Ontario Reign: Five Prospects to Watch This Season

The 2024-25 Reign roster will see a combination of prospects just turning pro debut in North America or pro debut coming over from juniors. Sprinkle in prospects returning from the last two years and you have many prospects to track.

You’re probably wondering, ‘Which LA Kings prospects should I pay attention to?’, in the AHL this season. You’ve come to the right place because we will list five Kings prospects you should watch closely on the Reign this year.

Let’s get started!

Aatu Jamsen – 22 years old

This year’s Reign roster will feature two seventh-round draft picks within the last five drafts. There isn’t much to get excited about in seventh-round picks. The chances of them making the roster are slim to none. However, there is plenty to get excited about with Aatu Jamsen. He skates well and is skilled and creative with the puck, which should see him get top nine minutes during the year as he gets acclimated to the North American game coming over from Europe (Liiga).

There will be an adjustment period with Jamsen as he’ll need to get stronger because of the physicality and the ice sheet here in North America is smaller than in Europe, which won’t allow him to have all the space and time in the world to make plays. Expect some growing pains in those areas throughout the season, but plenty of skill when he’s in the lineup.

Francesco Pinelli – 21 years old

It wasn’t smooth sailing during Francesco Pinelli’s rookie season last year; which happens to many players getting acclimated to the pro level. When speaking with the 21-year-old last November, he mentioned the size, speed, and puck management as areas he was adjusting to coming over from juniors. After the all-star break, his overall play improved, and he was Ontario’s most improved player.

With TJ Tynan now in the Colorado Avalanche organization and Akil Thomas and Alex Turcotte graduating to the Kings, this leaves open spots at the center position on the first three lines. Pinelli should see a spot down the middle on either the second or third line, as Glenn Gawdin will center the first line, in addition to time on the power play and penalty kill. If Pinelli can continue his play from the second half of last season to start this year it will be a good step in the right direction for his development.

Martin Chromiak – 22 years old

This is Martin Chromiak’s third season in the AHL, and the first two have been underwhelming, albeit he did have surgery on his appendix which delayed his rookie season. After putting up 86 points in 60 games in his final season in the OHL with the Kingston Fontenacs on a line with Shane Wright, Chromiak’s offense hasn’t translated in the AHL.

The soon-to-be third-year forward has posted 60 points in 125 games with the Reign the last two seasons. This is a huge year for the former fifth-round pick. He’s expected to get a chance in the top six and will need to produce if he wants to have a shot in the NHL. Now or never? That’s where it could be heading with Chromiak.

Angus Booth – 20 years old

The Reign will have plenty of left-handed defensemen on the roster with rookie Angus Booth being one of them. The Kings rarely draft a mobile left-handed defenseman who can also move the puck, and they have just that in Booth.

When watching Booth in the Rookie Faceoff tournament his gap control stood out in addition to his mobility. One issue that Booth will have to work on is taking fewer penalties. That was one of his issues during his time at the QMJHL. It’s possible Booth find himself playing top-four minutes for Marco Sturm.

Erik Portillo – 24 years old

Erik Portillo is back with the organization after signing a fresh three-year contract in the summer. After a solid rookie campaign, that saw him set the Reign franchise record for wins by a rookie netminder, this will be another big year of development for the 24-year-old.

Portillo with his 6’6 frame taking up most of the net, will need to work on his positioning and rebound control, which was a main issue in his game last year. That is something to look for during this season as it was solid in the Rookie Faceoff tournament but crept back up in the Reign’s lone preseason game last week against San Diego. Whether Marco Sturm decides to go with a goalie rotation to start the year as he did at the end of the regular season last year or names a clear number-one netminder to start, tracking Portillo’s positioning and rebound control will be worth watching.