Training camp battles have been relatively non-existent for the Los Angeles Kings for a few years now. The roster is loaded with NHL veterans, and offseason acquisitions filled the many roles left by individuals who remained unsigned. The roster has been around for a few seasons now, shuffling players and where they match up.
Last season, Viktor Arvidsson’s injury sidelined Arthur Kaliyev during training camp, resulting in a small but productive stint alongside Phillip Danault. Kaliyev is now questionable for the next few months due to a broken collarbone.
If the season were to start today, it would be a combination of Alex Turcotte, Akil Thomas and Samuel Fagemo competing for the 12th and 13th forward positions. Trevor Lewis is pretty much done as the former Stanley Cup champion enters the 17th season of his career. He will likely continue with penalty kills and a shutdown role on the wing, occasionally taking draws.
Kaliyev’s injury will keep Fagemo afloat for the time being. Turcotte and Thomas have had a solid camp so far and have been working to get the team out of camp for a few seasons now. Both players are centers who can play wing, one on the left and one on the right. Their versatility is a major asset as both can be interchanged and played up and down the lineup, keeping opponents guessing.
If it started today, Fagemo would probably be the thirteenth forward on the roster. As a player who lit up the AHL during his pro time in Ontario and recently scored 43 goals in 50 games, he still represents a viable option to provide some extra points in their forward corps.
Fagemo has become a victim of its own game. He is relied on as a goal scorer, but he is not known for his defensive play. To determine the Kings’ lineup, two-way play is expected. While this was known to Fagemo when he was drafted, he has had few opportunities at the NHL level. In 2022-2023, Fagemo played a career-high nine games that season and scored two goals.
Like Thomas and Turcotte, Fagemo isn’t just a hyped prospect coming off his D1, D2 and even D3 years. Turcotte and Fagemo are both 2019 draftees, while Thomas was drafted in 2018. The windows of Turcotte and Thomas have been extended due to injuries, but that of Fagemo will close.
For the first time in Thomas and Turcotte’s NHL careers, a spot on opening night is all but assured. Fagemo could potentially take the 13th forward spot.
The 2018 and 2019 draft class has seen a plethora of NHL games from LA Kings drafted players, with a total of 627 NHL games played. Of the 627 games, 60 are divided between Turcotte, Thomas and Fagemo.
With much of the attention this season rightly turning to Quinton Byfield as he returns to center, there will be a quiet but satisfying storyline as these older players finally settle into this squad.
