With the Kings struggling as of late, they’ve decided to give a different youngster an opportunity. The team announced that they’ve recalled center Alex Turcotte from AHL Ontario. They had an open roster spot so no corresponding move needed to be made.
The 22-year-old was the fifth-overall pick back in 2018 after a strong showing in the U.S. National Team Development Program but has struggled to live up to that draft billing so far. Turcotte has played just a dozen NHL games so far – eight in 2021-22 and four in 2022-23 – and is still looking for his first point. This marks his second recall of the season, the first of which just lasted one day. This one could last longer as Los Angeles is one of the few teams that will be playing right up to the All-Star break and will get their bye week after.
Turcotte has shown some improvement with the Reign this season, posting career-bests in goals (seven), assists (16), and points (23) in 28 games, good for fifth in team scoring so this is a merited opportunity.
This is Turcotte’s final season of waiver exemption which is something worth keeping an eye on. It’s not a bad idea to give Turcotte a few games to get a better idea as to if he’s going to figure into their plans for 2024-25. If he doesn’t show well, perhaps he becomes a candidate to be moved before the March 8th trade deadline if a selling team wants someone closer to being NHL-ready over a draft pick that will still be a few years away.
Audition for other teams to see what he can do this time around.. He will be a part of a trade I see in the near future…
They need a goalie and more guys who can play as a team.
Anaheim has a goalie…
So do the sabres
This to gage If he has any value left. If he really had a future with Kings would have already been there. he looks like his father high draft pick who fails.
Injuries have held him back, just like Villardi. He has stayed relatively healthy this year and his play merits the opportunity. Can he be a difference maker? If he performs well with Lizotte injured, I would expect him to be the 4th line center next year as Lizotte is a FA and the Kings won’t pay $2-3 million a year for a too small Center that often gets pushed around, Although I do love his heart and effort!