With the 2026 World Junior Championships now completed, all eyes focused on NHL prospects turn to the CHL Trade Deadline coming up later this week. Regarding the Kings, things will specifically center around the OHL between now and Friday.
Following their Memorial Cup Championship last year, and back-to-back OHL titles, the London Knights are said to be looking toward the future. With that in mind, they’re believed to be open for business. The 2025-26 season began with a pair of Kings prospects playing together on the Knights blueline, 2024 LA selection Jared Woolley and 2025 first rounder Henry Brzustewicz. The latter is believed to be staying put, as he’s young enough to still factor into their plans moving forward. While London hasn’t been up to their normal elite standards this season, most scouts like their 2008 born crop of players, so they could rebound nicely as early as next season.
Things are a bit different for Woolley, a top-5 Kings prospect.
The bruising rearguard could potentially be playing his final OHL season, and with his 6-foot-5 frame and defensive acumen, perhaps London can be tempted by a big package in return. A few weeks ago, our sources were talking about the Knights looking to get at least three assets back in return for Woolley. Among the teams linked to him recently were Flint, Sault Ste. Marie, and Peterborough. However, it appears Kitchener is now the lead dog. Until a trade is actually completed, though, obviously this could all change.
Since being selected by LA two years ago, Woolley has shot up the Kings prospect rankings. Mark Yannetti, Director of Amateur Scouting, began praising him just minutes after drafting the Oshawa native – and he hasn’t stopped since. Add to that the comments from various Kings Development Coaches over the past two summers and during Rookie Camp, and it’s easy to see why he’s elevated up their list.
And for any debate about the Kings prospect pool potentially shrinking in recent years, there is no denying where their current strength lies – in goal. With potentially four NHL caliber netminders in the pipeline, it’s a treasure chest of riches at the moment. And at the very top of that list are Hampton Slukynsky and Carter George. The former was the top college goalie in the country last season and backstopped Western Michigan to a National Title. We have him as No. 1 on our list of Kings goalie prospects. Right behind him, in a 1A vs. 1B situation, is Carter George – who is coming off of winning a bronze medal for Canada at the WJC earlier this week.
We mentioned the likelihood of George being on the move several times coming into the season. The general whispers behind closed doors were that his Owen Sound team would likely hold him until the OHL Trade Deadline and then move him. In sort of a reverse bell curve, those odds dropped dramatically about a month into the season, when the Attack were playing well and looked to be potential contenders. That’s subsided in recent weeks and they now find themselves essentially a .500 hockey club, especially after going 2-6-2 over their past 10 games.
One could argue, much of their decline in December was at least partially tied to George being away at Team Canada’s WJC camp and then the tournament itself. However, he’s their best trade chip. If they really want to improve long term, moving him now might be in their best interest. He may not be around next season either way. With potential rule changes coming, he may be playing for AHL Ontario next season.
One thing that may impact any thoughts of dealing George is Owen Sound has reportedly agreed to trade their other goalie, 6-foot-7 Trenten Bennett (a Devils prospect) to Erie. If that deal goes through, it may suggest George is sticking around — unless they have other moves up their sleeve.
Needless to say, there will be plenty of chatter over the next few days until the dust settles.
One final note for those unfamiliar with player rights: regardless of any OHL trades, the Kings will still hold the rights to Woolley and George. In fact, both have already signed three-year entry level contracts with LA. Meanwhile, Brzustewicz hasn’t done so quite yet, in a situation we evaluated further in this article.
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