The Los Angeles Kings' power play is in an interesting spot after losing their best right-shot forwards in the last two summers.
Last summer they sent Gabe Vilardi to the Winnipeg Jets in the now infamous Pierre-Luc Dubois trade and this summer they let Viktor Arvidsson walk to free agency.
The loss of Vilardi was a big blow to their power play, making Arvidsson their only option to play the net-front position. Arvidsson's preseason injury then compounded the issue.
That lack of a right shot in front was a big reason LA's power play fell seven spots last season and wasn't the dominant force we saw in the 2022-23 season.
Their only right-shot options outside Arvidsson last season were Alex Laferriere and Trevor Lewis.
Lewis is not an option for the power play and Laferriere probably shouldn't be either.
This leaves the Kings with one player to play the net front position next season, Akil Thomas.
Thomas turned a lot of heads at the end of last season, scoring three goals and four points in his seven-game stint with the team, which was really a six-game stint after playing just six shifts in his first game.
He showed flashes of NHL talent and it should come as no surprise. Injuries have stunted his development, but this is a player who finished top-10 in OHL scoring in his draft+1 season and has been a productive player in Ontario when healthy.
It's unlikely he's ever a 30-goal scorer or 60-point player, but there's more than enough skill to play on a power-play unit.
Particularly in that net front position. He's played that position, and the bumper spot, in Ontario to good effect in the past and can translate that to the NHL.
He's got quick hands in tight and good vision to make those quick-hit, one-touch passes required of the net front player in LA's power play.
He also has the poise to come up from below the goal line and create offense, similar to what Vilardi and Arvidsson have done in the past.
Thomas would likely be an option on the second unit, as I doubt they take any of Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe or Quinton Byfield off the top unit, but having a productive second unit is huge.
Thomas can be a major part of that second unit, and if the Kings give another chance to Arthur Kaliyev, Thomas could be a key part in re-discovering Kaliyev's power-play production.
The Kings are limited in their right-hand options for the power play, however, Thomas is an excellent option who should start the season on the second unit.