LA Kings: Rasmus Kupari added to taxi squad as potential last callup

It appears an LA Kings mystery might be over. Rasmus Kupari has been called up to the taxi squad from Ontario.

Rink Royalty has learned via our colleague Russell Morgan that Rasmus Kupari will be recalled to the LA Kings taxi squad. With this callup, it will be the last from the AHL the Kings will be able to make this season, assuming Kupari makes it into one of the few remaining games.

Also, via the AHL transactions page, Jacob Ingham has been called up to the Kings taxi squad, with Matthew Villalta headed back to Ontario. Ingham will serve as the team’s third goalie.

Speculation has run rampant in team circles as of late as to who might get the remaining chance to come up to LA. Other names that would have been considered are Arthur Kaliyev, Samuel Fagemo, Akil Thomas, Alex Turcotte, Martin Frk, and perhaps even Sean Durzi or Austin Strand.

As of today, Kupari has played 31 games for the Ontario Reign, totaling 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points. His fifteen assists lead the Reign in that category. Kupari has already had one brief callup to the LA Kings this season – in three games played, he did not record a point but was visible when he was on the ice and appeared to handle himself very well.

Rasmus Kupari was the first-round pick of the LA Kings in 2018. He suffered a knee injury at the 2019 World Junior Championship that caused him to miss several months, but it appears that injury has been put behind him and has shown no remaining effects this season.

With Byfield reaching his six maximum allowable games on Friday night, Kupari’s call-up makes a lot of sense with a centerman spot opening up.