
As quickly as things started just a few days ago, the Kings have already reached one of several pivotal days in training camp. Sunday brings the final scrimmage at the team’s training facility in El Segundo. After this, Monday will bring the first of six preseason games — in the form of the game formerly known as Frozen Fury, yet quietly rebranded to just a game in Utah vs. the cities newly anointed NHL club.
A day off on Tuesday will be welcome reprieve for the players, and also serve as a day of reflection for coaches and management. It won’t be long before most of the prospects and camp invitees are returned to their junior clubs. Of course, some will stick around for another week or so, and even participate in camp with AHL Ontario, which opens one week from now (at the same time the big club sets to skip town for Quebec City).
Friday’s scrimmage saw a significant change to the lineup, in the way of Alex Turcotte joining what is believed to be coach Jim Hiller’s fourth line, centered by Akil Thomas with Trevor Lewis at the opposite wing. The opening for Turcotte was created by Arthur Kaliyev’s injury one day prior (and he’s expected to miss a few months after a hit in the corner by Kyle Burroughs on Friday).
Turcotte made the most of his increased role, scoring one of the three goals in the game. Warren Foegele and Adrian Kempe also found the back of the net. However, it was a fight involving prospect Sammy Helenius that had most people talking postgame.
Along with Andre Lee, Helenius continues to get mentions by Hiller as guys on the outside who are making strong pushes for possible roster spots. The Kings essentially have 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders all but locked in for their opening night roster. With Kaliyev out, that leaves room for one additional player among the 23-man maximum — it could be a 14th forward or an eighth defenseman.
ICYMI – here are some recent player comments coming out of camp:
Kings Camp: Kempe on Personal and Team Expectations, Playing with Laferriere
Kings Camp: Edmundson on Playing with Clarke, Joining the Kings, and More
Kings Camp: Foegele on Competing Hard, Switching Sides in the War, and His Linemates
Sunday’s scrimmage will bring a slight change in the approach. Rather than splitting up the projected NHL roster into two groups for a scrimmage, the team assumed to be traveling to Utah will practice first. Then, newly formed groups B and C will scrimmage. Hiller and the coaching staff arranged players into the three groups and we’ve included a projected alignment for each group below.
For those interested in attending, here’s a friendly reminder — all on-ice sessions throughout training camp are free and open to the public at Toyota Sports Performance Center (see schedule below).
Group A, Assumed for Utah
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Jeannot – Danault – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Foegele
Turcotte – Thomas – Lewis
Fagemo
Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Gavrikov – Spence
Englund – Burroughs
Rittich
Kuemper
Group B
Jamsen – Pinelli- Brodzinski
Element – Caderoth – Madden
Lee – Helenius – Ward
Olson – Wise – Parker-Jones
Neutens
Dvorak – Rowe
Moverare – Mania
Hicketts – Berge
Krebs
Copley
George
Group C
Hudon – Gawdin – Chromiak
Greentree – Lawrence – Ziemmer
Malott – Studnicka – Woodworth
Davis – Tulk – Moynihan
Wooley – Booth
Jones – Millar
Walsh – Vaughan
Portillo
McKkay
NOTE: The complete roster of all 68 players in camp can be found here.
As noted yesterday, from a big picture perspective, the 23-man roster is starting to take shape:
Kings opening camp with…
Laferriere – Kopitar- Kempe
Jeannot – Danault – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Foegele
Kaliyev – Thomas – Lewis
Turcotte – Fagemo
It's Day One. No reason to overreact ,Twitter. #GoKingsGo
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) September 19, 2024
Training Camp Schedule
Sunday, September 22
Group A Practice: 10:00 a.m. (NHL Rink 2)
Group B vs. C Scrimmage: 11:30 a.m.
Monday, September 23
Game Group Morning Skate: 10:00 a.m. (in Utah)
Group B Practice: 10:45 a.m. (NHL Rink 2)
Group C Practice: 11:45 a.m.
Game at Utah: 7:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. PT)
The team will take Tuesday off and then play their second preseason game on Wednesday in Las Vegas. Additional information on practices and skates will be made available in a few days. The team’s third preseason game will be played next Saturday in Ontario against the Anaheim Ducks. Tickets are still available.
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