With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Mikey Anderson!
Mikey Anderson
Birthdate: May 25, 1999
Birthplace: Roseville, Minnesota
Height: 6’0
Weight: 196 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Draft: 4th round, 103rd overall, 2017 NHL Entry Draft
2024-25 season
Mikey Anderson started on the Kings’ top pair, but not with his usual partner, Drew Doughty. With the latter missing the team’s first 47 games due to an injury, Anderson was paired with Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke for the first four games. Not liking what he saw from the top pair, Jim Hiller paired Anderson with fellow southpaw Vladislav Gavrikov. The duo became LA’s most trusted pairing and stayed intact until March.
According to Natural Stat Trick, when paired together, the Anderson-Gavrikov pair posted a 27.12 xGoals Against in 839 minutes. Hiller relied on that pair defensively, and their defensive zone start percentage of 64.6% showed it. When the trade deadline passed, Anderson would be reunited with Doughty for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. In addition to being deployed as a top-pair shutdown defenseman, the 26-year-old was relied upon on the penalty kill by Hiller. Anderson logged the second-most minutes short-handed during the regular season and the most minutes in that category in the playoffs for the Kings.
For the season, Anderson finished with 24 points (6 G, 18 A) in 77 games and one assist in six playoff games.
MIKEY ANDERSON WHAT AN ANGLE pic.twitter.com/vZ4YTcJ8CO
— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 17, 2024
OFFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN MIKEY ANDERSON pic.twitter.com/YyiOkgHxbg
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 5, 2025
2025-26 outlook
I don’t expect Anderson’s role to change this season. I expect him to play a shutdown role at 5v5 and finish top two in penalty kill minutes for the Kings. Barring any injuries to start the year, he’ll be paired with Doughty like he has been in the past.
Featured image credit: Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
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