The schedule always pointed towards today as being the first cutdown day of the fall. The moves include returning five players to junior leagues, loaning six to the AHL’s Ontario Reign, and releasing ten players from PTO or ATO contracts ahead of upcoming preseason games.
The Kings designed camp specifically to give players three scrimmage opportunities to impress the coaching staff. For those who aren’t firmly with the NHL group, it was a chance to standout and perhaps showcase themselves for additional opportunities in preseason games. Those chances are now in the books. With American Hockey League training camp opening the following day, the franchise condensed its active group to 42 players, leaving 25 forwards, 14 defensemen, and three goaltenders on the main camp roster. Here’s a summer of the transactions made this afternoon.
Junior Returns and AHL Loan Assignments
The transactions affect several young prospects bound for Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and American Hockey League assignments. Five skaters return directly to their respective major junior clubs: Jan Chovan – F (Sudbury, OHL), Adam Goljer – F (Kingston, OHL), Jimmy Lombardi – F (Flint, OHL), Giorgos Pantelas – D (Penticton, WHL), and Lucas Ambrosio – D (Erie, OHL).
Another wave of younger talent transitions straight to the professional ranks by joining the Ontario Reign, the organization’s AHL affiliate. That group features forwards Vojtěch Čihař, Kaleb Lawrence, and Grant Slukynsky, alongside defenseman Henry Brzustewicz and goaltenders Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky.
Tryout Releases and Professional Tryout Roster Shifts
Ten additional players attending on professional tryouts (PTOs) or amateur tryouts (ATOs) were released from those agreements and assigned to report to Ontario. The released forward group includes Jacob Doty – F, Brendan Gorman – F, Jack Hughes – F, Kenta Isogai – F, and Ryan O’Hara – F.
Defensive depth also saw substantial trimming as Michael Mastrodomenico – D, Nate Corbet – D, Jack Millar – D, and Cameron Supryka – D were released alongside goaltender Owen Flores – G. An updated camp roster can be found online.
Exhibition Schedule and Veteran Preseason Debuts
With cuts finalized, attention shifts immediately to back-to-back exhibition contests in Los Angeles. The Kings host the Utah Mammoth tomorrow evening at Crypto.com Arena before they head to Anaheim the following night to visit the Ducks. Head coach Peter Laviolette plans to deploy top-end veterans for the home matchups, aiming to test units like the top power-play combination.
New Collective Bargaining Agreement rules restricting veteran players to two preseason games mean there is only so much that can be done there. All three figure to factor in on the power play and Peter Laviolette specifically wants to see his top power-play unit together in two preseason games.
Health Updates on Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry
Medical and personal updates shaped the remainder of the camp narrative on September 21. Forward Corey Perry did not practice today due to personal reasons, per Head Coach Peter Laviolette. Perry “possibly” could miss a couple of days due to the same matter.
Meanwhile, Mats Zuccarello skated in a red non-contact jersey, participating in full-speed drills without engaging in contact battles, though he is kind of status quo. He was on the ice again in a red, non-contact jersey. He certainly went hard in drills and didn’t seem to be shying away.
“At some points, we’d like to see him out of that jersey, but I think erring on the side of caution, especially at this time of the year, is a good thing. I can’t give you an exact timetable on what it exactly looks like. I think once he gets the confidence to get in and get into those battles a little bit more, I think that would be a positive step and a positive sign. We’ll make decisions from there.”
Peter Laviolette, Head Coach
Management remains optimistic that Zuccarello feels close and there’s nothing to suggest he isn’t on track for opening night next week, as Ken Holland felt he would be.
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