Kings Activate Mats Zuccarello; Place Jan Jenik On Waivers

Earlier today, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that the Los Angeles Kings would welcome back veteran winger Mats Zuccarello tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Kings have since confirmed that they have activated Zuccarello ahead of tonight’s contest.

Zuccarello, 39, signed a one-year, $1MM contract with Los Angeles this past offseason. Although it’s a relatively low salary for how productive he was with the Minnesota Wild, the Kings owe Zuccarello a $5MM signing bonus once he reaches 10 games played. Despite his multiple injuries at the start of the 2026-27 campaign, Zuccarello is only four games away from accomplishing that goal.

His second stint on the injured reserve is likely related to his first. The 17-year veteran has been battling shoulder injuries since preseason, limiting him to one assist in six games this season. Still, even if he can’t play a full season (which he won’t), Zuccarello should have plenty left in the tank to offer the Kings.

Injuries have become synonymous with Zuccarello in the last several years. The Oslo, Norway, native hasn’t played in 70 or more games since the 2022-23 campaign. Still, in his final three years with the Wild, Zuccarello registered 46 goals and 171 points in 197 contests while averaging 19:05 of ice time per game. He’s unlikely to get as much even-strength ice time with Los Angeles, but he could still be a productive playmaker, especially if he’s on the same line as a shoot-first forward.

Fortunately for the Kings, Zuccarello could have that linemate relatively soon. In Kaplan’s report, she also mentioned that winger Kevin Fiala is expected to return to the lineup Thursday or Saturday. During his 12-year career, Fiala has averaged 27 goals per season on an 82-game basis, and would be a perfect complement to Zuccarello. He has been slowly working his way back from a brutal leg fracture in the Winter Olympics earlier this calendar year.

Meanwhile, activating Zuccarello isn’t the only move the Kings made today. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Los Angeles has placed forward Jan Jeník on waivers. Jeník, 26, has been recovering from an undisclosed injury and began the season on the Kings’ non-roster injured reserve list.

Once a blossoming prospect for the defunct Arizona Coyotes, Jeník has become an AHL-only player, for the most part. He’s in his second season with the Kings organization after re-signing on a one-year, $850K contract on the opening day of free agency this past summer. The former third-round selection spent much of last season with the AHL’s Belleville Senators, scoring nine goals and 17 points in 41 games with a net-zero rating.