The Los Angeles Kings aren't expecting a lot of roster turnover this summer, however, they will likely need to replace forward Viktor Arvidsson.
The writing was on the wall for Arvidsson to walk, and a recent report from Pierre Lebrun makes it clear that Arvidsson will test free agency.
-“Now that he’s healthy and feeling great, I think Viktor is ready for the next chapter in his career. He just looks forward to helping a club succeed. Guys don’t become free agents that often in their careers. He gets to navigate through all the opportunities and see where the best fit is.” - Arvidsson’s agent Kurt Overhardt, (From "Rumblings on Guentzel, Kane, Stamkos, Lindholm, Bertuzzi and more as NHL free-agent market heats up," Pierre Lebrun, The Athletic)
If Arvidsson is gone, the Kings have to fill his spot internally. They have other holes to worry about, mainly a starting goalie, and have internal options poised to step up.
It's not just Arvidsson they have to replace either, they really have two spots to fill in the top nine.
In the playoffs, Trevor Lewis and Alex Laferriere swapped as the RW3 and neither should be in that spot next season. There's been some talk about who they can bring in this summer, but there probably shouldn't be.
They've already made the mistake of ignoring internal options and chasing a big-time trade in the past and now is the time to commit to what's inside the organization.
Option One: Alex Turcotte:
The biggest similarity between Alex Turcotte and Arvidsson is their injury history, which is not ideal for the Kings and could make it difficult to commit to Turcotte next season.
If the Kings are confident Turcotte can be healthy, he should be penciled into Arvidsson's spot next season at five-on-five.
Turcotte got his longest stretch of games in the NHL last season, posting four points in 20 games and a +5 rating. He added some impressive underlying numbers in the mix too, which should leave the Kings confident more offense will come in a bigger role.
He went down and was an impact player with the Ontario Reign, scoring 29 points in 35 games during the regular season, his best point-per-game pace in pro hockey, and four points in eight playoff games.
The offense will never be what you want from a former fifth-overall pick, but his diligent, hard-working game will complement Phil Danault and Trevor Moore well.
The Kings can also try moving him around and playing him with someone like Kevin Fiala, who thrives with hard-working forwards who don't need much of the puck.
I always go back to Turcotte's success at the 2020 World Juniors as a blueprint for how to use him. Let him be the engine on a line with two highly skilled forwards, doing the dirty work that allows his linemates to thrive.
He could also be a big part of getting Pierre-Luc Dubois going for similar reasons.
However the Kings decide to use Turcotte, he should be Arvidsson's replacement in the top nine.
Option Two: Akil Thomas:
If Turcotte has a poor camp or is injured, Akil Thomas should be next up to take Arvidsson's spot in the top nine.
Thomas was red hot in his stint with LA, grabbing 4 points in seven games, which was really six games since Thomas played just six shifts in his NHL debut.
It's worth pointing out that Thomas is unlikely to keep that pace up across a full season, there's offensive upside in Thomas, but it's more as a depth scorer than anything.
That's not to say he couldn't be a good piece in the Kings' top nine though.
There are some rhymes to Turcotte's game, Thomas is an excellent skater who works hard and plays a diligent two-way game.
He lacks the hands and playmaking of Turcotte but is a more natural goalscorer.
There's also more physicality to Thomas' game and more confidence his body would hold up to the physical demands of the NHL, even though he's had his own injury issues.
Thomas proved he can produce in the NHL and should get a look in the Kings' top nine.
Fortunately for the Kings, there's room enough for Thomas and Turcotte to play in the top nine if they don't add another forward over the summer.
Option Three: Samuel Fagemo:
Samuel Fagemo feels like the least likely option to make the King's roster next season, but he shouldn't be ignored either.
By far the most successful of the three players mentioned, Fagemo absolutely scorched the AHL last season with 43 goals in 50 games.
There's concern that he's another Martin Frk, too one-dimensional to play in the NHL but able to tear up the AHL because of an elite shot, but Frk did score like Fagemo at 23.
Crucially, Fagemo is also a right shot that the Kings desperately need. He's also probably the most natural fit to replace Arvidsson.
It won't be one-for-one and Fagemo is nowhere near as rounded a player, but he's a high-volume shooter who can play with pace.
His defensive game is still a question mark and, outside of his shot, it's unclear if he does anything else at an NHL level, but it's hard to ignore his production.
If the Kings do play Fagemo, they have to actually play him. It can't be fourth-line minutes and no power minutes, that's a waste of everyone's time.
He needs to get looks in the top nine and on the power play. If the Kings put Dubois in front and flip their top unit, Fagemo would be a decent option as a one-time threat on the top unit.
That would never happen because it would involve taking Adrian Kempe or Anze Kopitar off the top unit, but Fagemo would find the net in that role.
Maybe on the second unit that's an option.
I don't expect Fagemo to get a look, if he was going to make this team he would have already done it, but I wouldn't count him out either.