According to Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider, Mike Amadio is on his way up to the Los Angeles Kings. In a corresponding move, the team will send Justin Auger back to the minor leagues. Auger, 23, made his NHL debut with the Kings this season on October 18th and got into a second game before heading back to the AHL.
Should Amadio get into the lineup, it would be another debut for an interesting prospect. Amadio was selected in the third round—90th overall—by the Kings in 2014 after a relatively pedestrian OHL campaign. He had scored 12 goals and 38 points and Central Scouting had him ranked 68th among North American skaters going into the draft. Since then though, the 6’1″ 196-lbs forward has done nothing but score. In the next two years of junior he put up 169 points in 136 games, jumped immediately to the AHL playoffs where he was dynamic, and then last year found success in the minor leagues as a rookie. Amadio scored 41 points in 68 games last season, ranking third on Ontario and earning him another look in training camp this year.
Though he couldn’t crack the Kings out of camp, the 21-year old is definitely someone to keep an eye on in Los Angeles. Despite his recent offensive achievements, his calling card is his defense and capable center ice play. There is a legitimate chance he could be an NHL center with some offensive upside, but for now his role will likely be limited—if he even cracks the lineup. The Kings are carrying 13 forwards.