LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Alex Turcotte

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Alex Turcotte!

Alex Turcotte

Birthdate: February 26, 2001

Birthplace: Elk Grove, Illinois

Height: 5’11

Weight: 185 lbs

Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Draft: 1st round, 5th overall, 2019 NHL Entry Draft

2023-24 season

Health. It’s been the one knock on Alex Turcotte since being drafted. Derailed by two concussions and a lower-body injury the two previous seasons combined, Turcotte entered this season healthy and ready to go. During the first ten games he was arguably one of the best Reign forwards. He was driving his line, creating plays, strong with the puck, and playing a solid 200-foot game. In those ten games, Turcotte registered nine points (2G-7A) while centering the second line before sliding down to center the third line until Mikhail Maltsev’s departure to the KHL.

Unfortunately, the injury bug came back on December 8th as Turcotte took a hit from Bakersfield Condors defenseman Max Wanner that caused him to miss 12 of the next 13 games. After returning, Turcotte still was a solid contributor for the Reign, before getting called up the Kings on January 27th. At the time of his call-up, Turcotte had 23 points in 28 games.

He would score his first NHL goal in a Kings 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators before the all-star break.

ALEX TURCOTTE'S FIRST @NHL GOAL!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/clsF5KzbcZ

— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 1, 2024

Turcotte would return to the Kings after the all-star break, but would suffer an injury in March and be sent back to Ontario once he was able to return to play action. Turcotte returned as the 2C for the Reign in April, but once Akil Thomas was assigned back to the Reign, Turcotte shifted to the wing, where he would play for the final two regular season games and seven of the first eight playoff games (played on the first line as a winger). He would recorded four points (2G-2A) in the Reign’s eight playoff games

2024-25 outlook

Turcotte will return to the organization after signing a three-year deal with an AAV of $775,000 this summer and is expected to graduate to the parent club. While I think Turcotte may not live up to top-five draft pick potential after the injuries have set him back, I still believe he can be a very good contributor and give the Kings great value for his contract. Which, at this point, may not be a bad thing.

Alex Turcotte has signed a new 3-year contract with the @LAKings!

✍️: https://t.co/tUtQwTGckk pic.twitter.com/pLhiaTdy2g

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) June 22, 2024

After years of Kings fans wanting the prospects to get playing time, that wish will finally come to fruition and Turcotte will be one of those young players in the opening night lineup. If the Kings are still keen on playing him at center, it’ll most likely be the fourth line. One thing for sure is that Turcotte will compete every shift, but health will be a key factor for him this season once again. With Blake Lizotte off to Pittsburgh perhaps he could see a role on the penalty kill, too

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign