Kings Announce Opening-Night Roster & Roster Moves

Happy Monday, Insiders!

The LA Kings announced today its 23-player roster for opening night, which features 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.

Forwards (14): Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Viktor Arvidsson, Quinton Byfield, Phillip Danault, Kevin Fiala, Carl Grundstrom, Alex Iafallo, Arthur Kaliyev, Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Brendan Lemieux, Blake Lizotte, Trevor Moore, Gabriel Vilardi

Defensemen (7): Mikey Anderson, Brandt Clarke, Drew Doughty, Sean Durzi, Alex Edler, Matt Roy, Sean Walker

Goaltenders (2): Cal Petersen, Jonathan Quick

The Kings are on the ice for their final tune-up before hosting the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow evening for Opening Nights at Crypto.com Arena. Today’s practice officially begins the regular season for the Kings, with a national broadcast and a difficult test awaiting them in just over one day’s time.

The Opening Night roster does not necessarily feature any surprises, as certain players who entered camp on the bubble solidified their roles amongst the group of 23 to make the team for tomorrow’s season opener. Regarding those who did not make the final 23, a bit on the three players assigned to Ontario earlier today.

Essentially as the team hit the ice, defenseman Jacob Moverare and goaltender Pheonix Copley cleared waivers, after they were placed on the list yesterday at 11 AM. Both players have officially made it through and have been assigned to the AHL’s Ontario Reign, where they’re slated to begin the 2022-23 season. Both individuals gave a fine showing during training camp, though with full health both on the blueline and in net, and the Kings opting to keep seven defensemen over eight, the decisions became clearer. There was certainly some hope for Moverare, who offers a trusting skillset in a bottom pairing or seventh defenseman role, but the camp emergence of Brandt Clarke, combined with clean bills of health for Sean Walker and Sean Durzi, made for no room on the backend. Moverare will start the season alongside Tobias Bjornfot and Jordan Spence in a group of players who will be in contention for the first callup from Ontario if and when the time comes.

Additionally, forward Rasmus Kupari was assigned to the AHL today, which brings the Kings down to their opening-night allowable 23 players. Kupari, in many ways, fell victim to the contracts game. Kupari is waiver-exempt and thus did not need to be exposed to the other 31 teams in order to be assigned to the AHL. In many ways, it’s not even unfamiliar for Kupari. He was loaned to the AHL last season out of camp as well, but found himself in the NHL lineup by the second game of the season. He went on to play in 57 NHL games with the Kings, as well as five in the postseason, as he showed potential in a third line role down the stretch. Kupari has an outstanding combination of size and skating ability and even though the offensive game hasn’t quite followed at the NHL level, he’s shown the ability to be effective in a third-line role as well, with the versatility to play both center and wing. Consider him the most likely first recall as the season progresses.

Training camp had a few question marks when it came to injuries, specifically surrounding defensemen Walker and Durzi, as noted above, and forward Viktor Arvidsson. All three players have progressed as intended and appear set to play tomorrow night versus Vegas.

That leaves the Kings with 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders to begin the 2022-23 season.

Today in practice, here’s how that shook out –

Kevin Fiala – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore – Phillip Danault – Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Iafallo – Quinton Byfield – Gabe Vilardi – Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Brendan Lemieux – Carl Grundstrom – Blake Lizotte – Arthur Kaliyev

Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
Sean Durzi – Matt Roy – Brandt Clarke
Alex Edler – Sean Walker

Jonathan Quick
Cal Petersen

More to come following practice! General Manager Rob Blake is set to address the media today, along with players and coaches as we set the stage for Opening Night!