While so many of the other top-ten picks from 2019 have started to pay huge dividends for their teams, one name remains completely scoreless in the NHL. Alex Turcotte, selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Kings, has had his career limited by concussions so far and has suited up just eight times at the highest level.
Today, there was some good news. Turcotte has been activated from injured reserve and loaned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL. Jared Shafran, Reign communications manager, tweeted out an encouraging quote from the young forward:
It’s been a pretty tough year with the uncertainty of not knowing when I was going to play again or feel normal again. but now I feel the best I’ve probably ever felt. I’m 100%.
A dominant center with the USNTDP and then for one year at Wisconsin, Turcotte started out his AHL career with 21 points in 32 games during the 2020-21 season. He made his NHL debut last year and suited up eight times, but failed to register a single point. Now 21, he’ll try to get his career back on track and fill some of the promise that made him such a high draft pick.
The Kings will likely take his development slow, but hopefully, his concussion issues are behind him and Turcotte can become an impact player for the team down the road. He is still signed through 2023-24 on his entry-level deal and can move up and down between the AHL and NHL without requiring waivers.
When I was scouting Turcotte at the minor level, I have observed that was very difficult for him to make plays at high speed, he was able to get quickly to the high speed but then he was stopping to play, then sliding and trying to make a pass. His father had the same problem. So I haven’t recommend to put him on our list. I was worried by his ability to play at high speed and with the short reaction time that occur in the NHL. Hope for the kid that he will be able to improve that.