The Los Angeles Kings have tested a core group of players toward success in the playoffs the last three seasons. They have failed the litmus test. Three whiffs in a row, and management has gone with a sizable facelift towards grittiness.
Good players have left Los Angeles; that's without question. Matt Roy, as we've covered, is gone. Viktor Arvidsson, a lock for 45-50 points when healthy, has joined the Kings' biggest current rival. Blake Lizotte, a staple in the bottom six the past three-plus seasons, is now with Pittsburg. Carl Grundstrom was sent to San Jose for a depth piece swap.
While we've previously discussed the potential for Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke following Roy's departure, it's now time to shift our focus to the opportunities that have opened up for Akil Thomas and Alex Turcotte. These departures could pave the way for these young talents to step up and make their mark on the team, bringing a new wave of hope and optimism to the Kings' fanbase.
Turcotte's gotten a taste of the NHL but has spent most of his young career on IR. He's had the worst possible luck health-wise for a Kings prospect over the last decade. The Wisconsin alum left the NCAA early to compete in the AHL, where he was riddled with injuries. Despite these challenges, Turcotte's determination and resilience are commendable, and he showed positive development last season.
Turcotte suited up for 12 games throughout two seasons and didn't produce at all. Finally, in the season past, Turcotte made an immediate impact. In his second game up with the Kings against the Nashville Predators, he scored his first career goal and picked up an assist for his first multi-point night in the NHL. However, in the 18 games following, he only picked up two more points
The fifth overall pick cannot stay in the AHL. With spots available with the forward group facelift, it will be an incredible opportunity for Turcotte to live up to some of his potential. The Kings need to get some value out of a fifth-overall pick to avoid a Thomas Hickey situation. The urgency of this cannot be overstated, and the Kings must act decisively to ensure they maximize the potential of their draft picks.
The next player has also had a slow start to his pro career due to injuries. Thomas has missed significant time in his career, mainly because of two shoulder surgeries.
While not the more highly anticipated prospect to come through the King's pipeline when considering the first-round picks developing before and around his time (Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke), he burst onto the scene in his first full-time year of good health. Thomas found his groove in the AHL, posting 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points in 64 games. For reference, that was one point shy of totaling his career points in the AHL before that season (47 points in 93 games).
Thomas' play was recognized further, earning a call-up to the big club to play his first game on April Fool's Day. While pointless in his first game, Thomas scored in his second game against the Sharks, which started a three-goal in four-games span. He had four points in his seven-game stint to finish the season, and a considerable offseason is upon Thomas.
Two forwards who have dealt with various injuries over the past four years are on the brink of being full-time regulars. This represents a critical development for the franchise. They grabbed gritty players with "intangibles" coaches love, and it's time for some skilled young players like Turcotte and Thomas to take the next step.
The Kings can finally give their once-young prospects a legitimate shot in the top six instead of burying them in the bottom six. With the new acquisitions possibly causing blockage and the organization's admiration for Alex Laferriere, this franchise could turn in the wrong direction again.
They've both been through enough and have attributes of skill, physicality, speed, and grit the coaching staff values, just with a much higher ceiling than most with these tools.
The move is clear, get those two to play in the top six, or at least Turcotte this season. Both can add a much-needed punch of youth to the lineup.
Time is of the essence with both players.