Kings Place Mats Zuccarello, Alex Turcotte On IR

As expected, the Los Angeles Kings have placed two forwards on the injured reserve ahead of tonight’s contest against the Vegas Golden Knights. According to a team announcement, the Kings have placed forwards Mats Zuccarello and Alex Turcotte on the IR.

Zuccarello’s injury surfaced yesterday afternoon. After the Kings recalled forward Jared Wright from the AHL’s Ontario Reign, reports revealed that Zuccarello would miss the next few weeks with an undisclosed ailment. Although Los Angeles hasn’t specified Zuccarello’s injury, it’s mentionable that he was nursing a minor shoulder issue in preseason.

Meanwhile, Turcotte is also dealing with an undisclosed injury. Although he is on injured reserve, Turcotte’s issue appears minor. According to a report from The Mayor, both IR placements were made retroactive to October 6th, when the Kings lost to the Florida Panthers. Because of the activation eligibility rules, Zuccarello and Turcotte are guaranteed to miss a minimum of tonight and next Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Throughout the first three games of the 2026-27 season, Zuccarello and Turcotte have posted relatively pedestrian numbers. Each player has one assist to begin the campaign, while Turcotte has also blocked one shot and delivered four hits.

Despite their tepid start, the Kings are still missing two middle-six forwards. Even with Zuccarello and Turcotte in the lineup, the Golden Knights, who have started the season with a 4-1-0 record, were going to be a significant challenge.