The Kings are entering the point in camp where the choices start to get real.
After today’s practice, Los Angeles is expected to trim its training-camp roster, and the moves should come in stages. Ken Holland said he expects the roster to be reduced after practice, with players on training-camp invites, draft picks likely headed back to juniors, and some Kings under contract who project to the AHL’s Ontario Reign all in line to be affected.
AHL camp opens tomorrow morning, so there’s a natural need to get bodies moving in that direction. Some of those changes could be announced tonight, while others may wait until the morning.
Today is also the final day for three groups at camp, and the schedule reflects that tightening focus. Group A is back on the ice at 9:45 on the NHL-2 sheet, while Groups B and C will only scrimmage today in a longer morning session on NHL-2 after Group A finishes.
The bigger picture is starting to come into view, too. The Kings are moving toward their Opening Night roster, but today’s cuts are not expected to bring the group all the way down to 25 players. That makes sense with back-to-back preseason games coming tomorrow and Wednesday, and with lineup decisions still needing some sorting out through game action.
Tuesday should lean veteran-heavy at home, with the Kings expected to dress their top-end players, including those who should be on the top power-play unit. Wednesday in Anaheim figures to include veterans as well, but also some players on the bubble who could be used in both games. For anyone trying to force the issue, Wednesday may be the last real chance to make a dent before Saturday’s preseason finale becomes more of a dress rehearsal for Opening Night.
My read is that the first round of roster moves could come this afternoon, followed by another set after the Kings get through the Utah and Anaheim games on Thursday. That would leave the club with a smaller group - somewhere around 25 players - heading into Saturday, and then the final roster could follow on Sunday or early next week. That’s the shape of it, at least, though nothing is locked in yet.
One name worth watching in Group A is Jared Woolley.
Woolley stood out to me in Saturday’s preseason game against Vegas, and the 20-year-old defenseman is set to start his pro career this fall, likely with the Ontario Reign. Still, today gives him a chance to skate with the NHL group, which is always a meaningful step for a young player.
The expectation is that he’ll pair with Erik Gustafsson today. It doesn’t mean Woolley has suddenly jumped a long line of players on the depth chart, but it is a good sign that he’s getting a look with the big club.
For the rest of the players in Groups B and C, the message is pretty simple: this is the last scrimmage chance, and the last real opportunity to leave a mark before the roster starts getting pared down. There are still game spots to be filled tomorrow and Wednesday, and some of those will go to younger players and bubble guys. The exact split between the Los Angeles and Anaheim lineups still needs to be sorted out, but today is the final chance to influence that picture.
In Other News...
Corey Perry's Kings Absence Just Put Opening Night In Doubt
Corey Perrys arrival was supposed to give the Kings a little more edge and veteran presence as camp gets rolling, but he is currently away from the team for personal reasons with no specific timeline for his return. For now, the expectation is that he will miss the preseason games this week, leaving Los Angeles to keep moving through its early tune-up schedule without one of its most experienced newcomers.
The bigger question is whether Perry will be back in time for opening night on Sept. 30 against the Colorado Avalanche. At this point, the absence has not been tied to anything beyond the personal matter keeping him away, so the Kings are simply waiting for clarity while the rest of the roster continues its ramp-up toward the regular season. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Doughty Just Gave Kings Camp A Defining New Feeling
Training camp opened Sept. 18 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center with the Kings getting back to work, but the mood around the building was shaped by something bigger than the usual first-skate routines. Drew Doughty stepped into a new role as the clubs captain, and the announcement gave the week an immediate sense of direction as players and prospects cycled through drills and practices under the watch of the coaching staff.
The reaction around camp has been positive, with Doughtys leadership presence already becoming part of the conversation as the Kings sort out how this group wants to look. There is plenty of time left for the on-ice work to take center stage, but for a team trying to set a tone early, the new structure around one of its longest-serving stars has already changed the feel of the room. [Read more 🡒]