Could Liam Greentree Get a Nine-game Look in Corey Perry’s Absence?

That 6-8 week timeline should target a potential mid-to-late November return. Signed to a one-year contract, Perry was envisioned to play a fourth-line role with the expectation that he would be a factor come playoff time. Now that Perry is on the shelf for 6-8 weeks, that leaves a spot up for grabs in the lineup.

Samuel Helenius, Andre Lee, Akil Thomas, and Jeff Malott are names that come to mind competing for that vacant spot on the fourth line, and whoever doesn’t make the roster will need to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL. However, what if I told you there could be a dark horse candidate to add to that mix?

That dark horse candidate could be one of the prospects with the Ontario Reign, or a certain 19-year-old drafted by the Kings in the first round in 2024. Who is that 19-year-old? If you guessed Liam Greentree, you read my mind.

Greentree’s options heading into this year are making the NHL, being loaned back to the OHL, or going down a similar path the Kings did with Brandt Clarke in 2022. Before Perry’s injury, there was no room for Greentree to not only be an everyday player for the Kings, but possibly play nine games before the first year of his entry-level contract kicks in.

Now, with Perry on the mend, has the door for Greentree possibly getting a nine-game audition with the Kings opened? It might have. A strong camp for Greentree could help his case, and he’ll have to outduel those four players mentioned above. Will the Kings utilize that option? If they do, I believe he will be loaned back to juniors eventually, but a taste of NHL action could benefit his development, even with limited minutes for a short period of time.

I guess we’ll find out during the preseason.