Jonny Brodzinski will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a shoulder injury on Michael Del Zotto’s boarding minor in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss at Vancouver, LA Kings Insider learned from hockey operations.
The team was off Friday, so it wasn’t possible to glean what type of adjustments or looks the team might immediately offer on the right side of the lineup. There is competition for depth roles on the Kings, and the indefinite loss of Brodzinski, who was not waiver-exempt, opens up a particular avenue of competition on that right side. Emerson Etem, who scored in Vancouver, and Sheldon Rempal are among those competing for a potential spot at right wing in training camp, as is Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who turned 19 last week and would have to be returned to major junior hockey if he does not make the Kings.
This is an awfully tough blow for Brodzinski, who has nothing else to prove at the AHL level but is yet to gain permanent traction in the NHL and had a good summer in advance of an important training camp and interesting year ahead. In 35 games with Los Angeles last season, the sharpshooter totaled four goals and six points. In 29 games with Ontario, he totaled 13 goals and 30 points. He has 88 points in his last 101 AHL games.
Ontario’s training camp begins Sunday, so expect another round of cuts between now and then. The Kings are scheduled to practice at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Sports Center.
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