Jacob Moverare set to make NHL debut against Predators

Olli Maatta is not yet ready to get back in the lineup after going through the league’s COVID-19 protocol list, which means we’ll see Jacob Moverare get the opportunity to make his NHL debut tonight as the LA Kings take on the Nashville Predators.

Jacob Moverare set to make his NHL debut tonight for the @LAKings!

“Reads plays well, offensively and defensively, fairly steady,” per Todd McLellan.

Olli Maatta not yet ready after COVID absence.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) January 6, 2022

This has been a long time coming for Moverare, who was selected 112th overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft. He’s spent most of this season shuffling between the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League and the Kings’ taxi squad. He has three goals and eight points through 22 games played in the AHL.

In the past, Moverare has played in the Swedish Hockey League and the LIIGA in Finland. He also represented Sweden at the U20 World Junior Championship, where he helped his home country take home the silver medal in 2018.

Kings head coach Todd McLellan praised Moverare’s play ahead of tonight’s game, stating that he “reads play well, offensively and defensively, fairly steady.”

Moverare becomes the fourth King to make their NHL debut this season, joining Alex Turcotte, Sean Durzi, and Vladimir Tkachev.

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