The Kings are getting one winger back and might be on the verge of another major boost.
Mats Zuccarello is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators after missing the last six games with an upper-body injury. He had been placed on injured reserve, though he has not been activated yet. That said, Los Angeles does not need to clear a roster spot to make it happen, since the team is carrying only 22 players right now.
Zuccarello’s first stretch with the Kings has been rough. He has produced just one assist in six games, and this latest injury comes on top of a three-game absence in mid-October because of an undisclosed issue.
The bigger long-term development is Kevin Fiala, who appears to be nearing a return. He will not play Tuesday, but the expectation is that he could be back either Thursday against the New York Islanders or Saturday against the Calgary Flames. Fiala has been sidelined since February after breaking a lower leg while playing for Switzerland at the Olympics, then undergoing surgery to fix it.
That matters because Fiala has been a key offensive piece for Los Angeles, finishing in the top three on the team in points in each season since the Kings acquired him in the 2022 offseason. The club had hoped that trading for Artemi Panarin right before the Olympic break would add another dangerous forward for the playoff push, but Fiala got hurt before he could even appear in a game with Panarin.
There is also some uncertainty around Erik Gustafsson. He was absent from Tuesday’s morning skate after missing Monday’s practice, which could point to him being unavailable against Nashville, though nothing has been confirmed.
The Kings enter Tuesday’s matchup in seventh place in the Pacific Division at 5-8-2, sitting nine points behind the Utah Mammoth Pittsburgh Penguins. Puck drop against the Predators is set for 7 p.m. PST.
In Other News...
Kings Just Made A Jan Jenik Decision Fans Should Watch
The Kings have taken a small but notable roster step with Jan Jenik, joining the Vancouver Canucks in placing a forward on waivers as both clubs sort through depth options early in the season. For Los Angeles, the move is less about the headline and more about flexibility, since Jenik has been on non-roster/injured reserve and has yet to see NHL action this year.
If Jenik clears, the door opens for a straightforward assignment to the AHL, where the Kings can keep him in game shape without burning an NHL spot. It is the kind of transaction that does not change the top of the roster, but it does offer a clearer picture of where the organization thinks he fits for now, and whether he is headed toward the Ontario Reign next. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Get Mats Zuccarello Back With More Than The Lineup At Stake
Mats Zuccarello is back on the Kings active roster ahead of their game against the Nashville Predators, a welcome development for a club that has been waiting on the veteran winger while he worked his way back from shoulder injuries. His return gives Los Angeles another experienced option up front at a time when every healthy body matters, especially with the schedule tightening and the team trying to keep its forward group intact.
There is also a little more riding on Zuccarellos next stretch than just his spot in the lineup. He is closing in on a contract milestone tied to games played, which adds another layer to what might otherwise look like a straightforward activation. Los Angeles also made a roster move with forward Jan Jenk, who was placed on waivers as he continues recovering from injury, leaving the Kings to sort out both health and roster management at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Are Finally Close To The Offensive Help They Need
The Kings have spent plenty of the season waiting for their offense to get healthier, and help is finally starting to come into view. Kevin Fiala is nearing a return after recovering from the fractured left leg he sustained at the Winter Olympics, a setback that kept one of the teams most dynamic forwards out of the lineup and left Los Angeles searching for more finishing touch up front.
Fiala could be back as soon as the game against the Islanders, though Calgary looks like the more likely landing spot. Veteran Mats Zuccarello is also expected back soon after missing time with an upper-body injury, giving the Kings a chance to add two experienced pieces to a group that could use a lift as the schedule tightens and the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]