LA Kings: Martin Frk’s injury opens door for Samuel Fagemo, others
By Ryan Sikes
LA Kings forward Martin Frk is reportedly dealing with a lower-body injury and could open the door for others to make the Opening Night roster.
It’s officially game week, but the LA Kings are likely to be without Martin Frk on Opening Night, as the team is reporting that the 27-year-old is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Frk signed a two-year contract extension in February and was expected to be on the Kings’ second line with Gabe Vilardi and Adrian Kempe.
From LAK:
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) January 11, 2021
Quinton Byfield, Tobias Bjornfot and Arthur Kaliyev have been added to today’s practice group.
In addition, both Alex Turcotte and Martin Frk have lower body injuries and are listed as week-to-week.
His absence now leaves the door open for a couple of bubble players to make the roster for Thursday’s season opener against the Minnesota Wild. Of those are Samuel Fagemo and Matt Luff. The latter was likely a safer bet to at least make the taxi squad, but Fagemo could blossom with regular playing time.
He spent last season with Frolunda of the SHL, scoring 13 goals and nine assists while exploding on the national scene at the 2020 World Juniors. There, Fagemo scored eight goals and 13 points in seven games.
Todd McLellan spoke highly of Matt Luff after the team’s intrasquad scrimmage at Staples Center on Saturday.
“Well, I thought Luff/Grundstrom, two players that we’ve had our eye on and expected a lot from coming into training camp had good days,” McLellan said. “They’ve just carried over from training camp. They were effective in the scrimmage in a number of different areas, whether it was along the boards around the net, making plays, and were trustworthy on the ice. So those two, in particular, we kept a close eye on, and they did a good job.”
Turcotte is coming off an impressive finish at the 2021 World Junior with the game-winning goal for Team USA in the Gold Medal game. He was expected to begin the year in Ontario, so we’ll see how long this injury keeps him sidelined.
However, it was great to see Quinton Byfield, Arthur Kaliyev, and Tobias Bjornfot among the team lines on Monday, practicing for the first time since quarantining after the World Juniors.
Today's @LAKings Lines -
— Jared Shafran (@ShafReign) January 11, 2021
Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown
Athanasiou – Lizotte – Carter
Kempe – Amadio – Wagner
Moore – Byfield – Luff
Grundstrom – Andersson – Kaliyev – Anderson-Dolan
Maatta – Doughty
Anderson – Roy
Clague – Alt
Bjornfot – Strand
Quick / Grosenick
We’ll have more once head coach Todd McLellan speaks with the media after today’s practice.