things like:
– Will Hiller prefer to go with two forwards and one extra defenseman, or will he opt for one forward and two extra defensemen?
– Does toughness (read: fighting) matter? If so, wouldn’t that almost automatically mean that one of Malott or Burroughs is all but guaranteed to make the final cut? And if so, then that’s one less spot that everybody else is competing for.
– Will back-to-back games play into any of this? The Kings begin their regular season schedule with games on consecutive nights against Colorado and Vegas (with some travel thrown in too). Assuming Perry doesn’t return until late November, that also leaves back-to-back sets on Oct. 25/26 at Nashville and Chicago, plus another set on Nov. 20/21 against San Jose and Boston. One week later, there’s the Anaheim day game, followed by a home game against Vancouver the next night.
Greentree Enters the Chat
That latter point about back-to-back games could aid any case Greentree has to make the roster. If the Kings were to keep him up in the NHL, rather than send him back to the OHL (as he isn’t eligible for the AHL this season), they would want to play him. Being on his entry level contract, LA would prefer to play him nine games or less total. This allows him to not burn a year off of his ELC, a key point with young players. The Kings actually went down a similar path with Brandt Clarke a few years ago before loaning him to Team Canada for the World Juniors in December and then ultimately having him finish his season in the OHL.
Keeping Greentree up in the NHL and not playing him only brings certain benefits. Sure, it’s great for him to get a taste of NHL life on the road, be around the players, train like a pro, etc. Playing time is what matters most, though.
What seemed highly unlikely just a week ago, is now at least a much more likely scenario. Greentree could get the Clarke treatment. The timing of Perry’s injury and expected recovery almost lines up too perfectly.
“I’m trying to make the roster, this is a big camp for me,” Greentree told Mayor’s Manor about 24 hours before the Perry injury. “I know what I want to do, and my goals. I set expectations pretty high for myself.”
True to his word, the Kings top prospect was rather hard on himself after Saturday’s loss San Jose at the Rookie Faceoff tournament.
“I wasn’t too happy with my play, personally,” he said. “But it’s the first game and I’m not dwelling on it or anything.”
Coach Andrew Lord was quick to call him out following Sunday’s win when asked for his thoughts on players who improved the most from Game 1 to Game 2. “Greentree had a much better game, overall,” was the first player mentioned in his answer.
Should Greentree not make the NHL roster, don’t look for the 19-year-old forward to sulk in any way.
“If I go back to Windsor, I’m ready to try and win a championship with them,” he remarked. Everyone’s a year older, and I think after we make some moves, we’re going to be a really good team. I think we’re going to be a scary team; so, again, I have high expectations for us.”
Rounding out LA’s Lineup
Putting the Kings roster puzzle together is a complicated task, no doubt. Going with eight defensemen to start the year would leave only one roster spot at forward. If Greentree earns that spot, the Kings would need to then put Chromiak, Lee, Malott, and Thomas on waivers.
If they opted to only go with one defenseman, it’s equally as challenging. If Moverare stays on the NHL roster, perhaps Malott has to make the roster to give them some extra toughness. Thus, there would only be one spot remaining. So, again, for Greentree to earn that spot, they’d be putting those other three forwards on waivers.
If the one defenseman is Burroughs, at least that opens things up a little bit among the forwards. Although that scenario would also require Moverare going back on waivers, along with forwards like Chromiak and a few others.
Only one thing is really certain at this point. When training camp opens up on Thursday, Hiller will have an opportunity to add some early remarks on all of these topics. Will he tip his hand in any significant way? Not likely.
Who gets playing time in the six preseason games will likely be the far greater tell.
And that could be just the opportunity Greentree needs to show if he’s ready or not.
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