Connors was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old forward is in his first professional season, tallying 24 points (9G / 15A) in 41 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL).
Gustafsson will draw right back out of the lineup after slotting in on Saturday. Travis Hamonic will dress in his place.
After a 3-2 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday, the Kings will revert to Anton Forsberg to tend the twine against the Carolina Hurricanes at the tail end of their back-to-back. The 33-year-old Forsberg has been tremendous in a supporting role with the Kings this season. He started the 2025-26 campaign with a less-than-stellar 3.55 GAA and .878 SV% in his first five games (2-2-1), but has been tremendous since, posting a 2.09 GAA and .923 SV% in 15 outings (7-5-3). The Kings enter Sunday’s contest as +151 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team with points in seven straight games (6-0-1).
Pederson will take a seat on Thursday along with Carl Grundstrom as the Flyers opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Garnet Hathaway and Nicolas Deslauriers will draw in.
Kuemper allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in his previous outing but salvaged a 5-4 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues. The 35-year-old Kuemper is amid his worst stretch of the season, posting a 3.46 GAA and .866 SV% in his last 10 games (4-3-3). The Kings enter the action on Thursday as slight +109 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team that is among the hottest in the NHL, going 9-2-1 in their past 12 games.
Kuemper allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in his previous outing but salvaged a 5-4 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues. The 35-year-old Kuemper is amid his worst stretch of the season, posting a 3.46 GAA and .866 SV% in his last 10 games (4-3-3). The Kings enter the action on Thursday as slight +109 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team that is among the hottest in the NHL, going 9-2-1 in their past 12 games.
Turcotte did not play on Tuesday, and will miss at least three more games. The 24-year-old Turcotte is averaging 10:57 time-on-ice and has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 49 games this season.
Panarin has long been rumoured to be one of the biggest trade chips on the market ahead of this season's trade deadline, and this latest report suggests a deal could happen sooner rather than later. Panarin is on the final year of a seven-year contract with an AAV of $11.6M that includes a full no movement clause, so no trade can be made without his approval. Regardless, it's an unfortunate development for fantasy owners as, barring a trade within the next week, we won't see Panarin back on the ice until late February at the earliest.
Edmundson did not practice on Monday and it was unclear if he would be ready to play when the Kings return to action on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 32-year-old Edmundson has 16 points (2G / 14A) in 50 games this season.
Forsberg was tremendous in his previous outing, replacing an injured Darcy Kuemper (upper body), saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Kuemper has returned from injury, but Forsberg will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 33-year-old Forsberg has been excellent in recent weeks, posting a 2.12 GAA and .926 SV% in his last eight games (4-3-1). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as +104 road underdogs against a Red Wings team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).
Forsberg was tremendous in his previous outing, replacing an injured Darcy Kuemper (upper body), saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Kuemper has returned from injury, but Forsberg will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 33-year-old Forsberg has been excellent in recent weeks, posting a 2.12 GAA and .926 SV% in his last eight games (4-3-1). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as +104 road underdogs against a Red Wings team with points in five straight games (4-0-1).
Kopitar is targeting a return before the end of the week, but will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 38-year-old Slovenian, in his final NHL season, has been sidelined for over three weeks and has 21 points (6G / 15A) in 37 games.
Edmundson did not practice on Monday and it is unclear if he will be ready to play when the Kings return to action on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 32-year-old Edmundson has 16 points (2G / 14A) in 50 games this season.
Turcotte did not practice on Monday and will not play when the Kings return to action on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 24-year-old Turcotte has 12 points (3G / 9A) in 49 games this season.
