Los Angeles Kings Activate Viktor Arvidsson, Place Two On LTIR
The Los Angeles Kings have officially activated winger Viktor Arvidsson off of long-term injured reserve. Arvidsson has yet to play this season, sitting out with a back injury. He will make his season debut against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. The Kings have also placed both Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte on long-term injured reserve with lower-body injuries. LTIR rules will require Grundstrom to miss the team’s next 10 games, making him eligible to return on March 9th, while Lizotte has already missed the required time and can be activated whenever he’s healthy.
Getting Arvidsson back could mark a turning point in L.A.’s season. The 30-year-old forward scored 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games last season, his second-straight season of 20 or more goals. It was the first time he’s flirted with 60 points since the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons when he scored 61 points in back-to-back years. He also boasts a career-high of 34 goals, managed in just 58 games in 2018-19. His return to the lineup gives Los Angeles a lot more flexibility with their winger combinations, and will likely give third-line centerman Pierre-Luc Dubois an upgraded linemate.
Arvidsson’s return also helps L.A. fill the absences left by Lizotte and Grundstrom, who have currently been replaced by Alex Turcotte and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Turcotte has appeared in four games this season, with his only scoring coming through the first goal and assist of his career, scored in the same game. Anderson-Dolan is also struggling to find his production, with just four points in 22 games.
Kings Recall Samuel Fagemo
With center Blake Lizotte listed as doubtful for tonight’s game against Dallas, the Kings opted to make a roster move to add some extra forward depth. The team announced that they’ve recalled winger Samuel Fagemo from AHL Ontario, filling their one vacant roster spot.
It has been an interesting start to the season for the 23-year-old. A late cut in training camp, Fagemo was claimed off waivers by Nashville and spent nearly six weeks on their roster. However, playing time was hard to come by as he played in just four games, scoring once. That landed him back on waivers in November where Fagemo was scooped up once more by Los Angeles. As no other team put in a claim at that time, they were able to send him down to the Reign.
Since then, Fagemo has been a high-end scorer, notching 20 goals in just 24 games, ranking second in the AHL in that department despite the fact he missed the first 11 games of their season. It’s the third straight year that he has reached the 20-goal mark although he needed 46 games to get there last season. Now, he’s being rewarded for his efforts with a recall where he’ll look to have more success than his first couple of stints with the Kings which saw him collect two goals and an assist in 13 games over two seasons.
As for Lizotte, he left last night’s game against Carolina early with a lower-body injury and did not return. The 26-year-old has struggled a bit offensively this year compared to 2022-23 when he had a career-high 11 goals and 23 assists in 81 games. This season, he checks in at five goals and four helpers in 34 contests with his playing time dipping to just above 11 minutes a night, the lowest ATOI mark of his career.
West Notes: Lizotte, Lindholm, Namestnikov
Los Angeles Kings writer Zach Dooley reported today that Kings forward Blake Lizotte has progressed to a regular practice jersey today as he moves closer to the returning to the lineup. The 25-year-old missed his sixth straight game this evening but could return on Thursday night when the Kings take on the Montreal Canadiens. Kings head coach Todd McLellan told reporters today that the plan is to see how Lizotte feels after practice tomorrow before making any decisions on a potential return later this week.
Lizotte has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury he suffered in a game against the St. Louis Blues back on November 18th. He took a hard open-ice hit from Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo and immediately went to the bench and up the tunnel with the training staff. He did not return to the game.
In 16 games this season, the Lindstrom, Minnesota native has four goals and three assists and is +7.
In other West notes:
- TSN’s Salim Nadim Valji is reporting that Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm was back at practice today after missing yesterday’s practice due to an illness. All signs point to the 29-year-old dressing in the Flames game tonight against the Minnesota Wild as Calgary tries to get back to .500 after starting the season 2-7-1. Lindholm has played fine this season with seven goals and 10 assists in 24 games, but he has struggled to score goals with a shooting percentage of just 10.9%, well off his career average of 12.5%.
- Winnipeg Jets analyst Mitchell Clinton is reporting that Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov will join the team on their upcoming road trip but is unlikely to play in Thursday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old has missed the Jets’ last two games after suffering a lower-body injury during a puck battle with Darnell Nurse in the Jets’ 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers last Thursday. Namestnikov signed a two-year deal with the Jets in the summer and has had a decent start to the season with two goals and nine assists in his first 22 games.
Injury Notes: Jeannot, Eyssimont, Lizotte
The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to avoid elimination in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and will have to do so without their big trade deadline pickup. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Tanner Jeannot was not on the ice when the team stepped out for warmup, and is dealing with an injury. The Lightning surprisingly traded first, second, third, fourth and fifth round draft picks as well as prospect Cal Foote for Jeannot in February.
Jeannot had one goal and four points in 20 regular season games for the Lightning after the trade, and has been held pointless in three postseason games. He was injured late in the regular season in what looked like a serious injury. Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders fell on him and his right leg bent in such a way that a broken fibula seemed likely. Jeannot was back in the lineup shortly after, but is apparently dealing with something nagging as he will miss a potential elimination contest.
- While Jeannot is out of the lineup, the Lightning did get some good news as Michael Eyssimont will return to the ice according to Mark Masters of TSN. Eyssimont was also acquired at the trade deadline this season and scored one goal and two points in 15 regular season games with the Lightning. He was injured in Game 1 of the postseason when Jake McCabe hit him in open ice but made a little head contact.
- Out west, the Los Angeles Kings may get some reinforcements to their lineup during the three days off between Game 5 and 6 in their series with the Edmonton Oilers. Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reports Blake Lizotte has not played since Game 2 due to a lower-body injury. Lizotte practiced Thursday in a regular white jersey, signalling he is healthy and ready to return to the lineup. He is a key penalty killer on the Kings which is much needed against the dangerous power play of the Oilers, though there is no official confirmation that he will play in Game 6 just yet.
Blake Lizotte Out For Game Three, Latest On Kevin Fiala
The Los Angeles Kings will remain without Kevin Fiala for tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, according to team reporter Zach Dooley. In addition, center Blake Lizotte has suffered a lower-body injury, and will also miss tonight’s game. Kings head coach Todd McLellan said Gabriel Vilardi would shift to the third-line center slot vacated by Lizotte.
This update on Fiala is not wholly unexpected since he has yet to play in his team’s first-round playoff series. It is nonetheless unfortunate news for Kings fans, though, as Fiala is the team’s most important offensive generator, having posted 72 points in 69 regular-season games.
Fiala last played in a March 1st victory over the Seattle Kraken, a game where he posted a goal and an assist. Before his injury, Fiala had compiled a stretch of eight points in six games, and that’s exactly the sort of production the Kings may need to keep up with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the high-flying Oilers offense.
Lizotte’s absence, unlike Fiala’s, is more unexpected. The energetic undrafted forward has played in both of the Kings’ playoff games this year and is an important bottom-sixer for the team. He set a career-high scoring 11 goals and 34 points this season and is a valued second-unit penalty killer.
Since the Kings are facing an Oilers team who boast one of the most lethal power plays in recent NHL history, the loss of Lizotte heightens Los Angeles’ need to remain disciplined this series.
While the fact that they are heading back to Los Angeles with a tied series and a win on the road should inspire confidence for the Kings, this new absence of Lizotte will undoubtedly make taking a series lead on the Oilers a more daunting task.
Blake Lizotte Suspended One Game
2:25 PM: The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Lizotte one game for his infraction. As was expected, the suspension mirrors the punishment received by Greer for his cross-check on Hoffman, and the punishment means Lizotte will be unavailable to coach Todd McLellan for the Kings’ game tonight against the St. Louis Blues.
10:00 AM: During last night’s win against the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings forward, Blake Lizotte, was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Jets’ defenseman Josh Morrissey. The two had been battling across the ice, and Morrissey would leave the ice after the incident, requiring 10 stitches on his face, with another eight on the inside of his mouth.
This morning, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Lizotte will indeed have a hearing for the incident from Saturday night. The event from Saturday night’s game was very similar to the cross-check delivered to Mike Hoffman of the Montreal Canadiens by Boston Bruins’ forward A.J. Greer. It is worth noting that Greer was handed a one-game suspension for his cross-check.
Lizotte, now in his fifth year in the NHL, has not been suspended once throughout his career. Through 70 games during the 2021-22 season, Lizotte accrued a total of 28 PIM, while this year, in 72 games played, already has 54 PIM. Aside from earning more time within the penalty box, Lizotte has become a key depth forward for Los Angeles, scoring 10 goals, and 20 assists for 30 points, a new career high.
Nominees Announced For 2022 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is given out annually to the NHL player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. The award has been voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association since 1968, and today they announced their nominees for 2022.
Past winners of the award include Oskar Lindblom (2021), Bobby Ryan (2020), Robin Lehner (2019), Brian Boyle (2018), Craig Anderson (2017), Jaromir Jagr (2016), Devan Dubnyk (2015), Dominic Moore (2014), and Josh Harding (2013).
Below are the nominees from each team:
Anaheim Ducks – Ryan Getzlaf
Arizona Coyotes – Andrew Ladd
Boston Bruins – Jake DeBrusk
Buffalo Sabres – Kyle Okposo
Calgary Flames – Chris Tanev
Carolina Hurricanes – Antti Raanta
Chicago Blackhawks – Dylan Strome
Colorado Avalanche – Jack Johnson
Columbus Blue Jackets – Justin Danforth
Dallas Stars – Tyler Seguin
Edmonton Oilers – Kris Russell
Florida Panthers – Anthony Duclair
Los Angeles Kings – Blake Lizotte
Minnesota Wild – Jared Spurgeon
Montreal Canadiens – Carey Price
Nashville Predators – Mark Borowiecki
New Jersey Devils – Nico Hischier
New York Islanders – Zdeno Chara
New York Rangers – Chris Kreider
Ottawa Senators – Anton Forsberg
Philadelphia Flyers – Kevin Hayes
Pittsburgh Penguins – Brian Boyle
St. Louis Blues – Vladimir Tarasenko
Seattle Kraken – Jaden Schwartz
Tampa Bay Lightning – Alex Killorn
Toronto Maple Leafs – Ondrej Kase
Vancouver Canucks – Luke Schenn
Vegas Golden Knights – Jack Eichel
Winnipeg Jets – Josh Morrissey
Washington Capitals – Nicklas Backstrom
Los Angeles Kings Extend Blake Lizotte
As the league continues its trade deadline frenzy, the Los Angeles Kings have decided to complete a little contract work. Blake Lizotte has signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings, one that will carry an average annual value of $1.675MM. Lizotte was a pending restricted free agent but is now under contract through 2023-24.
After once again proving that he can handle his own as a depth center, the undersized Lizotte is rewarded with a nice raise. Undrafted, the former USHL star exploded onto NHL radars while at St. Cloud State and immediately stepped into the highest level after signing with the Kings in 2019. He has played 58 games for the Kings this season, adding eight goals and 17 points while being a strong contributor on the penalty kill.
While he isn’t pummelled with defensive zone faceoffs like some depth centers–because of the presence of both Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault–Lizotte still isn’t gifted easy minutes for the Kings and yet continues to find success in terms of possession statistics. That has made him a worthwhile extension candidate, especially as the team continues to improve.
A deal like this doesn’t offer a ton of upside, but it’s a nice reward for a hard-working player that was earning just $800K this season. Lizotte will still be a restricted free agent when it expires.
Kings Place Blake Lizotte In COVID Protocol
The Kings have announced (Twitter link) a series of transactions highlighted with the placement of center Blake Lizotte into COVID protocol. Taking his place on the roster is Jaret Anderson-Dolan while T.J. Tynan has also been recalled to replace Kale Clague who was just claimed off waivers by Montreal.
Lizotte has played in all but one game so far this season for Los Angeles, tallying a goal and four assists while logging 11:36 per game primarily on the fourth line. The 23-year-old has also won a career-high 53.1% of his faceoffs, good for third on the team in that regard.
Anderson-Dolan was a regular with the Kings for the bulk of last season, getting into 34 games where he picked up 11 points before suiting up for Canada at the World Championships. However, with more depth down the middle this season, he has spent all of 2021-22 so far with AHL Ontario playing heavier minutes and he has responded with 13 points in 16 contests with the Reign. He should have an opportunity to move into Lizotte’s spot on the depth chart and play the type of role he had last season.
As for Tynan, the 29-year-old is in his first season with the Kings and cleared waivers back in training camp. He has been quite productive with Ontario, collecting 17 points in 12 games which puts him second in team scoring. Despite his consistent offensive numbers over the years, he has played in just 19 career NHL contests, the most recent coming back in the 2019-20 season with Colorado.
Los Angeles Kings Re-Sign Blake Lizotte
Forward Blake Lizotte will be back in L.A. for another year. The Kings have announced that they have signed the impending restricted free agent to a one-year extension. It is a one-way, $800K deal for Lizotte, a decrease from the value of his entry-level contract but with more security. A 10.2(c) RFA, Lizotte had not accrued enough professional experience to even have the right to sign an offer sheet this summer, so Los Angeles held all of the leverage in negotiations, as displayed by the short-term, low-money “show me” contract.
Lizotte, 23, does have more to prove, though. An undrafted free agent out of St. Cloud State University, Lizotte was a star in the NCAA and left after just two years. However, his small stature may have worked at the college level but it has held him back in the pros. At 5’7″ and 175 pounds, Lizotte’s size is a concern, especially at the center position. He looked to be on his way to NHL success in 2019-20, his first full professional season, as he recorded 23 points in 65 games. He did miss five games due to injury, but that was not an abnormal total. This season however Lizotte took a major step backwards. He recorded just ten points in 41 games, well off of his rookie scoring rate and only on pace for 20 points in a full season. His ice time was slashed, his power play role was reduced, and he settled into a one-dimensional bottom-six spot. It didn’t help that he also missed 15 games due to injury or sickness, including the Kings’ final nine contests.
Heading into year three, Lizotte needs to show that he can be more consistent and won’t be pushed around by bigger opposition. L.A. is giving him a one-year deal to see if he can bounce back and show the promise of his rookie season, or if his size and lack of dynamic skill means that he is not a player who can be an NHL regular. Proving himself may be even harder next year; while Lizotte walked out of college and into a starting role on a depleted Kings roster, the team has vowed to add more talent this off-season and Lizotte may have to fight for starts, nevertheless ice time and power play opportunity.
While this move wasn’t necessary for the Kings ahead of the Expansion Draft, it does give them more flexibility. L.A. now has eight forwards who meet the exposure requirements, allowing them more protection choices if they elect to protect seven forwards and three defensemen. Lizotte himself could be protected, but if not his extension allows for someone like Brendan Lemieux or Austin Wagner to be protected when previously both needed to be exposed to meet the quota.