{"id":136937,"date":"2025-09-12T05:22:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T05:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/136937\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T05:22:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T05:22:08","slug":"liam-greentree-is-healthy-and-a-step-ahead-as-he-looks-to-make-a-statement-during-rookie-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/136937\/","title":{"rendered":"Liam Greentree is healthy and “a step ahead” as he looks to make a statement during rookie camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last time we saw Liam Greentree at Toyota Sports Performance Center, he was a one-armed hockey player. <\/p>\n

Sort of kidding. <\/p>\n

During development camp over the summer, Greentree was unable to participate in full due to offseason wrist surgery. He was on the ice for the practice portion of the camp but only skated with the group, stickhandling with one hand on the stick, abstaining from shooting pucks other than a few creative attempts using just the one hand. <\/p>\n

The injury, which was something he managed and played through in the OHL last season with Windsor, prevented him from joining the Ontario Reign during their short playoff run last spring. It kept him out of development camp scrimmages and prevented him from taking part in Team Canada\u2019s World Juniors Summer Orientation camp, a tournament in which he should certainly be on the radar for after a massive season in juniors. <\/p>\n

As his summer progressed, Greentree was cleared to participate in preseason action, both with the Spitfires and the Kings. His preseason debut in the OHL? How does four goals and five points sound for the Windsor captain? Safe to say he\u2019s operating <\/p>\n

\u201cClose to [100 percent] for sure,\u201d Greentree said after Day 1 of Rookie Camp. \u201cIt\u2019s going to get sore a little bit, but that\u2019s to be expected right now. It\u2019s definitely come a long way since development camp, so it\u2019s just nice being out with the guys and being able to participate in all the drills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Practices at this point in the season should be taken for what they are. While games this weekend present a competitive setting for prospects looking to make a name for themselves, it\u2019s really an opportunity for these rookies to build some positive momentum heading into training camp with the big club. Greentree, as it stands right now and looks to stand entering the season, can only play in the NHL or the OHL. That\u2019s the assumption he\u2019s operating under right now and all reports are pointing in that direction.<\/p>\n

Greentree is fully committed to being a top performer and a leader on the rookie side and he\u2019s got practices and games with more structure to come. Ontario Reign Head Coach Andrew Lord pointed to him as an early leader in video and on-ice sessions. But his goal and ambition is larger than just this weekend. We all know that. <\/p>\n

Frankly, if Greentree were to crack the NHL roster picture, it would likely begin with a strong showing this weekend that carries over into main camp next week. It\u2019s a staging opportunity that he has that others in that conversation might not. The eyes of the organization will be upon him and the other Kings rookies this weekend. <\/p>\n

For Greentree, Rookie Faceoff is an opportunity. I look to Alex Laferriere\u2019s Rookie Faceoff performance in 2023. Laferriere was highly-touted, certainly, but he was not anywhere near the NHL roster picture entering camp. I actually think Greentree is further up the pecking order today than Laferriere was at this time last year. It\u2019s still a longshot here, but that\u2019s not for Greentree to worry about. He\u2019s simply trying to build as much momentum as he can to take into main camp next week. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to start off on a good note, especially at rookie camp and these upcoming games on Saturday and Sunday, I\u2019m getting excited for that,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to show everyone what I can do, especially going into main camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe brings so much to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

My feature on Kings top prospect Liam Greentree, with insight from Windsor Spitfires staff \ud83d\udd17\u2935\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/wzZ9uSnHXV<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/a4Q7TIbB1H<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

On Day 1, Greentree was on the left wing, skating on a forward line with Kenny Connors at center and Koehn Ziemmer on the right, two players who will be beginning their professional careers this fall. Greentree pointed to having a relationship with both players from development camps over the past two summers as making things a little bit easier on the ice. It\u2019s tough to build instant chemistry in a short, tournament setting but those who are able to gel quickly have a better chance of standing out. <\/p>\n

Ziemmer is preparing for his third rookie camp while Greentree is now in his second. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust knowing what I\u2019m doing a little bit more and knowing where everything is, I think that helps a lot,\u201d he added. \u201cJust building confidence for me was huge and I\u2019m ready to get into things this [fall]. Obviously it was a big summer for me, so I\u2019m ready for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

One thing that is new for Greentree and just about everyone here is a new bench boss in Lord. <\/p>\n

Lord is no stranger to Kings Rookie Camp but in the role of coaching up the squad, it\u2019s not the role he\u2019s had here in the past when attending as a guest coach from the ECHL\u2019s Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Greentree\u2019s camp last year came with Lord coaching in the QMJHL, so they just missed each other. Working together now just for the one day, it didn\u2019t take long for Lord to become impressed. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s awesome,\u201d Lord said of Greentree after Day 1. \u201cIt starts in the room, when you\u2019re running a video session and you can see it, he\u2019s got leadership written all over him. He\u2019s aware and he just feels like one of the smarter guys in the room, he\u2019s a step ahead and it\u2019s the same on the ice. The pace he plays at, the plays he can make, he\u2019s a pretty special player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expecting to see a lot of Greentree this weekend as the Kings rookies take on San Jose and Anaheim. <\/p>\n

In looking at how the team lined up here on Day 1, there look to be three forward lines of Kings draft picks and prospects, with try out players also set to be given a good look in these games as well. Greentree is coming off a staggering season in the OHL and while he won\u2019t be one of the oldest players in camp, he will be among those with the brightest spotlight. <\/p>\n

Ultimately, his performance in these games will be a footnote. After all, when we look back in reflection, results in rookie games will be very far down the list of things that are deemed to be important. For Greentree, though, he\u2019s got a point to prove this month. While his larger evaluation will come when the Kings play preseason games, he\u2019s got an opportunity that most players attending camp do not. He\u2019s got two games this weekend to get things going and hit the ground running when he takes the ice with Kings veterans. Looking forward to seeing how he answers the challenge this weekend. <\/p>\n

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