Stoll still being evaluated; no call-ups imminent

Alec Martinez was the only King who took the ice at Toyota Sports Center on Sunday and treated a heavy contingent of fans to a conditioning skate and some puck handling and shooting work. There’s no exact timetable for Martinez’s return from “concussion-like symptoms,” though it’s likely that he won’t play Monday night against Arizona as he continues to build up his stamina and endurance levels.

Jarret Stoll, meanwhile, was still being evaluated from the after effects of a hit he absorbed from Vancouver’s Derek Dorsett in the third period of Los Angeles’ 4-0 win on Thursday, LA Kings Insider learned from hockey operations. There’s no timetable for Stoll’s return – and Martinez’s recovery was referenced in the context of Stoll’s process and evaluation in the conversation with hockey operations – from what Lisa Dillman first reported was an upper-body injury.

Based on conversations with hockey operations both after last night’s game and at Toyota Sports Center earlier today, no call-ups are expected in the immediate future. Though Mike Richards was in Southern California to take part in conditioning tests earlier this week, there are no plans at this time to recall him to the Kings.

One reason Los Angeles is hesitant to make a roster move at this time is because teams are allotted a maximum of four recalls after the trading deadline. The team has already made one recall when Nick Shore was assigned to Manchester and immediately recalled as part of a “paper trail” transaction on March 2 that would make him eligible to play in the AHL playoffs if needed, and with four weeks remaining in the season, the team wants to be able to save several recalls in the event that they’ll be needed over the final 14 games. Based on conversations with hockey operations, one recall is likely being held as an insurance precaution in the event another goaltender is needed. Jeff Schultz is also a theoretical candidate for a recall later in the season, though at this point such a possibility remains vague and hypothetical.

So, for Monday’s game against Arizona, it appears as though the Kings will utilize the same forward group, an alignment that includes rookies Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff centering the third and fourth lines. A clearer picture of the team’s lineup will be learned at Monday’s morning skate. I’ll have more from Andreoff shortly.