The Kings have cleared another path on their roster, sending Martin Chromiak back to AHL Ontario after his brief NHL look.
Chromiak, who was recalled from the Reign and made his NHL debut last week, is out of the active group now, leaving Los Angeles with 22 players on the roster. The move comes right after Alex Turcotte returned to the lineup on Saturday, and it gives the Kings the flexibility to activate one more player without having to make a corresponding move.
That matters because Kevin Fiala’s return is feeling imminent, and Mats Zuccarello is also expected back sooner rather than later. With both players nearing a return, the Kings are trying to stay ahead of the numbers game while coach Peter Laviolette gets closer to the roster he likely had in mind over the summer.
GM Ken Holland had already left a spot open for one player to come off injured reserve without forcing the team into another transaction. Chromiak’s reassignment now preserves that cushion for the next move.
The bigger question is what happens when the third player is ready. Kenny Connors is the only waiver-exempt player left on the roster, so he could be sent down if needed.
But based on some of Laviolette’s recent comments, there’s also a chance he stays put. If that happens, the Kings would likely have to place someone on waivers to create room.
For now, the next clues should come at Monday’s practice, when the Kings are expected to provide a better sense of how the lineup is shaping up.
In Other News...
Kings Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Kevin Fiala's Return
The Kings have spent the last stretch looking like a team trying to find its footing one game at a time, alternating wins and losses over their past 10 and never quite stringing together the kind of consistent push that usually defines a contender. The frustrating part is not just the record, but the way recent games have unfolded, with urgency showing up only after the club has already fallen behind and put itself in a hole.
Kevin Fialas expected return should help, and there is no question his presence could give Los Angeles a needed spark in the lineup and in the attack. Still, the bigger issue is not simply getting one key forward back, but whether the Kings can stop waiting for a deficit to wake them up and start playing with the kind of pace and conviction that makes any reinforcements matter. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Could Catch Islanders At A Much Tougher Time
The Islanders are still searching for their first win in a four-game stretch, but they have at least managed to bank points in each of their last two outings. More importantly for a Los Angeles team that is about to see them again, New York is getting healthier at a time when every point in the standings feels magnified, and the roster picture has started to shift in a more encouraging direction.
During a recent practice, Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock all took part fully, a sign they are moving closer to returning from injury. Head coach Peter DeBoer said the team will proceed carefully with those players, and more lineup changes are expected before the matchup with the Kings, leaving one last layer of uncertainty before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Blue Line Concern As Zuccarello Heats Up
The Kings skated through practice with a specific forward look and only five defensemen on the ice, a reminder of how quickly the blue line can get thin when injuries start stacking up. Erik Gustafsson and Drew Doughty were both out, and with Doughty unavailable, the club had to manage the session with less depth than usual while keeping an eye on the bigger picture.
Mats Zuccarello, meanwhile, is starting to look more like himself after a rough opening stretch, and coach Peter Laviolette singled out his play from the previous game. For a Kings team trying to settle its lineup and stay steady on the back end, getting a veteran forward moving in the right direction matters, especially when the defense is already dealing with uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]