LA Kings training camp: Day 3 notes and observations

As was the case on Day 1, LA Kings Training Camp continued with the intensity up a notch higher than previous editions. The early storyline reached its peak with a fight during today’s scrimmage.

FIGHT!

Heading into Toyota Sports Performance Center, I wondered whether or not the physicality from Day 1 of Kings’ camp would continue. With Samuel Helenius and Jeff Malott dropping the gloves, it seems the question was answered.

Samuel Helenius and Jeff Malott drop the gloves during the scrimmage.

The team loved it. pic.twitter.com/lIK8oqAluO

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) September 21, 2024

LA Kings head coach Jim Hiller wasn’t surprised to see the fight between the two campmates. “It felt like sooner or later this was probably going to happen. Really good fight by those two. I think they respected each other after it was done. And it looks to me that there are some people here who are trying to impress. That’s the way I read.”

The concerns over fighting and increased physicality among teammates mere days into training camp are warranted. Especially with Arthur Kaliyev leaving Friday’s scrimmage early due to injury after a hit from Tanner Jeannot. But this is the identity general manager Rob Blake envisioned after his offseason moves. I asked Drew Doughty if he was of fan of the fight and an uptick in intensity, “Yeah, I love it.”

Helenius impressing early on

One of those players involved in Saturday’s fireworks was forward Samuel Helenius. Hiller mentioned Helenius as one of the players who had stood out in the Day 1 scrimmage. And that’s continued.

“He’s caught everybody’s attention. What’s your job when you come to training camp? Catch people’s attention. And he’s done that and more. I know he’s been physical and he did have the fight, but just his overall intensity. He’s here to make the team. We’ll see if that happens. But he’s here to make the team. He’s made that clear.”

Andreas Englund and Samuel Helenius finish a physical shift with some pushing and shoving after the whistle.

Kyle Burroughs steps in to voice his displeasure. pic.twitter.com/FOC9bRGErk

— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) September 21, 2024

The 21-year-old center played in 69 games for the Ontario Reign last year finishing with eight goals and 11 assists. He’s not looked upon to be an offensive force. But he knows his role and plays it with attitude.

At the 2022 State of the Franchise event, Nelson Emerson grabbed the mic to praise some of the LA Kings’ prospects at the time. His description of Samuel Helenius, “He’s mean.”

Looking at the roster, it’s hard to find a way for Helenius to make the club out of camp. But as we’ve seen in the past with Alex Iafallo, Blake Lizotte, and Alex Laferriere last year, if you play well in camp and preseason you can earn a spot.

Notes

• Arthur Kaliyev was absent from the on-ice sessions today after an apparent injury suffered during the scrimmage on Friday. Jim Hiller didn’t provide an official update on his status.
• Fiala-Byfield-Foegele looks strong early on. The three combined for one of the goals in camp today with Fiala feeding Foegele with a cross-ice pass leading to a one-timer tally.
• Kopitar made a nice feed to Kempe in front for a goal as the two continued building on their chemistry.
• 2024 first-round pick Liam Greentree hasn’t looked out of place in the scrimmages.
• The same goes for the 2024 second-round pick goaltender Carter George. He told me before the scrimmage started Doughty chirped him in typical Drew fashion saying, “I heard you’re weak low glove side.”
• The team was passing around a grip strength tester in the locker room having some fun with it. Tanner Jeannot had the highest score.