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Kings’ Quinton Byfield Out Indefinitely With Fractured Ankle

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When the Los Angeles Kings recalled four players early on Wednesday, they included that 2020 second overall pick Quinton Byfield had suffered an injury in team’s preseason game on Tuesday night, which at least partially prompted the early promotions. An update later in the day stated that Byfield was considered week-to-week but that more information would soon be available. The Kings have now fully disclosed the nature of Byfield’s injury and it seems “week-to-week” was even understated. Byfield has suffered a fractured left ankle and is out “indefinitely”. L.A. will place the young forward on the injured reserve and he will be re-evaluated in a matter of “weeks”.

This is not how the Kings wanted to start the 2021-22, in which they hope their young talent can support their veteran core in taking a step forward. Byfield is not only L.A.’s best prospect, he is one of the best in the entire NHL. The big center is a budding power forward who recorded 20 points in 32 AHL games as a first-year pro last season while also skating in six NHL games. Expected to take on a larger role this season, Byfield’s start is now on hold for an extended period of time. Recent broken ankles in the NHL have ranged from a one-to-two month absence – and that is if surgery can be avoided. It could be even longer for Byfield, which also doesn’t include the time needed to get back into game shape. Byfield’s season, once it is ready to begin, now likely starts back with the AHL’s Ontario Reign rather than with the Kings.

The silver lining is that L.A. has no shortage of centers, veterans and prospects alike. Free agent addition Phillip Danault joins captain Anze Kopitar as a strong one-two punch down the middle, while the team will not hesitate to give other promising youngsters like Gabriel Vilardi, Lias Andersson, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Alex Turcotte, Rasmus Kupari, and Akil Thomas a look in the third-line pivot role that Byfield was expected to fill. Yes, they are that deep in NHL-ready prospect centers. Perhaps the silver lining of the injury to Byfield, a surefire future starter, is that the Kings can get a better look at some of their other young options.

Los Angeles Kings Recall Four Players

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4:05pm: The Kings have actually recalled three more players for tonight’s game, bringing Samuel Fagemo, Jordan Spence and Jacob Ingham up. The team also announced that Byfield will be out week to week, but further evaluations are still underway.

11:40am: Though they were already sent to the AHL and likely won’t be making the opening night roster, four young players are back up with the Los Angeles Kings for the time being. The team recalled Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Arthur Kaliyev, Rasmus Kupari, and Alex Turcotte ahead of their preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks tonight.

The recalls do follow an unfortunate injury to Quinton Byfield, who was caught up in an awkward hit with Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer last night. He was helped off the ice and the Kings are expected to release an update on his status today. It wasn’t certain that Byfield would make the team, but he was making a great impression this preseason with his improved all-around play.

The four recalled today represent the prospect tier just under Byfield for the Kings, all players who have a legitimate shot at long NHL careers. Each should see some time with Los Angeles this season but it is unlikely that their performance tonight would propel them into a roster spot right away. That is of course unless the team suffers any further injuries; this group will likely be the first few names recalled in that case.

Andreas Athanasiou Likely To Be Ready For The Start Of The Regular Season

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  • Kings winger Andreas Athanasiou sustained an undisclosed injury in practice earlier this week but at this point, he’s unlikely to miss the start of the regular season, notes Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider. The 27-year-old had 23 points in 47 games last season, earning him a $2.7MM contract to avoid salary arbitration.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Martin Chromiak

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The Los Angeles Kings have inked another prospect, signing Martin Chromiak to a three-year entry-level contract. Chromiak was sent back to junior just yesterday but will get a nice going-away present of an NHL contract as he leaves Kings’ training camp. The deal will carry an average annual value of $833,333.

A fifth-round selection in 2020, Chromiak has had an interesting development path over the last few years. During his draft year, he joined the Kingston Frontenacs partway through their season, leaving his club team in Slovakia after registering just six points in 32 games. In the OHL he exploded with 33 points in 28 games, showing that he could dominate similarly-aged opponents. Last season, with the OHL not holding a season, he returned to Slovakia and showed off improved production, racking up 19 points in 32 games. He even played in a pair of AHL contests at the end of the season, though failed to register a point.

Now, with an NHL contract in hand, he’ll return to the junior ranks where he could end up having a monster year. He’s expected to line up beside expected 2022 first-overall pick Shane Wright and if he does, the pair–who were both selected to the OHL’s 2019-20 All-Rookie teams–should be among the most productive lines in the CHL. While that does not guarantee an NHL future, Chromiak is a player to watch even in the Kings’ crowded prospect system.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/26/21

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Training camp means training camp cuts. Even though the preseason only kicked off last night and waivers does not begin until later this week, teams are already making moves to trim their rosters of junior and waiver-exempt talent and failed tryouts. Keep up with all of those moves here:

Boston Bruins (via team Twitter)

D Ryan Mast (to Sarnia, OHL)
D Noah Dorey (released from ATO to Kelowna, WHL)

Los Angeles Kings (via team Twitter)

F Lorenzo Canonica (released from ATO to Shawinigan, QMJHL)
F Brett Hyland (released from ATO to Brandon, WHL)
F Logan Morrison (released from ATO to Hamilton, OHL)
F Tye McSorley (released from ATO to Oshawa, OHL)
D Cameron Supryka (released from ATO to Hamilton, OHL)
D Landon Kosior (released from ATO to Prince Albert, WHL)
D Dylan Robinson (released from ATO to Windsor, OHL)

Minnesota Wild (via team release)

F Caedan Bankier (to Kamloops, WHL)
D Daemon Hunt (to Moose Jaw, WHL)
D Carson Lambos (to Winnipeg, WHL)
D Kyle Masters (to Red Deer, WHL)
F Pavel Novak (to Kelowna, WHL)
D Ryan O’Rourke (to Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
G Trevin Kozlowski (released from PTO to Iowa, AHL)
F Bryce Misley (released from PTO to Iowa, AHL)

Montreal Canadiens (via team Twitter)

F Joshua Roy (to Sherbrooke, QMJHL)
F Xavier Simoneau (to Charlottetown, QMJHL)
G Joe Vrbetic (to North Bay, OHL)

New York Rangers (via team release)

G Talyn Boyko (to Tri-City, WHL)
F Jake Elmer (to Hartford, AHL)
G Dylan Garand (to Kamloops, WHL)
F Patrick Khodorenko (to Hartford, AHL)
F Ryder Korczak (to Moose Jaw, WHL)
D Hunter Skinner (to Hartford, AHL)
F Evan Vierling (to Barrie, OHL)
D Zach Berzolla (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
D Zach Giuttari (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F Michael O’Leary (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F James Sanchez (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)
F Alex Whalen (released from PTO to Hartford, AHL)

Pittsburgh Penguins (via team release)

F Sam Houde (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Chris Bigras (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Chris Merisier-Ortiz (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
D Josh Maniscalco (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
G Alex D’Orio (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
G Tommy Nappier (to Wilkes-Barre, AHL)
F Lukas Svejkovsky (to Medicine Hat, WHL)
F Josh Williams (to Edmonton, WHL)
D Isaac Belliveau (to Gatineau, QMJHL)
D Ryan McCleary (to Portland, WHL)

This post will be updated throughout the day.

Los Angeles Kings Extend Cal Petersen

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After reports emerged earlier today that the Los Angeles Kings were getting close to a deal with goaltender Cal Petersen, PuckPedia reports that the three-year contract extension has been completed. Petersen will carry a cap hit of $5MM starting in the 2022-23 season, signaling that the Kings are ready to start a transition to him as the team’s next starting goaltender. PuckPedia adds the full breakdown:

  • 2022-23: $1.0MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2023-24: $1.0MM salary + $4.0MM signing bonus
  • 2024-25: $6.0MM salary

Petersen, 26, may not be widely known across the NHL just yet, but he will be soon after taking over the Kings’ crease last season. Originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, he actually left the University of Notre Dame a year early and became a free agent, deciding to sign with Los Angeles instead of Buffalo. It proved to be a good career move so far, as he quickly climbed the organizational depth chart, made his debut in 2018-19 and played in 35 of the team’s 56 games last season.

All Petersen has ever done is post strong numbers, and he now sits with a .916 through his first 54 NHL appearances. Though that certainly isn’t a lot of experience, the Kings are betting that his price would have gone even higher after the upcoming season where he is projected to take the lion’s share of the work. Jonathan Quick, who appeared to be on the verge of a bounce-back season at the beginning of the year, struggled to maintain his play and finished with a .898 save percentage in 22 appearances, the third season in a row he has posted a number below .905. Given that he’ll turn 36 partway through the upcoming season, the time is right for the team to transition toward Petersen and the future.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Quick is out of the picture. The veteran netminder will still carry a cap hit of $5.8MM this season and next, meaning as it currently stands the Kings have more than $10MM committed to goaltending in 2022-23.

This new contract for Petersen is buying out all unrestricted free agent years but does come in quite pricey. He’s now tied for the 13th-highest cap hit for a goaltender in 2022-23, meaning there will be plenty of pressure to prove his early success can continue.

Daniel Brickley Signs In AHL

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When the 2020-21 season ended, Daniel Brickley became a Group VI unrestricted free agent. His two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings was over, this time without a single NHL game to show for it. Now, he’s headed back to the AHL on a one-year deal with the Chicago Wolves.

Brickley, 26, was a highly sought-after undrafted college free agent in 2018 and visited with several teams including the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks before eventually signing his entry-level deal with Los Angeles. He had already suited up for an IIHF World Championship with Team USA and was considered a polished two-way defenseman that could step directly into the NHL after an outstanding career at Minnesota State-Mankato.

He actually did step right into the league too, playing one game for the Kings before the end of the 2017-18 season and recording his first NHL point. Things started trending down from there, however, as Brickley would play in just four games for Los Angeles the following season, spending almost the entire year at the AHL level instead. Still, it was enough to earn him another contract, this time a two-year, two-way deal with the Kings in the summer of 2019.

Since then he has only played in 36 games at the AHL level, spending a good chunk of this season on the Kings’ taxi squad instead. He cleared waivers at the beginning of the year and now has accepted an AHL contract, meaning there isn’t another NHL job waiting out there for him. It’s certainly not time to rule Brickley out entirely given his age, but his NHL future doesn’t look promising at this point.

Alex Turcotte Undergoes Surgery For Appendicitis

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  • Alex Turcotte, who is hoping to make his NHL debut this season with the Los Angeles Kings, underwent successful surgery for acute appendicitis. The young forward is still expected to be recovered in time for the start of rookie camp in a few weeks. Turcotte, 20, was the fifth-overall pick in 2019 and scored 21 points in 32 games for the Ontario Reign last season in his first taste of professional hockey.

OHL Will See Influx Of 2021 NHL Draft Selections For 2021-22

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After a year that saw a straight-up canceled season, one of the most prestigious junior programs in the world will see an influx of talent for the 2021-22 campaign. The Canadian Hockey League as a whole has received some welcome news over the past few days, as high-end prospects from the 2021 NHL Draft have signed on to play with various teams in the CHL next season. Today, Stanislav Svozil, a third-round pick of Columbus, added himself to that list. We’ll dive into a list of notable first-rounders from the 2021 Draft who are expected to be returning to the OHL or coming there for the first time after stints elsewhere last season.

F Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks, 3rd overall) – A somewhat surprising selection, the 6′ 2″, 207-pound power forward will be among the OHL’s biggest stars when the league resumes play after a lost 2020-21 season. McTavish played last season on loan with EHC Olten in the second-tier Swiss League, and impressed with 11 points in 13 regular-season games and seven points in just four playoff games. With an impressive 11 points in seven games for Canada’s U18 squad, serving as their captain during the U18 World Championships, McTavish comes back to his Peterborough Petes as the team’s best and most dynamic forward. He’ll look to improve on his rookie season with the team in 2019-20, in which he scored 29 goals and 42 points in 57 games.

D Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles Kings, 8th overall) – One of the most dynamic defensemen in the draft, Clarke fell all the way to Los Angeles at eighth overall, a lucky break for an already stacked prospect pool. Clarke, property of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan with HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia’s Tipos Extraliga. Posting 15 points in 26 games, the two-way defender flaunted his skating ability on a professional stage. The immense growth in his game overseas will surely be on full display this year in Barrie.

F Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers, 16th overall) – A teammate of McTavish’s with EHC Olten in 2020-21, Othmann looks to bring his elite shot back to the OHL for 2021-22 with the Flint Firebirds. Othmann was able to score some decent playing time in Switzerland, posting 16 points in 34 regular-season games. Those numbers in a professional setting lead many to believe that Othmann will improve on his 17 goals and 33 points that Othmann put up in 55 games with Flint in 2019-20.

F Oskar Olausson (Colorado Avalanche, 28th overall) – Joining Clarke with the Barrie Colts, Olausson is somewhat of a surprise addition to this list. The newly-minted Avalanche prospect has spent the entirety of his career in his native Sweden, yet his decision to move to North America signals a desire to join the Avalanche organization professionally as soon as possible. Picked up by Barrie in the OHL’s Import Draft, Olausson will find more opportunity there than he would have overseas, especially after his HV71 team was relegated to the second-tier Allsvenskan for the upcoming season. His offense should help create an extremely strong attack in Barrie, who’ll have one of the deeper teams in the league next season.

 

Los Angeles Kings At 50-Contract Limit

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Lost in the shuffle of the Los Angeles Kings’ recent signings of 2021 draft picks Brandt Clarke and Samuel Helenius and the extension of prospect defenseman Jacob Moverare is that the team has painted themselves into a corner with the league’s contract limit. An oft-overlooked rule in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement is that no club can have more than 50 players signed to standard player contracts at one time for the current league year. Upon signing Moverare on Friday afternoon, the Kings hit that 50-contract mark. This may force the team to make a move before heading into the season without any flexibility.

There is an exception to the rule, but it will only be of minimal use at best to the Kings in mitigating their contract crunch. Similar to the entry-level slide rule, players aged 18 or 19 and signed to an ELC do not count against the 50-contract limit if assigned to their junior team, so long as they have not played in 11 NHL games that season. L.A. has four players who fit that age range: Quinton Byfield, Helge Grans, and the recently-signed Helenius and Clarke. However, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick Byfield is not going back to junior and Europeans Grans and Helenius were never selected in the CHL Import Draft and will not be playing junior in North America. That leaves only Clarke as a potential candidate to return to junior and save a roster spot. He technically does not count against the roster limit until playing in the requisite games, so L.A. is really at 49 contracts despite having 50 players signed; and it should stay that way. Though a talented top-ten pick, it is highly likely that Clarke will return to to the OHL’s Barrie Colts this season. In the event that he astounds in training camp and cracks the roster though, the Kings would be back at the 50-contract limit.

Even at 49 contracts, the Kings could still be looking to add some flexibility. L.A. has vowed to improve their roster this season, but could be handicapping themselves in trade talks and may even prevent themselves from taking full advantage of waivers with their limited roster flexibility. While the Kings too could lose players in early-season waivers, which would open up contract slots, that is not something they can depend on. Even if the club is content with their current roster and does not want to add any players early on, having no contract flexibility could hurt them down the road at the trade deadline or during the late-season college and junior free agency rushes. Look for L.A. to make a move at some point in time to add some flexibility, regardless of the end result with young Clarke.

The Tampa Bay Lighting (48 contracts with two potential exemptions) and the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights (47 contracts with one potential exemption) could be other teams looking to add some flexibility, not to mention some salary cap space.

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