Los Angeles Kings News

Brown agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the offseason and will now not be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season as he is out indefinitely due to an undisclosed injury. The 25-year-old towering centre had two goals, four assists, 18 SOG, eight PIMs and a -4 plus/minus in 30 injury plagued games with St. Louis in 2022-23 and will be hoping to crack the Lightning's roster when he returns to full health.

Edmundson was acquired during the offseason from Montreal for Minnesota's 2024 third-round pick, and Washington's 2024 seventh-round pick (MTL retained 50% of salary) and is at risk of missing the start of the 2023-24 season due to an upper-body injury and is out indefinitely. The 30-year-old defensemen had 2G/11A/13 Pts, 58 PIMs and a -29 plus/minus in 61 GP with MTL in 2022-23.

Kopitar had 28 goals, 46 assists, 169 SOG, 74 PIMs and a +20 plus/minus through 82 games with Los Angeles in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year extension worth $14 million ($7,000,000 AAV). The 35-year-old centre will be entering his 18th NHL season with Los Angeles and has 393 goals and 1141 points across 1292 games played.

Dumoulin had a goal, 24 assists, 82 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 82 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3,150,000 AAV) with the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old defenseman has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Pittsburgh; picking up 19 goals, 120 assists, and a +93 plus/minus through 546 games played.

Hicketts had six goals, 48 points, 69 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 72 games with Iowa (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Los Angeles. The 27-year-old defenseman last made an NHL appearance in 2019-20 with Detroit and has five assists and a -9 plus/minus through 22 career NHL games played.

Brown had two goals, four assists, 18 SOG, eight PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 30 injury filled games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed with Tampa Bay on a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old was Ottawa's 2016 first-round pick (11th overall) and has played in 99 career NHL games over the last six seasons, picking up seven goals and 26 points.

Burroughs had two goals, three assists, 47 SOG, 62 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 48 games with Vancouver in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year deal worth $3.3 million ($1.1M AAV) with San Jose. The 27-year-old defenseman has appeared in 95 career NHL games across three seasons; picking up three goals, eight assists, 89 SOG and 106 PIMs.

Edmundson has one year left on a contract that carries a $3.5M cap hit. Edmundson will solidify the Capitals' third pair and could be a candidate to skate with John Carlson. Edmundson had 13 points (2G / 11A), 112 hits and 149 blocked shots in 61 games with Montreal last season.

Ward had nine goals, 17 assists, 46 PIMs and a -20 plus/minus through 71 games with Ontario in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way $775,000 contract extension. The 25-year-old undrafted right-winger has yet to make his NHL debut after joining the Reign from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) in 2021-22.

Perry's rights were traded to the Blackhawks' earlier Thursday for a seventh round draft pick from Tampa Bay and he has signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago. The 38-year-old had 12 goals, 13 assists, 116 SOG, 95 PIMs and a -28 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23. The veteran right-winger will begin his 19th NHL season in 2023-24, representing his fifth team with the Blackhawks.

Chicago continues to acquire veteran leadership to help them through this transition period. Perry spent the last two seasons in Tampa, where he had 31 goals and 34 assists (65 points) in 163 games. Perry is a pending UFA, so the Blackhawks must get him under contract before Saturday.

Bolduc made his NHL debut in 2022-23 with the New York Islanders picking up two goals, three points, 20 SOG, two PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 17 games and has signed a two-year contract extension ($800,000 AAV). The 22-year-old defensemen was New York's 2019 second round pick (57th overall).

Fiala has missed the Kings' previous eight games due to a lower-body injury and will be out Friday for Game 3 as they take on the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old is still considered day-to-day, which is a huge loss as he had 23 goals, 72 points, 208 SOG, 52 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 69 games before his injury.

Fiala has missed the Kings' previous six games due to a lower-body injury and will be out Monday as they take on the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old is not expected back for the first few games of the series, which is a huge loss as he had 23 goals, 72 points, 208 SOG, 52 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 69 games before his injury.

Edler missed the final five games of the regular season but was a full participant in Sunday's practice, skating next to Sean Durzi on the third pairing. Expect Edler to play in Game 1 vs. the Oilers and for Sean Walker to be the healthy scratch.

Ceci missed the Oilers' previous two games for the birth of his child but will draw back into Edmonton's lineup Thursday vs. San Jose. The 29-year-old has a goal, 13 assists, 86 SOG, 24 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 79 games this season.

Kuemper allowed two goals on 40 shots (.950 SV%) in his previous start to snap a five-game losing drought as he beat the New York Islanders. The 32-year-old has had an up-and-down first season in Washington, with his 22-26-6 record, 2.83 GAA and .910 SV%. He will take on the New Jersey Devils, who have won three of their last four games and are fifth in the NHL in goals (3.51).