Why LA Kings’ forward Alex Iafallo cannot afford regression year
By Ryan Sikes
Alex Iafallo could set himself up for a sizeable long-term extension, but a regression year could mean bad news for the LA Kings.
As an undrafted free agent from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Alex Iafallo‘s emergence and rise to the first line on the LA Kings roster has been a feel-good story. Sure, on a better roster, he’d likely be on the second or third line, but right now, he’s proven that he can handle the duties that come along with being a top-six forward.
Alex Iafallo’s Scoring Breakdown
The Eden, New York native, finished his senior year on campus with 21 goals and 30 assists, catching the eye of many NHL teams. He signed with the LA Kings, making the Opening Night roster for the 2017-2018 roster. In 75 games, he scored 9 goals with 16 assists, playing most of his time alongside Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown.
The following year, Iafallo took a step forward in his development, tallying 15 goals with 18 assists while playing in all 82 games. He contributed more on special teams, scoring 2 goals with 4 assists on the man advantage. And this past season, Iafallo posted career-highs in a COVID-shortened season. He proved that he is a legitimate first-line winger, scoring 17 goals with 26 assists to go along with 9 points (6G, 3A) on the power play.
The 26-year-old’s 17 goals were part of a three-way tie for second only to Kopitar for the team lead for players who remained on the roster all year. (Tyler Toffoli had 18 goals but was traded to Vancouver at the deadline.)