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Los Angeles Kings Activate Mikey Anderson From LTIR

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The Los Angeles Kings are getting a reinforcement just in time for the playoffs. The team has activated Mikey Anderson from long-term injured reserve, making him available for tonight’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

Anderson, 22, has become a staple in the Kings lineup over the last calendar year and was averaging more than 20 minutes a night before he was hurt in early March. Last appearing in a game on March 7, he collided with Brad Marchand and ended up needing help off the ice. Placed on LTIR soon after, he’s played just 55 games this season.

Since entering the league, he had quickly established himself as a legitimate shutdown defenseman, pairing with Drew Doughty for the vast majority of his minutes in the NHL. While he had just seven points before going down, his responsible nature and penalty-killing ability was a huge loss to the Kings, who suddenly found themselves down several key defensemen through the middle part of the season.

Now with Doughty done for the season following surgery, it will be interesting to see Anderson line up with a new partner. In his career to this point he has spent more than 1,400 minutes beside the Kings’ star defenseman; the next closest is Tobias Bjornfot, with 245 minutes together.

Arthur Kaliyev Avoids Suspension, Earns Fine

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The Department of Player Safety has decided on a punishment for Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev after he cross-checked Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura in the closing moments of last night’s 4-2 Kings victory. Kaliyev was initially given a major penalty and a game misconduct, but that was obviously not the end of the punishment as the Department of Player Safety has handed Kaliyev a fine of $2,235.42, the maximum allowable under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.  Things can get testy between the Kings and Ducks, two heated rivals, but the league has determined that Kaliyev’s actions last night went too far.

Kaliyev, 20, is a player known more for his goal-scoring prowess than his feistiness or willingness to engage in fine-worthy hockey. But last night was obviously an exception, as his tussle with Mahura has ended in a punishment directly from the Department of Player Safety. Kaliyev was charged with 15 penalty minutes on the play, nearly doubling his season total, which was 22 penalty minutes before the incident with Mahura.

Kaliyev has to consider himself lucky to avoid suspension because the Kings are in a crucial final stretch of their season. They are seeking to put themselves out of reach of the Vegas Golden Knights and finally lock up their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, so Kaliyev missing out on an important late-season contest would be a disappointment for the young top prospect. Kaliyev has 14 goals and 27 points in 78 games this season and has flashed a real knack for scoring. Kaliyev, the Kings, and the Department of Player Safety are all likely hoping this fine will not be a signal of things to come for the young sniper.

Poll: Who Will Be The Odd Teams Out In The West?

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Though the actual playoff match-ups are not yet set in the East, the eight playoff teams have essentially been locked in since January, due in no small part to the fact that for the first time in NHL history all eight teams to qualify for the postseason in one conference will do so with 100+ points on the year. The Western Conference has been more wide open and with just over a week remaining in the regular season, there are still several playoff spots left unclaimed. While the Colorado Avalanche clinched a spot more than two weeks ago and the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues have since followed (the latter two are the only known first-round series thus far), the final spot in the Pacific Division and the two Western wild card berths remain available.

The Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars currently occupy the wild card positions and the Los Angeles Kings sit in third in the Pacific. Will the status quo prevail over the remaining slate of regular season games? The Vegas Golden Knights remain in the hunt for all of these spots and certainly have the talent on paper and the pre-season expectations to keep things interesting. The Vancouver Canucks are still in the mix as well, but realistically only for a wild card spot. It would require an incredible run to end the year coupled with some help, but it certainly isn’t impossible.

Los Angeles Kings
Currently: 42-27-10, 94 points (.595) – third in the Pacific
Remaining Games: vs. ANA, @ SEA, @ VAN

Key Note: The Kings are on a three-game winning streak and need just a win on Saturday night and a Vegas loss on Sunday to lock up the Pacific. Given the caliber of their remaining schedule, the Kings appear to be in good shape – they always have the wild card to fall back on as well.

Nashville Predators
Currently: 44-28-5, 93 points (.603) – fourth in the Central, first wild card
Remaining Games: @ TBL, vs. MIN, vs. CGY, @ COL, @ ARI

Key Note: The Predators have the best points percentage and goal differential of the teams still fighting for a playoff spot. Nashville should a playoff team, but needs to play like one down the stretch with four very difficult match-ups remaining.

Dallas Stars
Currently: 43-30-5, 91 points (.583) – fifth in the Central, second wild card
Remaining Games: vs. SEA, vs. VGK, vs. ARI, vs. ANA

Key Note: Dallas is slumping at the wrong time, dropping three in a row heading into Saturday. Other than a critical clash with Vegas, they could not have asked for an easier end to the year with a homestand and several easy opponents. If they can’t clinch a playoff spot with this slate, they probably don’t belong there anyhow.

Vegas Golden Knights
Currently: 42-31-5, 89 points (.571) – fourth in the Pacific
Remaining Games: vs. SJS, @ DAL, @ CHI, @ STL

Key Note: The Knights have just as many wins as the Kings and in fewer games; overtime results are all that separate the talented team from a divisional playoff spot. The unclear situation in net is certainly a potential make-or-break issue for Vegas, but if the team should still have a good chance against two non-playoff teams and a playoff team who should be taking the night off in their regular season finale. The decision against Dallas could ultimately decide Vegas’ fate.

Vancouver Canucks
Currently: 38-29-11, 87 points (.558) – fifth in the Pacific
Remaining Games: @ CGY, vs. SEA, vs. LAK, @ EDM

Key Note: Losing is no longer an option for Vancouver, but it might not be anyway. The Flames are locked into their playoff spot and the Oilers and Kings will likely be as well by the time they face the Canucks later in the week; these teams lack purpose in their current match-ups and the Kraken should be a win regardless of the effort level. If Vancouver can take advantage of these situations, perhaps they still have a chance.

What do you think? Who will finish the job and who will be left on the outside looking in?

Who Will Be The Odd Teams Out In The West?
Vancouver and Vegas 71.69% (676 votes)
Vancouver and Dallas 10.82% (102 votes)
Vegas and Dallas 4.67% (44 votes)
Vegas and Nashville 3.39% (32 votes)
Vancouver and Nashville 3.29% (31 votes)
Vancouver and L.A. 3.18% (30 votes)
Nashville and Dallas 2.97% (28 votes)
Total Votes: 943

[mobile users vote here]

 

 

Andreas Athanasiou Activated Off IR

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  • The Los Angeles Kings announced that they have activated forward Andreas Athanasiou ahead of tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at home. Athanasiou’s return to the lineup is impactful for the Kings, as they deal with injuries while trying to hang on to playoff position in the Pacific Division. The forward has played in just 22 games this season, dealing with injuries, last playing March 10th, but he does own an impressive nine goals and five assists in that time.

Snapshots: Seattle-Winnipeg, McGinn, Brown, Stone

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The NHL has postponed tomorrow’s game between the Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets due to inclement weather heading toward the Manitoba area, rescheduling the match for May 1. That is the day before the playoffs are set to begin, another sign of just how difficult it would be for the Jets to make the postseason at this point. The team is currently only five points behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild card position, but have played two more games (leaving just eight remaining in their season) and are still dealing with the Vegas Golden Knights in between.

For Seattle, there hasn’t been any hope of the playoffs for a while now, but there are certainly things to get excited about. Matty Beniers will make his NHL debut tonight after signing his entry-level contract, giving fans the chance to see the first draft pick in franchise history.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated Brock McGinn off injured reserve, bringing him back after more than a month on the shelf. McGinn, 28, has 11 goals and 18 points this season through 56 games for the Penguins, but adds another level of depth for a roster that is still trying to improve their playoff position. The Penguins sit six points behind the New York Rangers in the Metropolitan, with just eight games left to play.
  • Dustin Brown has also been activated, this time by the Los Angeles Kings, giving the team a huge boost after yesterday’s announcement that Drew Doughty would miss the rest of the season. While the 37-year-old isn’t the player he once was, Brown can still contribute and has 25 points in 57 games this season. More importantly, he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion and extremely important member of the leadership group in Los Angeles, who are headed to the playoffs should they be able to hold onto that Pacific Division spot.
  • Mark Stone is a game-time decision for the Golden Knights, though it means they will have to make several other roster transactions if they want to activate him from long-term injured reserve. As CapFriendly points out, even loaning every eligible player to the minor leagues wouldn’t clear enough space, meaning someone else would have to be transferred to long-term injured reserve (or, technically they could make a trade, though that brings other complications) for Stone to be activated.

Drew Doughty Out For The Remainder Of The Season

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The Los Angeles Kings have announced that defenseman Drew Doughty underwent successful wrist surgery today and will be out for the remainder of the season. The Kings also added that Doughty will begin rehab on the injury immediately and is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

The news on Doughty is tough for the Kings, as they fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and hope to make a run in the playoffs. Doughty has struggled with injury this season, playing in just 39 of the Kings 74 games so far, last playing on March 7th at the Boston Bruins. Still, the Kings had hoped to get Doughty back perhaps at some point either in advance of the playoffs or during, but will now have to make their push for the Stanley Cup without one of their cornerstone players. In those 39 games this season, Doughty has seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points.

Another tough blow for the Kings, perhaps in hindsight, is that Doughty’s injury can put him on LTIR, allowing the Kings to offset his $11MM cap hit. This could have allowed them to make a more substantial acquisition at the trade deadline to replace some of what they lost in Doughty. Los Angeles did make a trade for another right-handed defenseman, acquiring Troy Stecher, and while Stecher is a quality NHL defenseman, he wouldn’t be considered the primary option to replace what they lost in Doughty.

Regardless, Los Angeles is still in a strong position, coming into this season expecting to have another building year and not necessarily having its focus on a playoff spot. The team finds itself in third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points, two points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, and tied with the Dallas Stars, who currently hold the second Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Even if the Kings were to miss the playoffs, playing perhaps 82 regular season games while in contention for a playoff spot could be considered a major victory for the organization.

Brock Faber Returning For Junior Season

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There is some unfinished business for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, who were ousted from the Frozen Four by the Minnesota State Mavericks, missing a chance at a National Championship game. While freshman Matthew Knies is meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week to discuss his future (and according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, leaning toward a return), Brock Faber has already made his decision. The Los Angeles Kings prospect will return for his junior season, the team confirmed today.

Faber, 19, was the 45th overall pick in 2020 and just finished a season that saw him wear an “A” as alternate captain of Team USA at the eventually-canceled World Juniors, suit up for the U.S. at the Olympics, and win the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, while also being named to the conference First All-Star Team. You could call it a pretty successful sophomore year.

The Kings actually traded up to land Faber in 2020, sending picks 51 and 97 to the Detroit Red Wings in order to draft the USNTDP standout. The right-shot defenseman has always had an innate ability to close gaps on the rush and break cycles in his own end, and is still developing an improving offensive game to go with it. If you trace that draft pick back even further, it actually originally belonged to the Edmonton Oilers, and was one of the two second-round selections sent to Detroit at the 2020 deadline for Andreas Athanasiou.

Now it’s the Kings’ bounty, though they’ll still need to sign Faber at some point in the future. His draft rights belong to them through August of 2024, meaning next spring there will likely be another push to get him under contract.

Still, there’s good reason to believe that another year of college will actually help his development, especially if some of the other talented defensemen on Minnesota decide to turn pro. If Faber is given more offensive responsibility, there’s even a chance he could be ready to step directly into the NHL in an impact role following his junior season.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Francesco Pinelli

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed another prospect, adding to an already impressive pipeline. Francesco Pinelli has inked his three-year, entry-level contract, which will start in the 2022-23 season. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $867.5K. Pinelli currently plays for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, where he will stay through the end of the season.

Selected 42nd overall in 2021, the 19-year-old Pinelli wears the captain’s “C” for the Rangers and has 58 points in 53 games. Notably, that production has been held back by a Kitchener roster that is much weaker than usual and finds itself seventh in the OHL’s Western Conference with a 29-30-5 record. While he sits third on the team in scoring, Pinelli would likely still be considered the best overall forward in the group (though 17-year-old Carson Rehkopf is certainly coming for that spot) and a good bet to eventually reach the NHL in some capacity.

Still, that is no guarantee, especially in a system that is bursting with talented prospects like the one in Los Angeles. It’s hard to find a deeper group, which already has a dozen young talents signed and even more coming. The good thing is that there’s no rush for Pinelli, who will be returning to the OHL for next season unless he somehow makes the Kings out of camp. The young forward will not be eligible for the AHL in 2022-23, given he only turned 19 today.

Because of that youth, Pinelli’s contract is also eligible to slide for next season should he go back to junior, meaning he’s really signed through 2025-26 already.

Los Angeles Kings Activate Brendan Lemieux, Matt Roy

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The Los Angeles Kings have activated both Brendan Lemieux and Matt Roy from injured reserve, giving them some reinforcements for an important game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. Because it is past the trade deadline, the team is not limited by a 23-man roster anymore, meaning corresponding moves aren’t necessarily required.

Lemieux, 26, last played over a month ago, leaving a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period and landing on the shelf. The bang-and-crash winger has recorded eight goals and 11 points in 44 games this season, racking up 86 penalty minutes and 108 hits along the way. Notably, he also missed time with a five-game suspension for biting, during an altercation with Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.

While he doesn’t provide a ton of offense, Lemieux does give them another bottom-six option to work with while they chase a Pacific Division playoff spot, something that certainly isn’t guaranteed after some recent scuffles.

Roy, 27, is the much bigger addition, returning after several weeks on the sideline himself. In each of the two games before he suffered an injury, Roy had actually logged nearly 27 minutes of ice time, stepping into a huge role with so many other Kings’ defenders on the injured list. Overall, the seventh-round pick has put together quite the season for himself, averaging close to 21 minutes a night through 58 games and registering 17 points.

He’s not the flashiest player, but given how many injuries the Kings have dealt with on the back end, Roy’s return will be a welcome sight. He practiced on the top pairing with Sean Durzi yesterday, though things could obviously be switched in his first game back given how long he’s been out.

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