Los Angeles Kings News

Kuemper will make his season debut with the Capitals on Monday after being away from the team for their season opener to be with his wife for the birth of his son. The Capitals will hope that the return of Kuemper can give them a boost as they were shut out, 4-0, against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first game of the season. Kuemper tied a career-high in his first season with the Capitals in 2022-23 by playing 57 games (22-26-7), recording a 2.85 GAA and .909 SV%. Tonight, the Capitals are +113 home underdogs against the Calgary Flames, who are off to a 1-1-0 start to the season in which they have been outscored 8-7.

Joonas Korpisalo started the Senators' season opener, but they will turn to Forsberg in their second game of the season. Last year, Forsberg wasn't nearly as good as he was in 2021-22, going 11-11-2 with a 3.26 GAA and .902 SV% in 28 games (25 starts). This afternoon he'll face a Flyers team the won their season opener in Columbus.

Haula is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for the Devils' opening game is uncertain. Last season was Haula's first with the Devils, in which he scored 41 points (14G / 27A) in 80 games. Haula is projected to center a talented third line between Ondrej Palat and Alexander Holtz but if he is unable to play, Michael McLeod might temporarily fill his position.

Clarke was the No.8 overall pick in 2021 and had a shot to make the Kings out of training camp. Ultimately he will start in Ontario, where he had two points (1G / 1A) in five games last season after graduating from the OHL. The 20-year-old blueliner posted 61 points (23G / 38A) in just 31 games for the Barrie Colts last season.

On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Armia will be ready for the start of the season. The 30-year-old veteran is expected to be a bottom-6 winger for the Canadiens this season. He had just 14 points (7G / 7A) in 43 games a season ago.

Zuccarello had 22 goals, 45 assists, 198 SOG, 26 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 2022-23 with Minnesota and has signed a two-year, $8.250 million contract extension ($4,125,000) with the Wild. The 36-year-old enters his fifth season with the Wild and has an impressive 186 goals and 573 points in 766 career games played. He is expected yet again to be a key cog on the Wilds' top line with Kirill Kaprizov.

Edmundson was acquired during the offseason from Montreal for Minnesota's 2024 third-round pick, and Washington's 2024 seventh-round pick (MTL retained 50% of salary) and is at risk of missing the start of the 2023-24 season due to an upper-body injury and is out indefinitely. The 30-year-old defensemen had 2G/11A/13 Pts, 58 PIMs and a -29 plus/minus in 61 GP with MTL in 2022-23.

Jenik had seven goals, 16 assists, 50 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Arizona worth $775,000. The 23-year-old forward had appeared in 17 games for the Coyotes across the previous three seasons, picking up four goals and an assist. He was the Coyotes 2018 third-round Draft Pick (65th overall) and will be hoping to stick with the big club for a full season.

Kopitar had 28 goals, 46 assists, 169 SOG, 74 PIMs and a +20 plus/minus through 82 games with Los Angeles in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year extension worth $14 million ($7,000,000 AAV). The 35-year-old centre will be entering his 18th NHL season with Los Angeles and has 393 goals and 1141 points across 1292 games played.

Dumoulin had a goal, 24 assists, 82 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 82 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3,150,000 AAV) with the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old defenseman has spent his entire 10-year NHL career in Pittsburgh; picking up 19 goals, 120 assists, and a +93 plus/minus through 546 games played.

Hicketts had six goals, 48 points, 69 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 72 games with Iowa (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Los Angeles. The 27-year-old defenseman last made an NHL appearance in 2019-20 with Detroit and has five assists and a -9 plus/minus through 22 career NHL games played.

Gustafsson had seven goals, 35 assists, 122 SOG, 23 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 70 games with both Washington and Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $825,000 with the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old offensively-minded defenseman brings 39 goals and 191 points across 379 career NHL games to the Rangers.

Pederson had three goals three assists, 27 SOG, 26 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 27 games with both Vancouver and Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year deal worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV) with Edmonton. The 25-year-old centre has not stuck with an NHL team for more than one season as he now joins his fifth team in five years; bringing four goals, 11 points and 38 PIMs across 71 career NHL games played.

Edmundson has one year left on a contract that carries a $3.5M cap hit. Edmundson will solidify the Capitals' third pair and could be a candidate to skate with John Carlson. Edmundson had 13 points (2G / 11A), 112 hits and 149 blocked shots in 61 games with Montreal last season.

Ward had nine goals, 17 assists, 46 PIMs and a -20 plus/minus through 71 games with Ontario in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way $775,000 contract extension. The 25-year-old undrafted right-winger has yet to make his NHL debut after joining the Reign from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) in 2021-22.

Perry's rights were traded to the Blackhawks' earlier Thursday for a seventh round draft pick from Tampa Bay and he has signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago. The 38-year-old had 12 goals, 13 assists, 116 SOG, 95 PIMs and a -28 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23. The veteran right-winger will begin his 19th NHL season in 2023-24, representing his fifth team with the Blackhawks.

Chicago continues to acquire veteran leadership to help them through this transition period. Perry spent the last two seasons in Tampa, where he had 31 goals and 34 assists (65 points) in 163 games. Perry is a pending UFA, so the Blackhawks must get him under contract before Saturday.

Perunovich spent much of his 2022-23 nursing an injury but still collected two goals and 20 points across 22 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL). The 24-year-old defenseman was impressive representing the United States as the World Championships, putting up eight points (1G/7A) across 10 games played.