This past week in training camp and the preseason, Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings narrowed down the projected roster for this upcoming regular season this fall to roughly two dozen players. The Kings have 13 forwards on the projected roster for this upcoming season, including younger players and players who made the opening-night roster for the first time, like Samuel Helenius and Jeff Malott.
Winger Jeff Malott makes the opening-night roster for the first time with the Los Angeles Kings in his career
The latter of those two Kings' forwards, Malott, earned his spot on the opening-night roster for the Kings after a stellar preseason effort this fall and in training camp for Hiller and staff.
He was just a couple of points away from leading the league in the NHL in points this preseason. He registered points in three straight preseason games this fall in the past couple of weeks for the Kings.
Malott showed the type of production and effort in training camp and the preseason this fall that Hiller and the Kings wanted to see for the player who earned the final roster spot on the opening-night roster tonight with the line on the fourth line with the forwards.
"This is a guy that showed up and has really taken a step. I think he’s the one guy, he’s clearly made it pretty easy for everybody and often times that’s what happens, one guy is just able to separate himself. You hope it’s not because one, maybe you make a wrong decision, or two, somebody hasn’t taken that opportunity. Well, he clearly took it."Jim Hiller on Jeff Malott
Down the stretch this past season, Malott played a dozen games for the Kings late in the regular season. He registered one assist and one point in the Kings' close 6-5 win over the Seattle Kraken in mid-April this past regular season.
He played in all six postseason games in the first round of the playoffs for the Kings against the Edmonton Oilers last spring.
Last offseason, Malott got down to work and got his body right for this upcoming season with the Kings. He put added muscle mass to his frame and clearly was ready with a business-like mentality to get hit the ground running in practice and training camp for the Kings this fall.
"I think the muscle, the size that he’s put on, hasn’t slowed down his skating and has given him more confidence, maybe has more impact on his physicality, wins more puck battles because of it. He’s done exactly what we’ve asked him to do, and then on top of it."Hiller on Malott
Malott will slot in with the fourth-line forwards at the wing position tonight in the regular season opener at Crypto Arena against Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche in LA.