Latest Updates on the Top Prospects for the Los Angeles Kings

For Los Angeles Kings fans and hockey fans everywhere, this is a crucial time of the year when it comes to evaluating prospects.

The World Junior Championship is set to begin in Montreal and Toronto, with the American and Canadian squads looking like the favorites to win gold.

The Kings have one prospect in particular they will keep their eye on. Another should be there but will unfortunately miss the tournament due to injury. 

With that said, and with older AHL players in mind, here is an update on the Kings' prospects heading into 2015. 

Valentin Zykov

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There is plenty of news on skilled Kings winger Valentin Zykov.

First, he will miss the World Junior Championship—where he would have been a big boost to Russia—as he continues to recover from hernia surgery. 

There are also reports surfacing that Zykov will be traded, with JF Plante of Le Droit (h/t Jonathan Briggins of Sportsnet) claiming the 19-year-old will be shipped to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for forward Vaclav Karabacek and a third-round draft pick. 

This is his third year with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He has progressed tremendously each year and is putting on good weight as well. His potential remains at least as projected, if not better.

Zykov should be a top-six forward for the Kings in a few years. 

Adrian Kempe

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Adrian Kempe is having a solid season for MODO.

The 18-year-old from Sweden registered four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 30 games. He may not be at the same level as teammate and Leafs prospect William Nylander, but no one expected him to be. 

The duo will suit up for Sweden in the World Junior Championship.

In pre-competition action against Canada, Kempe registered one assist, which came on a power-play goal by Nylander. He also had an assist and a penalty in a 10-5 loss to the U.S.

It appears as though the duo will start the tournament on a line with Oskar Lindblom. That line will need to carry Sweden, as they lack the depth of past years.

Look for Kempe to stand out in this tournament and get plenty of ice time.

Derek Forbort

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It's the same old, same old with Derek Forbort, and it's up to you to decide if that's good or bad. 

We know what we're going to get from him. He's a classic shutdown defender, a stay-at-home blueliner who has good positioning and offers size and strength.

His offensive impact is very limited, although he does seem to be on a slightly better pace this year with Manchester. Forbort has two goals and six assists for eight points in 28 games. 

Even with Slava Voynov out and Robyn Regehr injured, the Kings haven't come calling for their first-round pick from the 2010 draft. He's yet to play an NHL game. 

Andy Andreoff

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Andy Andreoff hasn't moved around much throughout his hockey career. He spent five consecutive seasons with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL. He then moved up to the AHL, where he is in his third season with the Manchester Monarchs. 

However, the Kings have now come calling.

Andreoff made his NHL debut on October 14 and played 12 minutes and 16 seconds. He appeared in seven more games, although he topped the 12-minute mark again just once.

The 6'1", 207-pound forward has yet to register a point in the NHL and has just three shots. Upon his return to Manchester on a conditioning stint, he lit it up and now has five goals and five assists for 10 points in seven AHL games this season. 

Patience is key, but a fourth line roll could be in the near future.