This past week in the West, the Los Angeles Kings got the news that no team wants to hear, but that most fans and people in the media surrounding the franchise expected to get was reported when it was announced that winger Kevin Fiala would miss the rest of the regular season due to a lower-leg injury in Milan.
Multiple media outlets pitch the Los Angeles Kings to get Jeff Skinner signed in the Pacific Division in the West from the Sharks this regular season
Fiala was doing a great job scoring the puck offensively for the Kings and head coach Jim Hiller and staff this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division. He ranked among the top three forwards in the active roster lineup this regular season in the West in goals and total points (40).
It is clear that the Kings and the coaching staff are looking for a smooth and hopeful quick recovery for Fiala on injured reserve this regular season in the league in the NHL.
Hiller and the Kings are fighting for a spot in the West in the standings in the Pacific Division for a spot in the playoffs this upcoming postseason this spring in 2026. The Kings will get right down to work after the Olympic break this month in mid-to-late February for a few weeks on the ice. Hiller and the Kings play three games in the span of under a week in four days before the end of this month.
New general manager Ken Holland and the Kings in the front office could save some roster cap sheet space this regular season in the West by adding Fiala to long-term injury reserve this month in late February. Fiala has three years remaining on his current contract, worth around $7.8 million in average annual value (through the end of the 2027-28 season).
Coming up next on the block for the Kings and Holland could stand to be an interesting landing spot addition from the Pacific Division in the West this last week for the active roster lineup for Hiller and staff. The Kings have been mentioned as a possible destination in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season in the upcoming couple of weeks on the block for former San Jose Sharks waived veteran forward Jeff Skinner, according to The Hockey Writers.
The short trip down the coast in California in the Pacific Division for Skinner to choose to play for the Kings could make sense for Hiller and staff for LA to get another skilled forward addition in the active roster lineup in the zone offensively this regular season.
The Kings could consider adding a top or middle-six scoring forward offensively to the active forward lines roster up front this regular season on the trade block and before the deadline next month in a couple of weeks in early March.
Skinner is a skilled forward addition to the active roster lineup offensively for the Kings. He also wouldn't cost the team that much in the West this regular season in the Pacific Division.
But Skinner wouldn't be the same player Fiala is for the Kings offensively, scoring the puck for the team up front with the active forward lineup core group this regular season.