Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Kevin Fiala!
Kevin Fiala
Birthdate: July 22, 1996
Birthplace: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Height: 5’10
Weight: 205 lbs
Position: Wing
Shoots: Left
Draft: 1st round, 11th overall, 2014 NHL Entry Draft
2022-2023 season
Acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild in the summer of 2022, Kevin Fiala brought an element that the Kings had been missing in the lineup. That missing element was skill. After recording a career-high 85 points in the previous season, the Kings hoped that Fiala could be that skilled winger to play alongside Anze Kopitar. Instead, Fiala formed chemistry on a line with Blake Lizotte and Gabe Vilardi. It doesn’t come as a surprise as Fiala formed chemistry on a different line with Matt Boldy and Frederick Gaudreau.
Despite not forming the chemistry with Kopitar the Kings had hoped, his slow start, or the unnecessary penalties, Fiala still had a great season and was everything the Kings had hoped for. He was fourth on the team in goals with 23 and second on the team in points with 72. His 33 primary assists led the team. Fiala missed some time toward the end of the season with an injury he suffered from a knee-on-knee hit from Colorado Avalanche forward Andrew Cogliano but was able to return for three games in the playoffs. His six points in three playoff games were good enough for fourth in scoring on the Kings.
Kevin Fiala refused to be stopped on this dash to the net! 💨 pic.twitter.com/IWlSwkzgi1
— NHL (@NHL) September 18, 2023
2023-2024 outlook
Fiala will be back and is currently skating with new linemates on the third line. According to LA Kings insider Zach Dooley, Fiala has been taking line rushes with Pierre-Luc Dubois (center) and Arthur Kaliyev (right wing) as the team prepares for their two-game weekend series in Australia against the Arizona Coyotes. That line has the potential to create chaos offensively but leaves something to be desired defensively if they stick together once the regular season starts.
LAK Top 9 forwards are as expected here on Day 1.
55 – 11 – 9
12 – 24 – 33
22 – 80 – 34Todd McLellan said that today's lines would be a "starting point" for camp. Will see how things progress.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) September 19, 2023
Also, look for Fiala to continue being a key factor on a Kings power-play unit, which was ranked fourth-best in the NHL last season (25.3%). Fiala is the most skilled player the Kings have had in the lineup going back to Ziggy Palffy.
Featured image credit: AP Photo/ Jae C. Hong
Fiala is an exciting player who will hopefully have an injury free season. No doubt he would have finished first in goals/assist totals last year if injury hadn’t hit him. His defense has improved as has his penchant for penalties!