Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
While the hockey season is winding down, the Los Angeles Kings and their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, are preparing for the 2026-27 season. Both clubs have made moves to bring in some talented youngsters to get their feet wet in professional hockey. Some of these players will get invites to the developmental camp and if everything goes right an invitation to the Kings main camp. So who are the new guys?
The Kings signed defenseman Henry Brzustewicz to a three-year, entry-level contract through the 2028-29 season. Brzustewicz will immediately report to the Reign on a player tryout (PTO) for the rest of the 2025-26 season. Brzustewicz was drafted by the Kings with the 31st pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and is a high-profile prospect. He recently completed his third season with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) London Knights, recording 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 59 games. In his OHL career, he posted 31 goals and 71 assists for 102 points in 178 games while also having a +16 plus/ minus rating.
Los Angeles also signed goaltender Hampton Slukynsky and forward Grant Slukynsky, both to entry-level contracts. Hampton, a goaltender, signed a three-year, entry-level deal through the 2028-29 season after completing his sophomore season with Western Michigan University. During the 2025-26 season, he would play in 39 games, posting a record 27-11-1 record, a 2.30 goals against average (GAA), a .915 save percentage, and four shutouts. His 27 wins led the league, he played the second most minutes (2,352), and tie for third with four shutouts. Slukynsky would play one season with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he posted aqn impressive 28-3 record, a 1.86 GAA, and a .923 save percentage, and five shutouts. He led the league in wins, GAA, save percentage, and shutouts. The fourth-round pick (#118) in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Kings would be named the USHL’s goaltender of the year and be named to the league’s first all-star team.
Grant Slukynsky, the older brother of Hampton, signs after finishing year three of college hockey, and his second with Western Michigan. in the 2025-26 season, he notched 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 39 games, including a +15 rating and eight penalty minutes. He is only the third Western Michigan skater to record 30 assists in a season and was also named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s (NCHC) third all-star team representative. He joins Ontario on an amateur tryout (ATO).
Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ontario was also busy signing talent to finish out the season. They signed forward Jan Chovan to an ATO. He was drafted by Los Angeles in the sixth round, 184th overall, in 2025 and is prepared to start his pro career with the Reign. In 2025-26 with the OHL Sudbury Wolves, he led the team in goals with 28 and points with 55 while playing 69 games.
Ontario also announced they are bringing in forward Brendan Gorman on a PTO. With that being said, he was also signed to a standard AHL player contract for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Gorman is making his pro debut after four seasons with Princeton University. This season, he totaled 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists in 34 games. This brings his college totals to 37 goals and 54 assists for 91 points in 124 career games at Princeton University.
While this is exciting for all of the new young players, their debuts come at a crucial time. The Reign were able to clinch a spot in the 2026 Calder Cup playoffs after posting a record of 41-18-3- 2 for 87 points. They secured the spot by beating the Tucson Roadrunners 3-2. Ontario also becomes the first team in the Pacific Division and the seventh team in the league to grab a playoff spot. This will be the Reigns sixth straight postseason appearance and eighth postseason trip overall.The Reign will bring experience to the playoffs as Phoenix Copley, Martin Chromiak, Otto Salin, Glenn Gawdin, Angus Booth, Andre Lee, Joe Hicketts, Jacob Doty, Jack Miller, and Francesco Pinelli were all part of last season’s playoff run.
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Categorized:Kings