EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The Los Angeles Kings have had their whiffs on prospect development; that's no secret. The pride and joy of their limited success in that area is Adrian Kempe, who, by most standards across the league, broke out at a later age than most first-round or top prospects. That recently transferred over in the form of Quinton Byfield, who, with respect to his draft slot at second overall, practically demanded an elevated role based on pedigree, size, and the aging of top-line center Anze Kopitar.
Byfield had an incredible season last year as the top-line wing flanking Kopitar and Kempe (20g-35a-55p), whom the ladder broke out in the same way in 2021-22. Byfield has now settled into a play-driving role as a full-time center, being a key piece in pursuing postseason and overall franchise success as a likely career-King cornerstone. There's minimal grasp right now over the ceiling of their 'double nickel' player, but as of right now, it looks to be very high.
Not all prospects have flubbed, some have found themselves playing for another organization as the team on Figueroa dispensed them attempting to cauterize their first-round woes. Jordan Spence suits up as a regular and has done so now for a few seasons. Alex Laferriere burst onto the scene last season and looks like a key cog for secondary scoring on this squad. Brandt Clarke had admirably filled the shoes of Drew Doughty to start the year and has settled in for a third pairing role with Joel Edmundson.
Despite the amount of potential lost, there's some quality players there who are only going to get better. However, there's also the history of the injury bug. Like how it's affected Alex Turcotte, who was spawned from one of the best American draft classes of the last two decades.
There isn't much more to say about Turcotte and his injury history other than brutal luck. If I recall a saying from Seneca, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." In Turcotte's he's been preparing for quite some time, and the opportunity has been this season. Turcotte has had one of the most mired pathways to the NHL health-wise, following a trend that has found a way to affect nearly their entire pipeline since 2017. In terms of draft slot and potential, Turcotte tops that list; he's had more injuries in his career it seems, than some players have had NHL points this year.
But despite the turbulence to his health, he's come into his own this year.
He followed a similar pathway to Byfield, finding himself on the top line with Kopitar and Kempe after an injury to Trevor Moore in December. The three at first looked to be a force to be reckoned with but eventually would lose their mojo.
Unlike Byfield, with his size and seasoning, Turcotte started to fade and then found himself demoted to the bottom six with the acquisition of Andre Kuzmenko. Even before the trade deadline pickup, the top-line wing spot became a carousel with Turcotte plugging in and out. It's extremely difficult for a young player to find consistency in the NHL. Even Jim Hiller didn't get read too much into it earlier in the season back in November:
“I thought that Turcs complemented Kopi and Juice as well as anybody has this year for that one particular game. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but he was a perfect compliment. He forechecked quick, he drove the middle on Juice’s goal, he cut inside, putting pressure down the middle, he was at the net for some of the plays that were made on point shots, he made some plays under the goal line to keep pucks alive, he did exactly what he needed to do to compliment those two for that night.”- Hiller on Turcotte, credit LAK Insider Zach Dooley
As it would be, it wouldn't last. The top line can't be a carousel.
Sent down to play with the bottom six, so be it. Call it a demotion or a blessing in disguise, but the trio of Tanner Jeannot, Samuel Helenius, and Turcotte became a fourth line that was shifting momentum each time they stepped out onto the ice.
In just over 70 minutes together (70:01), they had a positive Corsi 52.63% and Fenwick 52.69% while outshooting the opposition 29-26, outscoring 4-2, outchancing 34-23 while outchancing high-danger 13-5 via NST. Before Turcotte was injured, the team was 8-1-0 with the Kuzmenko/new fourth-line configuration, outscoring the opposition 34-15.
Seeing Turcotte shed the red no-contact jersey is a huge boon for this LA club. Turcotte might not have exactly followed the Byfield-Kempe pathway to success, but at least he is showing signs of the club salvaging serious value out of a top five draft pick.
His motor and ability to play at high speed are still at the value of a potentially elite player. Still, he just lacks the finishing ability and playmaking to be an upper-echelon scorer. Pair him with some big bodies that hunt down pucks, finish every check, and do well on the boards, and you've got yourself an elite fourth line. That was on full display as the team emerged as the second-best team in the league, post-deadline. Turcotte was a major component to that. But both Jeannot and Turcotte have been on the mend.
With Turcotte nearing a return, and Jeannot not close, does that mean Jeff Mallot gets a shot to stay? He's looked almost too good for a player than is in their prime but has yet to break double digits in career games. If you missed it, Mallot's potential first career goal or rather the goal of the year candidate was yoinked away due to a coach's challenge.
He's made his case, so why not rest the seasoned vet in Trevor Lewis. Swap out Lewis with Turcotte and you've got yourself a handful of a line. Mallot is 6'5, Helenius is 6'6. Not that it fully matters at this time of the year, but both can 'chuck-em.' That should provide plenty of leeway for Turcotte to prey on the opposition. There will not be many other lines in the NHL with that much size and a high-end motor player being on the flank.
Turcotte's return sparks some positive ambiguity and optimism for what is to come for these LA Kings. He's fought a ton of adversity and looks to be knocking at the door of continuing his own unique pathway towards being a critical player after nearly half a decade falling from grace.