LA Kings Prospect Report: Matt Villalta
- Updated: March 19, 2018
In recent years, the Los Angeles Kings’ depth chart in goal took a bit of a hit.
After parting ways with up-and-coming netminders such as Jean-Francois Berube and Patrik Bartosak, the Kings’ future between the pipes was suddenly sparse. Since then, however, the silver-and-black have rebuilt their depth in goal.
From signing Cal Petersen out of the University to Notre Dame to inking Cole Kehler to an entry-level deal this past December, the goaltending future for the Kings looks stronger again. But, there is one particular netminder who the silver-and-black drafted last June who is on the right path to the NHL, even if, as we speak, he isn’t quite ready to make the leap to the big show.
Drafted in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Matt Villalta was chosen by the Kings in the hopes that he would become a solid fixture in the club’s net one day.
Last season, as a rookie in a backup role, Villalta shone in the Ontario Hockey League for the high-flying Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. In the said role, the native of Kingston, Ont., went 25-3-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average in 33 games. Having graduated to a starting role this season, Villalta has continued his success, posting a 40-5-2 record with a 2.58 GAA in 49 games. Villalta’s play this season has even helped the Greyhounds finish first overall in the OHL, setting franchise-records with 55 wins and 116 points along the way.
I recently spoke with Greyhounds head coach Drew Bannister about Villalta’s progress thus far. Regarding said progress, Bannister discussed how much of an adjustment it took for Villalta entering the OHL last season, what improvements were made since then and what the short-term future for the 18-year-old holds.
Photo credit: Terry Wilson/OHL Images
More Games Means More Confidence
Unlike the majority of OHLers, Matt Villalta went undrafted entering the major junior level. In 2016, the rookie netminder arrived in Sault Ste. Marie as a walk-on. Due to his hard work and determination, Villalta made the team backing up the club’s then-No. 1 netminder, Joseph Raaymakers.
I asked Bannister how Villalta looked as he began his career with the Greyhounds.
“I think it took him a little while to just get comfortable,” Bannister said. “Obviously, being a walk-on and not knowing [the OHL] and then coming into fighting for an opportunity to play in games.
“So, as the season went on, and I think the team in front of him had more confidence and obviously, his confidence grew. He got more starts and with that, gained more confidence as a result. Certainly, with how he played last year, it shows. He’s gained a lot of confidence since then and the team in front of him definitely has confidence with him in the net.”
You Do You
Last season, the Greyhounds won the OHL’s West Division and finished second in the Western Conference. Yet, while he wasn’t the club’s starting goaltender, Matt Villalta’s contributions were no less appreciated and no less important.
Photo credit: Jeff Duarte
It goes without saying that cracking a club’s roster as a walk-on is an achievement in itself. That goes especially for a team as deep and as successful as the Greyhounds. However, if anyone thought that resting on those laurels would have sufficed for Matt Villalta, they were mistaken.
While his in-game performance speaks for itself, Villalta’s 2016-17 campaign saw him dedicating countless hours to becoming a better netminder, making the most of the time when he wasn’t playing.
Bannister explained Villalta’s gradual improvement last season — an improvement which ultimately saw the 6-foot-2, 165-pounder taking over as the club’s starter.
So, what initially stood out to the Greyhounds coach?
“Matt’s attitude when he came in,” Bannister emphasized. “He was willing to work for his opportunity. He’s a very quiet individual that worked hard off the ice when he wasn’t [playing]. He was always in the gym doing extra work, like strengthening his body, to where he’d be able to compete at [the major junior] level. He continued that whether he was in the lineup or he was backing up that night. I think it went a long way and again, by gaining confidence within the group, [Matt’s teammates] saw the work that he put in to help him develop and, whether it was on the ice at practice or in the gym, when he puts in the proper work, it helps increase confidence and the group in front of him had that confidence, too.”
Look Out for Number One
Last season, Matt Villalta worked towards becoming the Greyhounds’ No. 1 netminder. After the season ended, the Sault Ste. Marie brass traded Joseph Raaymakers to the London Knights, making way for Matt Villalta to become the club’s new No. 1. While he still had to battle with Tyler Johnson (who came from London in said trade) for the top spot in goal, the Greyhounds had enough confidence in Villalta that he would take the reigns in between the pipes.
Photo credit: Tony Saxon/GuelphToday
The end result: a 40-win season for the Kings prospect en route to helping the Greyhounds set their aforementioned franchise records. Villalta’s solid play helped the Greyhounds finish 2017-18 with a mere 182 goals against — their second-lowest total in franchise history.
So, in a breakout season for both Villalta and the Greyhounds, what improvements, according to Drew Bannister, were made in the youngster’s game?
“I think we’ve seen smaller steps than we did last year,” Bannister noted. “I think he made significant improvements in his game last year, along with his confidence, which got him to where he is now.”
Of course, taking smaller steps in improving his game certainly isn’t a knock on Villalta but rather a testament to just how much progress he made in his rookie year. In fact, Villalta’s play last season earned him OHL Second All-Rookie Team honours and the Dinty Moore Trophy as having the lowest GAA (2.41) among OHL rookies. Villalta was even the recipient of two CHL Goaltender of the Week honours.
“He’s taking more baby steps in his game now,” Bannister added. “Obviously with the conditioning, and last year with him being in more of the backup role and this year being in starting role, where he handled that pressure fairly well. He does have a very good team in front of him but there have been nights where Matty’s been outstanding when the team wasn’t very good in front of him. Those were times where Matty really developed his game — developed his quickness, developed his rebound control, his strength in the net, the ability to stop plays when we need a whistle. Again, they’re not big adjustments but they’re minute things that make the game easier in front of him.”
On the Horizon in the Soo
From being a reliable backup to a solid starter, Matt Villalta has made tremendous progress in his two seasons at the major junior level. Yet, despite his vast success thus far, let us not forget that Villalta will only be turning 19 this coming June. With that said, there is more time for the lanky backstop to further work on his game.
I asked Bannister what’s next in Villalta’s development.
“That’s probably better suited for [Kings goaltending development coach Dusty Imoo] who comes down from L.A.,” Bannister admitted. “Over the last year and even last couple of months here, you can see that the work ethic is there. Matty, whether it’s on or off the ice, just needs to keep developing his game. He’s not a pro yet. He’s a very good goaltender but he still has a long way to go in his development.”
Bannister further told me that Villalta will be back in Sault Ste. Marie next season. While keeping a roster this solid intact may be important, the netminder’s growth and maturation are just as critical, if not more.
“He’ll be with [the Greyhounds] next year also, so there’s still a lot of time to work on his development and his game,” the Greyhounds head coach continued. “The size factor is there. He’s going to continue to work on his strength to get to where he can play at the pro level. But again, a lot of time to do that.
“Nothing has to change over the days, weeks or months but he has a lot of time to work through that process. We just want to continue to build on the basics and we’ll see when he’ll be ready to make the next step. I think Matty’s performance moving forward will indicate that as he gets ready for the next level.”
Photo credit: Matt Hiscox
When he scouted the Kings prospect in Kitchener just a couple of weekends ago, my colleague Jeff Duarte had told me that since the Greyhounds’ defense is so strong, Villalta is less busy and tends to lose focus at times. In said game, according to Mr. Duarte, two of Villalta’s goals were “savable”. With that said, my colleague is a fan of the 18-year-old and further said that he is excited about what the aforementioned Dusty Imoo and [Kings’ goaltending coach] Bill Ranford can do to help improve Villalta’s game.
Until then, Villalta will be on a mission to help his Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds capture their first OHL Championship since 1992.
Since he made only two appearances last spring, this postseason will be a golden opportunity for Matt Villalta to really prove himself as a bona fide netminder. Plus, given Sault Ste. Marie’s first-place finish during the regular season, you can bet that the pressure will be on the Greyhounds to avenge their second-round elimination last spring.
As for the Los Angeles Kings, the connection between them and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds has been a successful one.
Jeff Carter, Jake Muzzin, and Jordan Nolan were all former Greyhounds who were integral to the Kings’ Stanley Cup success between 2012 and 2014. Charlie Simmer, Paul Coffey, and Wayne Simmonds were also successful Kings who called Sault Ste. Marie their junior home. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the game’s greatest player in Wayne Gretzky as part of a said connection. In this regard, Matt Villalta may have some big shoes, err skates, to fill but if the young goaltender is comparing himself to any of the aforementioned, he is certainly keeping such a mindset well-hidden.
In just two seasons in the OHL, Matt Villalta has established himself as one of junior hockey’s top goaltenders. There is still, as Drew Bannister said, a long way to go, but while it may seem like a case of pointing out the obvious, patience is nonetheless key in Matt Villalta’s development. However, if these last two seasons have been any indication, expect to see Matt Villalta making STAPLES Center his business address in the very near future.
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