With Arthur Kaliyev‘s suspension and being up against the salary cap, the LA Kings will start the 2023-24 NHL season a little on the lighter side.
“Uh, I don’t even think we’re going to be able to start with 21 players,” quipped General Manager Rob Blake when asked if it is sustainable to go 82 games with 21 players.
Blake went on to say, “We knew the situation we’re in,” so this isn’t something that the team wasn’t prepared for. Let’s face it: the signing of Pierre-Luc Dubois in the offseason put the LA Kings up against the salary cap, and they will have very little wiggle room this season. Mix in the suspension of Kaliyev – which has to be served at the NHL level with his cap hit counting against the team – and an ill-timed injury to Viktor Arvidsson, the Kings may have just 17 skaters for Wednesday’s season opener.
“We prefer 12 (forwards) and six (defensemen),” said Blake. “We’re one less forward with Arvidsson; he’s questionable for tomorrow. We’re hoping he can play.”
Arvidsson suffered a lower-body injury in practice on Monday, according to Blake, who considers the Swedish winger “day-to-day.”
David Rittich was placed on waivers on Tuesday and, if he clears, will start the season in the AHL with the Ontario Reign.
When the Kings and Colorado Avalanche take the ice on Wednesday, here’s what Todd McLellan will have for his roster:
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson* (*if healthy)
Fiala – Dubois – Laferriere
Grundstrom – Lizotte – Lewis
Kaliyev – suspended
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Englund – Bjornfot
Talbot
Copley
A notable omission from the above is young defenseman Jordan Spence. Because Spence did not have to clear waivers, the Kings moved his contract to the AHL and kept left-shot defensemen Andreas Englund and Tobias Bjornfot to round out the third pair.
“(Spence) was scheduled to be (on the roster),” confirmed Blake. “That was the plan going through here the past couple of days. He had a real strong camp. Due to the waiver situation, to get six defensemen…that’s the situation with Spence.”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but here I am, at least slightly surprised, at this particular decision. With the moves made since last season’s trade deadline, the LA Kings have shifted into a team that is serious about winning. While I don’t want to overreact to the first couple of games of the third defense pairing, it seems the Kings are comfortable icing a roster that is not as good as it could (should) be.
Perhaps there’s a genuine concern about losing Tobias Bjornfot or Andreas Englund to waivers? To leave off one of your biggest threats on the blueline – and PP2 quarterback – at the potential risk of losing one of the aforementioned left-shot defensemen is a bit of a head-scratcher. But hey, at least we will get a look at Matt Roy pulling the strings on the second power play!
On a positive note, Alex Laferriere will make his NHL debut. The circumstances of Kaliyev’s suspension may have been the catalyst for his making the roster, but there’s no question he earned it with his play during the preseason. Laferriere opened plenty of eyes. Though, it’s likely his stint with the Kings will be short. By the time the Kings land in Winnipeg next Tuesday, Kaliyev’s suspension will be over, and Laferriere will return to Ontario.
This may not have been how Blake and co. drew up the start of the season, but they knew this was a risk. We’ll see how it all plays out as the season goes on.
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