On Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Kings announced that forward Akil Thomas had been recalled on an emergency loan.
They also announced that forward Alex Turcotte was being moved to LTIR.
The LTIR move for Turcotte is a tough one for a player who's faced a lot of injuries but is potentially more cap gymnastics than the signaling of another major injury.
This move isn't too surprising after it was announced that Phil Danault would miss Saturday's game with an upper-body injury.
Thomas was scratched for the Reign's Saturday matchup, leaving the writing on the wall for a call-up.
It's a great opportunity for Thomas who has more than earned this call-up.
He's battled several injuries, most frequently shoulder injuries, and is now being rewarded for that hard work.
Thomas has been one of the Reign's best players recently and has stepped up in a big way since star forward Samuel Fagemo went down.
Thomas has registered 43 points (22-21=43) in 61 games with the Reign this season, setting career highs in goals, assists and points.
He also scored one of the goals of the season in overtime recently.
A 2018 second-round pick, Thomas is an all-action forward. THN Reign reporter Anthony Collazo had this to say about Thomas' game.
"After some major setbacks and lots of adversity for Akil Thomas, he has shown out in what is really his first full season in Ontario. The first thing that pops out about Akil Thomas’ game is his elite speed. He was one of the fastest skaters from his time with Ontario, which directly correlates to him being a threat with the puck. His stick skills and elusiveness are fantastic, as proven by his viral overtime spin-o-rama goal. Although the AHL does not calculate faceoff percentages, the eye test will show that he is also excellent in the circle. Not only is he a highly skilled offensive player, but he has rounded out his game on the defensive end too. Expect Thomas to be on the penalty kill. He spent a lot of time killing penalties for the Reign this season, which is first in the AHL while on the road. His backcheck has improved greatly this season, and has turned into a player Kings fans can look forward to moving forward."
I'd expect him to fill in as the 4C, with Pierre-Luc Dubois at 2C and Blake Lizotte at 3C.
Thomas has the game to fill this role, with his high motor and solid defensive game, and can add an element of skill the bottom of their lineup is missing.
His ability to win faceoffs and kill penalties could be massive, as those are two of Danault's best abilities.
It will be interesting to see how Jim Hiller uses Thomas, as Hiller is very willing to shorten the bench.
He's also willing to give players who are playing well extra ice time, so there should be a pathway to decent ice time for Thomas.
If the lines stay relatively the same next game, we could see an Arthur Kaliyev-Akil Thomas-Alex Laferriere fourth line.
This is a potentially exciting line for Kings fans, showcasing three of their more talented young players.
Either way, this is a massive opportunity for a player that deserves it.
Thomas is a player that makes it difficult to separate reporter and fan, it's just difficult not to root for him.
His time on the Kings' roster will be directly tied to Danault's health, so it might be a short stint, but this can be an audition for him to take a spot next season.