Akil Thomas News

Thomas, a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings, has shown promise at the AHL level but has never been able to sustain a prolonged NHL stint. The 26-year-old forward scored 22 points (9G / 13A) last season in 39 AHL games. He will hope to get a longer look at the NHL level in 2025-26, joining a struggling Vancouver Canucks team.

Thomas was a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has been unable to make the jump into being a full-time NHLer. The 25-year-old forward scored three points (1G / 2A) while playing a career-high 25 games with the Los Angeles Kings last season.

The Kings are already locked into the second spot in the Pacific division, so Thomas will slot in along with Caleb Jones, Trevor Lewis, and Kyle Burroughs for Tuesday's game in Seattle. Mikey Anderson, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Quinton Byfield will all get the night off.

Samuel Helenius was recalled and will return to Los Angeles lineup on Wednesday, meaning Akil Thomas will head to the press box as a healthy scratch vs. St. Louis. The 25-year-old Thomas has failed to produce offensively this season, with just a goal and three points in 23 games played.

Thomas has not played since December 28th but will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 10:24 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 16 games this season.

The Kings have recalled Andre Lee from the Ontario Reign (AHL) in correspondence to Thomas being placed on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old Thomas has already played a career-high 10 games this season, averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and scoring two points (1G / 1A).

Samuel Helenius will draw back into the Kings lineup on Wednesday, resulting in Thomas being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Thomas has already played a career-high 10 games this season, averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and scoring two points (1G / 1A).

Thomas will make his first appearance since November 13th when the Kings travel to San Jose on Monday. Samuel Helenius will sit in his place.

Thomas has yet to play this season but had four points (3G / 1A) in seven games with the Kings last season. The 24-year-old Thomas was a second-round selection of the Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Thomas made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and has signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) to stay with the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old centre spent the last four seasons with Ontario (AHL) before finally cracking the Kings' lineup and appeared in seven games, amassing three goals, four points, nine SOG and two PIMs for the Kings once he did.

Thomas impressed in his short stint with the Kings, scoring three goals and adding one assist across seven games while playing less than nine minutes a night. His demotion makes way for the return of Alex Turcotte (upper-body).

Thomas will draw into the lineup for his second career game on Thursday as the Kings opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Arthur Kaliyev will sit in his place.

Thomas was the 51st overall pick of the Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and will make his NHL debut on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Thomas has 43 points (22G / 21A) in 61 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL) this season.