Jordan Nolan brings physical play to LA Kings
- Allan Beaver | April 06, 2017
Although it’s only been six years since Jordan Nolan made his debut in the NHL, he is now a classified veteran of the Los Angeles Kings hockey club. Nolans’ physical presence is sure to be noticed by opponents as he can distract them with his punishing body checks. But he’s got more than that, the skills that brought him to the Kings organization are being sharpened and worked on and no doubt, the coaching staff are quite pleased with his defensive skills on the ice.
“I’m sure enjoying my time with the Kings and I work hard to and keep in shape to play the kind of game I’m asked of by the coaching staff,” says Nolan.
The career of Jordan has skyrocketed to the ultimate pedestal of the NHL as a member of the Stanley Cup Champions, not once but twice in the six years with the Kings. As a rookie, Jordan celebrated with family when he hoisted the Stanley Cup with his father Ted, and mother Sandra. Ted is a former Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL Coach of the Year.
"My dad was obviously the coach so he tried to get away from the rink and just have a normal life," he said. "He didn't really harp too much on us playing hockey or making it to the NHL. He was just more about a good family life,” says Jordan.
"He's not really big on giving me tips or advice when it comes to hockey—just more or less just working hard or staying focused."
So far in his short career, Nolan has played in 291 games and scored 20 goals, 22 assists, for 42 career points.
The Los Angeles Kings scouting team saw great potential in the power forward when they drafted Jordan in the 7th round as their 5th pick and 186th overall. Nolan made a strong presence with the team but also around the league as not one to mess with as he can stand his own with his fisticuffs.
In 2008-09, Jordan Nolan led the offensively challenged Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in points with 43 and penalty minutes with 158. The team as a whole was in the cellar of the OHL standings with little positive to speak of on the season. Nolan played in all situations, including acting as enforcer for the team.
The following season in 2009-10, Jordan played 49 games with the SOO Greyhounds and posted 23 goals, 25 assists, and 88 PIM. After his season was finished he joined the Ontario Reign of the ECHL and posted 1 goal and 1 assists in 3 games.
Nolan skated in 75 games for the Manchester Monarchs in his first pro season in 2010-11 and served as a policeman for some of the more talented skaters while playing an effective energy game. Nolan was third on the Monarchs with 115 PMs, including 10 fighting majors, and was -2 with 5 goals and 12 assists. The Monarchs finished second in the Atlantic Division and faced eventual AHL champion Binghamton in the first round. Nolan skated in all seven playoff games for Manchester and was -2 with 2 assists and 4 PMs.As everything seemed to be destined for the big show of the NHL, it was no stopping Jordan Nolan as he is now just a step away from the reaching the ultimate of hockey by being a NHL’er.As many veterans who have made it to the NHL, the easy part is getting there but the hardest part of it is sticking with the team. Jordan not only has proved his many doubters wrong but has been very consistent in his learning process as a defensive forward.
Now the time has come to make the big step and in 2011-12, Nolan made his NHL debut with the Kings in February and steadily established himself as a fixture in a lower line defensive forward role. After skating in 26 regular season games, Nolan played in all 20 games during Los Angeles' playoff run to the Stanley Cup.
"I had to earn a NHL contract, which a lot of people didn't think I'd get," Nolan said Wednesday in an interview. "And then I had to earn my way into the American Hockey League. I was playing on the top line down there, which was pretty exciting.
"I've had to earn lots of stuff, nothing's been given to me, but I always had a self belief in myself that one day I'd play in the NHL."
Nolan scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was plus-two with 28 penalty minutes in the regular season and in the playoffs he scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was plus-one with 21 penalty minutes; averaging 7:17 minutes of ice time."I could be sent down tomorrow and not play for another few years," said Nolan. "Right now we're taking it day by day. We haven't heard anything about how long we're staying. So we can't really afford to have a practice or game off,” says Nolan.
"That's the approach I'm taking.”
And what a joy it was for the Nolan family to join with Jordan in the celebration as a member of the Stanley Cup winning championship team. The feat is an amazing accomplishment for Jordan who had to work twice as hard to achieve his dream of holding, hugging, kissing the Stanley Cup.
The dream has been achieved in only his first season with the Los Angeles Kings. But at the prime age of almost to be a 28 year-old veteran of the Kings hockey club, Jordan is well on his way to have a stable stay in the NHL. Maybe a third Stanley Cup? We will keep you posted.