Training Camp Primer, 1/4: New groups & schedule + special teams work planned

Welcome to Week 2, Insiders!

The LA Kings are on a new schedule today, with some new groupings, pairings and plans. On Saturday, Todd McLellan said in his media availability that he would be shaking up the groups starting with this morning’s practice. While Group A resembles what an NHL roster + taxi squad may look like, and Group B has more of an Ontario Reign feel to it, McLellan made it clear that these are not final decisions, or final placements.

“You’ll see the rosters, and you’ll go ‘jeez, Todd and the Kings management have made their decisions, that’s NHL and that’s development, American Hockey League type players.’ That’s not the case,” McLellan said.

Players may continue to be moved between the two groups, and additional changes can still be made. At this stage, however, McLellan felt that it was important to get a larger group on the ice at once to prepare for power play and penalty kill, as well as other game situations, that aren’t possible when the special teamers are in two separate groups.

“We have to make some moves so that we can begin to work on parts of the game – power play, penalty kill,” McLellan said. “You can’t do that when your players are spread out in two different groups. We’ll work on power play, and we need the units together, we’ll work on penalty kill, we need the units together.”

Here’s how the groups shake out for today’s skate –

Group A

Forwards (16): Amadio, Anderson-Dolan, Andersson, Brown, Carter, Fagemo, Frk, Grundstrom, Iafallo, Kempe, Kopitar, Lizotte, Luff, Moore, Vilardi, Wagner
Defensemen (8): Anderson, Clague, Doughty, Durzi, Maatta, MacDermid, Roy, Walker
Goaltenders (2): Petersen, Quick

Group A Lines This Morning –

Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown
Wagner – Lizotte – Carter
Kempe – Vilardi – Frk
Moore – Amadio – Luff
Grundstrom – Andersson – JAD – Fagemo

Maatta – Doughty
Anderson – Roy
MacDermid – Walker
Clague – Durzi

Quick / Petersen

— Zach Dooley (@ReignInsider) January 4, 2021

Per McLellan, expect to see scrimmage situations for Group A every day this week, in a controlled setting, including special-teams situations.

Group B

Forwards (7): Dudas, Eyssimont, Imama, Kupari, Madden, Rymsha, Thomas
Defensemen (5): Alt, Brickley, Moverare, Phillips, Strand
Goaltenders (3): Grosenick, Ingham, Villalta

Not Participating (1): Athanasiou
Injured (2): Hults, Sodergran
*McLellan estimated that Athanasiou could join the group around January 7 (Thursday)

McLellan reinforced that these groups are not set in stone, and noted that changes to these setups could be made on a day-to-day basis.

“If you’re in Group A and you think you’re on the National Hockey League team you’re dreaming right now, because we’re nowhere near making decisions final,” McLellan added. “If you’re in Group B, and you feel like you’ve been released and you’re stuck in the American League then shame on you, because that’s not the case. We will move players around, depending on what we’re working on day-to-day. We legitimately could have a 29-man roster, when you think about 23 and 6 on the taxi squad. If somebody ends up being a little disappointed, and is dragging their lip a little bit, it’s probably going to cost them in the long run. I don’t think that will happen, but you never know.”

Starting today, Group A is scheduled to take the ice at 11 AM, with Group B slated to follow at 1:30 PM. More to come later on!