Complications from a gruesome Olympic injury force the star winger back into recovery, leaving a significant void in the Kings’ lineup as training camp officially kicks off.
A few weeks ago, Kevin Fiala appeared to be making encouraging strides in his recovery. Now, however, the Los Angeles Kings are facing another setback involving one of their top forwards.
Fiala has undergone an additional procedure on his surgically repaired left leg and won't be ready for the start of training camp, the team announced Thursday.
Fiala’s latest setback comes several months after he suffered the horrifying leg fracture while representing Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in Switzerland’s 5-1 loss to Canada after colliding with Canadian forward Tom Wilson. Fiala was placed face down on the stretcher and had an aircast secured around his injured leg as he was taken from the ice.
The injury required surgery in February and ultimately brought Fiala’s 2025-26 regular season to an early conclusion.
Before the injury, the 29-year-old had recorded 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 55 games last season, his fourth campaign with Los Angeles.
Originally selected 11th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2014 NHL Draft, Fiala has established himself as a productive NHL scorer throughout his career. In 707 games with Nashville, Minnesota and Los Angeles, he has amassed 229 goals and 528 points.
For now, though, the Kings will have to wait a little longer to see their veteran winger back on the ice.
For Kings fans, this should both be concerning and unsurprising on the same token. Serious knee and leg injuries in general typically come with complications.
Hopefully this is just a minor, cosmetic procedure and Fiala is back on the ice soon. And once he's playing again, hopefully there are no lingering effects, so he can get back to being the point producer we know he can be.
