Kings activate Hagelin, move Lewis to LTIR

As expected, the LA Kings activated Carl Hagelin from injured reserve Saturday afternoon. He skated alongside Adrian Kempe and Tyler Toffoli at the morning skate and will return to the lineup versus Edmonton tonight (7:00 p.m. / FOX Sports West / FOX Sports app / LA Kings Audio Network) after a 20-game absence.

Also, as shared by CapFriendly:

The #LAKings have activated Carl Hagelin off LTIR. However, the club did not shed enough cap space to be able to exit LTIR, and so as a result LA has converted Trevor Lewis to Long Term Injured Reserve in order to continue exceeding the upper limit.https://t.co/x9vsKlYzVY https://t.co/ZlbJRL7vpB

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 5, 2019

The CapFriendly report was confirmed by hockey operations.

Lewis, who suffered a fractured foot during a morning skate in Chicago on November 16 – prior to Hagelin’s first game with the club – is not particularly close to returning. “I don’t think it’s quite soon. I think he’s still got a little ways to go,” Willie Desjardins said on Friday while noting an upcoming doctor’s check-up for the veteran forward. He has not yet resumed skating.

Los Angeles now has the maximum 23 active players, not including Alec Martinez (upper-body), who is nearing a return. Those who would not have to clear waivers to be assigned to AHL-Ontario are Sean Walker, Austin Wagner, Matt Luff and Adrian Kempe, for what it’s worth. Nikita Scherbak’s grasp on a roster spot will also be weighed. Claimed off waivers from Montreal on December 2, the former first round draft pick scored in the first period of his first game with the Kings but has appeared in only one game since the Christmas break and has been held scoreless in his last seven. After facing Edmonton tonight, Los Angeles’ next game is at San Jose on Monday.

–Lead photo via John Russell/NHLI