The Los Angeles Kings are an interesting team.  They have great prospects, but they have been that way for many years.  They never become a talented team, they are always that team that “could become good.”

Now, more than ever, they need that raw talent to become skilled players, as they have very good talent waiting in the wings, and even playing on the big team night in and night out.

So here we go, the top five LA Kings’ prospects at the center position:

 

Brian Boyle- C, 12/18/1984, First round pick (26th overall) in 2003, Manchester Monarchs (AHL)

Boyle, a huge center at 6’7’’, resembles a forward version of Boston Bruins’ monster Zdeno Chara.  He has powerful strides that give him very good skating ability, and of course, can get in a stance in front of the net that cannot be moved.  He is extremely strong, is very hard to be knocked off his skates, and uses his size well, throwing his body around.

The shot against Boyle, who was ranked as the 72nd best prospect in the NHL by The Hockey News in 2008, is that he does not work hard enough.  The Kings are also unsure of where to place him.  He went to camp this summer to learn how to be a defenseman, yet when he returned to the AHL, he remained at his natural center position.  The Kings need to find a place for Boyle before he gets too confused with his role on the ice.

With 62 points in his rookie year with the Monarchs, Boyle proved he presence on the ice, yet he struggled when called up to the Kings earler this year, scoring just two points in 20 games.

Verdict: Boyle will be able to make the NHL team if he puts his mind to it.  A talented player his size is rare, and now that the Kings found him, they have to push him to work harder than he ever has.  If they can succeed in getting the full potential out of Boyle, he could wind up being a second or third line center.

 

Trevor Lewis- C, 1/8/1987, First round pick (17th overall) in 2006, Manchester Monarchs (AHL)

Trevor Lewis, an average sized player at 6’1 and 192 pounds, was one of the last players cut in Kings’ training camp in the fall.  An incredibly speedy player, Lewis can fly around the ice at top speeds, and has legs explosive enough to make an NHL player jealous.  He is also a very smart player on the ice, and has great awareness while playing.  Lewis was also named the Kings’ fifth best prospect in their 2008 Future Watch issue.

In addition to his speed, one of the best parts of Lewis is the fact that he is a great two-way player, something every team covets.  He can play at even strength, shorthanded, on the power play, and more.  Lewis also knows how to finish checks.  He would never be caught dead out of position due to chasing a hit, but when the opportunity arises, Lewis will deliver a smack-down, leaving someone staring at the ceiling.  His offensive ability has not transferred from juniors to pro, as his point-per-game output was lowered to about 0.4 points per game.  However, his defensive ability has done anything but lessen.

Verdict: Lewis is the checking line center that every team wants.  He is fast enough to forecheck deep in the offensive zone, but get back quickly to help his team out in front of their own goalie.  He needs to do some work on faceoffs, but he will definitely be on one of the Kings’ bottom two lines within the next year or two.

 

Justin Azevedo- C, 4/1/1988, Sixth round pick (153rd overall) in 2008, Kitchener Rangers (OHL), Manchester Monarchs (AHL)

By just looking at his stats, Azevedo would seem like a top notch player who could tear up a league.

So why was he a sixth round pick in last year’s draft, and why is he only in the AHL?

Azevedo is an unbelievable player, but has one major setback that will prevent him from succeeding in the NHL; he cannot perform when opposing teams play him physically.

His 5’7, 183 pound frame cannot take the thrashing, and when he is hit hard, he shuts down both physically and mentally.  He struggles to find open ice at times, and is extremely inconsistent for being a 120 point scorer in the OHL.

With 18 points in 19 AHL games thus far in 2009, he is succeeding in his short pro career, but needless to say, he needs to develop a competitive edge if he hopes to succeed in the NHL.

Azevedo has such great heart when plays, and is very elusive, yet he does not seem to be competitive enough.  He loves the game, but when he needs to go in the corners to fight for the puck, he simply cannot do it.  He also fails to play stellar defense because of his failure to be physical with his opponents.

Verdict: If Azevedo develops competitiveness and a tolerance for physical play, he could wind up being another Henrik Zetterberg; a diamond in the rough, found deep in the draft.

 

Bud Holloway- C, 3/1/1988, Third round pick (85th overall) in 2006, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), Manchester Monarchs (AHL)

Signing an entry-level deal with the Los Angeles Kings last offseason, Holloway is a reliable player with a great work ethic.  He comes to the rink every day to work, but is also able to continue to enjoy his time on the ice, which is rare in this day and age.  A dominant offensive player in the WHL, his numbers did not transfer so well to the Kings’ AHL affiliate, yet his ability to step up on defense has indeed improved.

With only 12 points in 38 games thus far, Holloway definitely has room for improvement with the puck, yet he is a player the coach would be comfortable playing while defending a one-goal lead late in the game.  Holloway plays on the penalty kill, and could truly help out a Kings’ penalty kill that is already top notch.  Bud is also a great leader on the ice, and will do anything a coach asks him to.  He “just didn’t give us any reason to keep him out of the lineup. He’s very reliable, understands the game and can play on both wings,” head coach Rob Sumner explains (Hockey’s Future).

Verdict: Holloway is a two-way player that the Kings would love to have on their lineup.  On any other team, he may not make the lineup, but on a Kings’ team weak at forward, he may become a regular fourth liner for his career.

 

David Meckler- C, 7/9/1987, Fifth round pick (134th overall) in 2006, London Knights (OHL), Manchester Monarchs (AHL)

Drafting David Meckler was like swinging at an outside pitch, yet getting a single out of it.  He did not perform very well in the USHL or in his one year at Yale, yet after being drafted and playing in the OHL, he became a point per game player.  He did not keep up that pace in Manchester when he turned pro, but he is still a very dependable player.

Meckler can play all three forward positions, which is a huge bonus when trying to make an NHL team.  He has good speed, great vision, and is extremely intelligent, as one can see from his admission to an Ivy League University.  His shot has a quick release, similar to Philadelphia Flyer Jeff Carter, but can also play physical when his team needs him to be.

His only downside is that he calls himself an offensive forward, yet his offensive skills do not translate into a spot on a scoring line.  If he wants to make the Kings’ squad, he will only be doing it on a checking line, for which he needs to improve his defense.

Verdict: Meckler could make the fourth line on the wing if he improves his defense, but look for him to be a career minor leaguer.

 

Next up: Left wingers!

 

Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report and the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section; a writer for TheHockeyWriters.com, Prohockeynews.com and Insidehockey.com, he is also the co-host of NHL 2Day, a weekly radio show on Youcastr.com.  You can contact him at ALN424@aol.com.