The Canadiens want to get heavier and they do so by adding another power forward in King. The 27-year-old doesn’t provide a lot in the way of offence, having scored just 15 points (8G / 7A) in 63 games with the Kings this season.
King was injured while blocking a shot in the Kings’ preseason finale on October 3rd. His 8-10 week timetable puts him on pace to return in late-November to mid-December. With King out expect forwards like Dustin Brown and Trevor Lewis to take on bigger roles.
King was injured in the Kings’ preseason finale and is expected to miss an extended period of time. King’s movement to IR allows the Kings to keep another player on the roster until King is healthy enough to return.
King reportedly suffered the injury while blocking a shot in the Kings preseason game in Las Vegas. The Kings announced that King will be out for an “extended period.”
In Monday’s practice King was skating on the first line with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. King has 21 points (10G / 11A) in 64 games this season and has not registered a point in his last eight games.
King, 25, had 15 goals and 15 assists (30 points) with a plus-16 rating in 77 games last season. King bounces around on the Kings' second and third line as the Kings continue to keep pieces of their Stanley Cup winning team.
Los Angeles excused King from tonight's game vs. Pittsurgh to attend a personal matter. Expect Jordan Nolan to re-enter the lineup.
“Well, Dwight King was arguably the best player in training camp, so he gets to play with Anze Kopitar, who is our best player," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said. "I know how everybody outside falls in love with numbers and names, but it’s based on performance." The move may be temporary while Dustin Brown gets back up-to-speed after missing the preseason.
King practiced on the second line this morning and could get a shot there. He has 11 goals and 29 points through 50 games with the Manchester Monarchs.
No immediate fantasy hockey value in the AHL.
