Andreas Athanasiou on IR is latest blow for LA Kings

The hits keep coming for the LA Kings, who placed forward Andreas Athanasiou on Injured Reserve in advance of the team’s rematch with the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

The @LAKings have made multiple player transactions today.
 
Christian Wolanin (D) was recalled from the @OntarioReign (AHL).

Andreas Athanasiou (F) was placed on injured reserve (retroactive to March 10).@Enterprise | #PlayersOnTheMove

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) March 12, 2022

The end of February and into the early part of March, the Kings have been hit hard by injury bug. Brendan Lemieux, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mikey Andersson all went down with injuries in a span of four days.

There’s also the unknown status of Drew Doughty right now, who appeared to hurt his hand last Monday in Boston. He did not play on Thursday and did not travel with the team to San Jose. While he hasn’t been placed on Injured Reserve as of this writing, it’s certainly concerning to say the least.

Back to Athanasiou.

What another tough break for the 27-year-old after spending most of the year on IR and in COVID protocol. When healthy, Athanasiou is a legitimate difference maker, with four goals over his last three games.

The Kings enter Saturday’s game sitting in second place in the Pacific Division, with a four-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights. They’re also just five points behind first-place Calgary.

These injuries are really starting to pile up, and you just have to hope the Kings have a full squad – or close to it – when the playoffs roll around, assuming they get there, of course.

Something we recently discussed and it seems pressing now more than ever, but will these injuries force general manager Rob Blake’s hand at the trade deadline to acquire some help?

6 forwards for LA Kings to target at trade deadline after latest injury news