LA Kings Prospect Report: Jaret Anderson-Dolan

From Mike Krushelnyski to Tom Kostopoulos to Alexei Ponikarovsky, the Los Angeles Kings have had to fill the backs of their jerseys with some of the longest names the game has ever seen. In the near future, the Kings may add another name to that list, but let’s be clear: Being a potential answer to a fun trivia question is the least of what Jaret Anderson-Dolan brings to the table.

Drafted 41st overall by the Kings in 2017, Jaret Anderson-Dolan was fresh off a breakout campaign for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. After scoring 14 goals and 26 points in 65 games in 2015-16, the Calgary native followed that up with 39 goals and 76 points in 72 games the following season. This season, Anderson-Dolan has only gotten better.

His quick hands, high hockey I, and blazing speed have been on display all year long. As a result, Anderson-Dolan’s 2017-18 campaign has seen him reach career highs with 51 assists and 88 points. Additionally, whether he’s aware of it or not, the 18-year-old is increasingly proving the Kings right for having selected him last June.

I recently spoke with Chiefs assistant coach (and former Kings forward) Adam Deadmarsh about Anderson-Dolan’s game and the factors, both on and off the ice, that make him such a valuable asset to any team.

Success Goes Beyond the Rink

We can talk about what makes a player integral to a team’s on-ice success until we’re blue in the face. As important as those assets are, however, there is more to one’s success than his skill set.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan is no exception to this.

His aforementioned speed and quick hands aside, we can also look to other factors in how the youngster has come so far.

“Jaret is a wonderful person,” Deadmarsh exclaimed. “He is polite, respectful and has a maturity about him beyond his years.”

As for related comparisons, the Spokane assistant coach brought up a player he not only coached in Colorado but one whose name, just last season, was brought up as a potential trade target for the Kings.

“He reminds me a lot of [Avalanche captain] Gabriel Landeskog in that regard,” Deadmarsh continued. “His on- and off-ice habits are very professional and once again, he is very professional and mature for his age.”

90 Per Cent of Hockey is Mental

…and the other half is physical.

Wayne Gretzky may have taken a page from Yogi Berra’s book when he said that, but there is nonetheless accuracy to the former part of said quote.

When watching him on the ice, it’s evident just how much potential Jaret Anderson-Dolan really has. Part what makes the centerman progressively better, though, mainly comes from what goes on between games.

“A lot of factors come into play when you talk about a player improving,” Deadmarsh noted.  “One of the most important things is having a ‘pro attitude’. What I mean by that is you pay attention to everything you do and how it may affect your performance. It’s your eating habits, game recovery, preparation for games, working hard on conditioning, just to name a few. Jaret has that pro mentality which makes him very consistent night In and night out and I’m sure that is why he continues to see improvement in his game.”

NHL-Ready Sooner Than Later

Having just turned 18 this past September, time is definitely on the side of Jaret Anderson-Dolan. In spite of his age, though, the Calgary native looks to be closer to the NHL than expected. After all, according to Deadmarsh, one would be hard-pressed to find many weaknesses in the centerman’s game.

“To be honest, I don’t find a lot of weakness in his game,” Deadmarsh said. “Of course, he can and will improve but I think it’s more of improving on things he already does well that will help him succeed at the next level.

“He already has an NHL shot, his work ethic is great and his attitude is tremendous,” Deadmarsh added. “All aspects of his game will continue to improve with time and age.”

In regards to the latter statement, let us remember that Jaret Anderson-Dolan, being just 18, is still eligible for another two seasons of junior hockey. At this rate, though, he may not need that much time.

An Ideal Role Model

We touched on his attitude, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise at how well-received Jaret Anderson-Dolan is by his teammates.

Adam Deadmarsh did not hesitate in attesting to this.

“Jaret is extremely liked in the locker room,” Deadmarsh noted. “He is one of our leaders for a reason. The reason being is he conducts himself in a manner that we would love all of our players to emulate.”

While their seeding has yet to be determined, the Spokane Chiefs will nonetheless be returning to the playoffs this season after missing out last spring. Contributions to said rebound have a lot to do with the club’s top line centered by none other than Anderson-Dolan, who is second on the club in goals and points.

On said list, Anderson-Dolan trails only Kailer Yamamoto who has 42 goals and 99 points.

Yet, while lighting the lamp has certainly propelled the Chiefs back into the playoffs, there is something to be said for team morale, and Anderson-Dolan makes sure that his teammates are as upbeat as possible.

“I know he is very positive to be around, which is contagious and welcomed in any locker room,” Deadmarsh added.

Once a King, Always a King

While this is only his first year with the Spokane coaching staff, Adam Deadmarsh has learned plenty about his players in a short time. In turn, they have looked up to him having been an accomplished NHLer himself. Yet, despite winning a Stanley Cup with the aforementioned Colorado Avalanche, Adam Deadmarsh found tremendous success with the Los Angeles Kings in the latter part of his playing career.

Since Anderson-Dolan is now a Kings prospect, I asked Deadmarsh whether he’s connected with the youngster about their association with the franchise.

“I’ve not had those conversations in depth with him yet,” Deadmarsh said. “After this season, I will look forward to talking with him a little about that. He is very lucky to be drafted by a team like the Kings. It truly is a great organization and the fans are incredible.

“On the other side of that, I feel L.A. has made an incredible choice in drafting Jaret and I’m sure he will have people on the edge of their seats watching him play one day.”

So, what about Deadmarsh’s playing career overall? From a Stanley Cup to a World Cup and an Olympic silver medal, what, if anything, has Anderson-Dolan learned from said pedigree?

“I guess that’s a question you would have to ask him,” Deadmarsh assured me. “To be honest, probably not a lot as I haven’t had to spend too much time teaching him. The odd time I did mention something to him, he would adjust and he’d have it. He’s truly been great to have on our team and all he needs now is to have ‘Lucky Luc’ Robitaille show him those magic spots on the ice where goal-scorers stand.”

Just imagine what Jaret Anderson-Dolan can learn from Luc Robitaille once he turns pro.

Okay, one step at a time.

In Jaret Anderson-Dolan, we see a mature-beyond-his-years playmaking speedster who is a positive force in the locker room. Heck, he can even score some goals himself which, especially if he can learn a few pointers from Mr. Robitaille, will help alleviate the Kings’ semi-frequent scoring slumps.

Again, though, one step at a time.

Entering last year’s draft, NHL.com published a story — written by Mike G. Morreale — of how the youngster, raised by two mothers, is determined to help fight homophobia in sports. This was a story fans of all teams gravitated towards.

Some may not have been familiar with Jaret Anderson-Dolan as a hockey player but for those, this was an auspicious introduction to who the Los Angeles Kings added to their future plans.

As far as the Kings’ association with Anderson-Dolan’s junior club, only a handful of Spokane Chiefs ever suited up for the Kings and those who did had only brief stints with the club. In fact, having played 93 games in a Kings uniform, Jason LaBarbera had spent the most time with the Kings after playing in Spokane.

Other former Chiefs-turned-Kings include Valeri Bure, Jon Klemm, Barry Brust and, most recently, Darcy Kuemper. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will hope to become the most notable Chiefs alum to ever don a Kings uniform — and to be known for factors beyond longevity.

Of course, there is one current example of Chiefs-Kings association.

Prior to joining the Kings coaching staff for this season, Don Nachbaur had spent the previous seven years as Spokane’s head coach, where he helped guide Anderson-Dolan for the last two. An influence already from their days together in junior, you can be sure that Nachbaur’s presence in Los Angeles will help Anderson-Dolan’s when he does turn pro.

He has so much promise and very few weaknesses in his game. Still, that determination to keep getting better has stayed with Jaret Anderson-Dolan throughout his entire junior career — a determination that isn’t likely to waver when the 5’11, 188-pounder ultimately turns pro.

On-ice skills, off-ice attitude and everything in between have made Jaret Anderson-Dolan a prospect too rich to pass up. What’s better is that the youngster has had a decorated former NHLer in Adam Deadmarsh to help him along the way, to fully prepare him for the next level.

With Deadmarsh’s tutelage on top of everything else, one can’t help but look forward to the future and see the majority of the STAPLES Center faithful getting the backs of their jerseys filled with a 13-letter name; one that may just become a household one in southern California.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan: It’s a name that just rolls right off the tongue.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, All the time

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