LA Kings: Three things to watch over final eight games
By Ryan Sikes
3. Which player will get the final call-up?
With just one call-up remaining from the Ontario Reign this season, the LA Kings can get a limited look at one of the other prospects. Todd McLellan said earlier this week that the team plans to get some new faces in the lineup. That was before Byfield and Lias Andersson were in the rotation, but certainly, there could be room for one more.
The question then becomes, who gets the call? Arthur Kaliyev made his NHL debut earlier this year, and he can play in five more games before burning the first year on his ELC. Might the Kings get a look at Akil Thomas? What about Alex Turcotte for two or three games? Rasmus Kupari? The list goes on and on, but unfortunately, most of these players will have to wait until 2021-22 to get their NHL debuts.
light. Related Story. Get ready for Rasmus Kupari’s NHL debut
If not a prospect, then the likely answer is Martin Frk, who signed a two-year contract extension in February 2020, keeping him in the Kings’ organization through the 2021-22 season. Limited by injuries and a clogged NHL roster, Frk has been held to just 9:21 TOI with the Kings. There was some obvious chemistry between him and AHL linemate Gabe Vilardi in the final 10 games last season. I’d be curious to see if the Kings still like that connection or if they’ve moved on.