LA Kings: Five players destined for NHL taxi squad roster
With the NHL implementing a 4-6 player taxi squad, these five players could potentially make the LA Kings Opening Night roster.
We knew when the NHL and NHLPA agreed on terms for a season, expanded rosters would have to be in play. Similar to the MLB negotiations, team rosters were expanded from 25 in 2019 to 30 in the shortened 60-game slate. As part of the NHL’s 56-game schedule, teams are permitted to carry a 4-6 player “taxi squad.”
One of the more intriguing storylines to keep tabs on leading up to training camp will be who the LA Kings bring along as part of expanded rosters.
The caveat here is the taxi squad is paid full AHL salary despite potentially logging minutes for their respective NHL teams. The CBA also reportedly includes some verbiage in the event there are emergency recalls.
#NHL/#NHLPA Agreement: 23-man roster with $81.5 million salary cap.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 19, 2020
This includes creation of 4-6 man taxi squad. All 29 players (max) will travel and practice with NHL team. Taxi squad is paid full AHL salary. CBA has been expanded to include for more flexible emergency recalls
Come January 13, the Opening Night 23-man roster figures to look something like this:
Offense
Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown
Kempe – Vilardi – Frk
Grundstrom – Lizotte – Carter
Moore – Andersson – Wagner
Extras: Amadio, Anderson-Dolan
Defense
Maatta – Doughty
Bjornfot – Roy
Anderson – Walker
Extra: MacDermid
Goalie
Cal Petersen
Here are five players that could be carried as part of the taxi squad.
Matt Luff – Luff is probably the most obvious choice, given he’s already had two stints in the NHL. After a decent showing in 18-19, tallying 11 points in 33 games, Luff has a disappointing 19-20, with only five points in 18 games. He played well with the Ontario Reign, scoring 9 goals with 24 points in 30 games. The Kings’ re-signed the restricted free agent to a one-year deal worth $700,000. He was likely to see bottom-six time at some point this year, and the expanded rosters confirm his spot on the roster.
Kale Clague – The former second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft could bring some offensive firepower to the blueline. Like Luff, Clague was expected to see NHL time this year, so his addition to the taxi squad is fairly straight forward. A left-handed shot, Todd McLellan will have to get creative to find playing time for the young defensemen, especially with Tobias Bjornfot and Mikey Anderson expected to transition into full-time roles in 20-21. The 22-year-old scored 8 goals with 25 points in 49 games for Ontario while also playing in four games with the Kings last year.
Samuel Fagemo – Going undrafted in the 2018 NHL Draft was perhaps the best wake-up call to Fagemo’s game. If you recall, Mark Yannetti indicated the Swedish forward’s game wasn’t complete in his draft year, lacking aggression and competitive nature. He had a terrific performance at last year’s WJC for Team Sweden, propelling him into the upper echelon of Kings’ prospects. Fagemo is currently loaned to Sodertalje, where he has six goals with 11 points in 18 games.
Austin Strand – Signed as an undrafted free agent after posting 17 points in 36 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, Austin Strand logged nearly a point-per-game the following year. He’s spent the last two seasons with the Ontario Reign, accumulating a combined 33 points. A restricted free agent this offseason, the Kings re-signed him to a one-year, two-way deal. At 6-foot-4, Stand will be solid depth along the defense’s right side.
Troy Grosenick – The Kings signed Grosenick in mid-October as a depth netminder for the Ontario Reign. But Los Angeles also must avoid a Denver Broncos’ quarterback situation if Quick and Petersen are unfit to play. The 31-year-old spent the bulk of his career in the San Jose Sharks organization. He was traded for a sixth-round pick to the Nashville Predators at the 2018 trade deadline. With the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL last year, Grosenick posted a .920 SV% and 2.29 GAA in 33 games.
What about the LA Kings’ top prospects?
As members of the taxi squad, the previously mentioned five players will be depth pieces on the NHL roster. Fagemo could carve a full-time role for himself, but the likes of Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev, Quinton Byfield, among others, need regular playing time.
Of course, Byfield’s situation could be a unique scenario in that the OHL is currently scheduled to begin on February 4 and will prohibit all bodychecking.
Byfield already made it clear that he will not leave the WJC early for Kings’ training camp. Given how stacked Team Canada is, he could be in Red Deer, Alberta, for quite some time. The same goes for Turcotte, Kaliyev, and Team USA.
Turcotte and Kaliyev could join the Ontario Reign after the WJC — assuming the league modifies its age requirement for the shortened season — but they’ll need regular playing time once the season begins. They could also both join the Kings at some point this season, but early signs indicate they will not be part of the taxi squad.