LA Kings: Internal Option For Next Season’s Bottom Six

The LA Kings will have plenty of roster decisions next season in their bottom six, and perhaps an internal option can fill in a spot.

Here is a list of players that the Kings will have as restricted free agents (RFAs) and unrestricted free agents (UFAs) in the forward group next season, per CapFriendly:

That’s just the forward group. If you go down the roster with the defense and goaltending, the list gets longer; but that’s a topic for a different day. We’re going to stay on course with the forwards. The Kings have six forwards who will be free agents on the roster, with eight more on the Ontario Reign. Some of those players in Ontario may not be back with the organization along with some on the list above.

The majority of the free agents in the forward group are in the bottom six. The Kings will have their hands full with plenty of decisions on the roster in deciding who stays and who goes, with all eyes on what Byfield’s extension will be. Running back the same forward group for next season would be a mistake and essentially block a prospect(s) from earning a spot in training camp. I expect some changes in the bottom six for next season. Since there is a possibility of that happening, and some spots should be open, along with the possibility of having little cap space, the Kings will have to look at cheap internal options to fill some of those openings.

An internal option: Akil Thomas (RFA at season’s end; arbitration eligible)

2023-24 stats: 61 games, 22 goals, 21 assists, 43 points, 5 power-play goals, 2 short-handed goals, 9 game-winning goals, +5 rating

Thomas has established career highs in games played, goals, assists, and points for the Reign. His development path has been thrown off track with shoulder injuries over the past two seasons. Now, fully healthy in year four with the Reign, Thomas has shown that he can produce and be a difference-maker. Thomas has earned Marco Sturm’s trust and has been reliable no matter deployment.

Here is what Sturm had to say on Thomas’ play as of late after the Reign’s 4-3 win over the Bakersfield Condors Sunday:

“He’s probably been our best player consistently. I mentioned it the other day with Hudon and Sammy [Fagemo] out, I told him to take charge, and he took it to heart.” – Sturm on Thomas needing to take charge with Charles Hudon and Samuel Fagemo being out of the lineup.

Trust. Leadership. Difference-maker. It’s why Thomas wears the “A” on his jersey for Ontario this season. The long road back from rehab has Thomas knocking on the door for his NHL opportunity. Even when Samuel Fagemo (also an RFA who is arbitration eligible) was getting the attention of earning a call-up in early January, and rightfully so, lost in that was Akil Thomas and his current six-game point streak. As the season has progressed, Thomas has gotten the recognition he deserves. He recently earned AHL Player of the Week and has a four-game point streak (5G – 2A – 7Pts).

He can play five-on-five, power play, penalty kill, plays both the center and wing position, and is a right-handed shooter, who has a quick release. A lot of his goals come from the hash marks down while also exceptionally playing the bumper man on the power play. While he may not get a call-up this season, he should get an opportunity to fill a spot on that bottom six next season. With Kaliyev’s time with the organization projected to come to an end in the summer, Lizotte earning himself a nice raise, and who knows if the organization wants Lewis’ veteran presence around next year, that will leave three possible spots for the taking. Thomas should be an internal option to fill one of them. They’ll need to re-sign him first, which shouldn’t be an issue.

Note: It’s also possible the Kings give Turcotte and/or Fagemo a look to fill other spots too. Could we see the Kings finally allow their younger players to make their way onto the roster next season?

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign

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3 thoughts on “LA Kings: Internal Option For Next Season’s Bottom Six”

  1. Lizotte should be let go. Come playoffs he has limited value. Lewis is integral to the PK. AK, and Gundstrom should be replaced internally. Love Arvi but availability is the best ability. If after extending QB and signing Roy we have cap space a FA winger to pair with PLD is imperative. PLD is finally producing because Arvi is on his line. If no $ available for FA winger (need to resign Talbot as well) pair Moore with PLD and see if one of the Kids can play along Fiala and Phillip

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  2. Terrible logic … PLD ruins everything … His horrible lack of IQ, laziness and that horrendous contract … Arvidsson is injury prone … Lizotte is always referred to by opponents as “the hardest King to deal with”

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  3. I am ready to part ways with Lizotte, Lewis, Grunstrom and sadly Turcotte and Kaliyev.
    Even though I think Kaliyev got hosed by coaching staff this year, he probably won’t turn into a great player at least in this system. I like Turcotte, but he just can’t stay healthy. I’d hold onto him one more year but that’s it. It’s time to fill out bottom six with youth. Let’s see what Thomas, Fagemo, maybe Chromiak and even Madden and others can do especially in place of aging bets like Lewis ! Brandt Clarke need to be full time NHL’r period next season !

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