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Teammates & coaches weigh in on Warren Foegele, who is making the most of his opportunity with the Kings

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Perhaps no one has seen the evolution in Warren Foegele’s game quite like Joel Edmundson.

For us here in Los Angeles, we’re seeing Foegele for who he is now, the impact he’s having on the Kings right now after signing here over the summer. For Edmundson, though, he saw Foegele much earlier in his career, as a second-year professional who was still finding his way in the NHL. Edmundson has seen first-hand the evolution in his teammate’s game and he’s certainly liking what he’s seeing.

“I played with him in Carolina a few years ago, so just to see him this year, he looks like a completely different player, he’s got a lot of confidence,” Edmundson said. “He’s making plays out there, he’s obviously one of the faster guys on their teams, and he’s using it to his advantage. He’s a guy we rely on a lot.”

Sometimes, it’s all about opportunity.

Jim Hiller noted that Foegele was “cast into a certain role” sometimes during past stops and while he performed well within that role, perhaps that’s the player he was seen as in other markets. Sometimes, all it takes is the right fit for a player’s game to shine. For Foegele, that’s what he’s got right now.

Foegele had a good season last year in Edmonton, certainly, ranking fourth on a high-flying Oilers team in even-strength goals, trailing only McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman. Perhaps you’ve heard of them. It was not, though, like you thought of Foegele as that next threat behind those guys after having seen more of the Oilers than any other opponent. It also wasn’t as if he simply rode the coat tails of those players, either. He had his opportunities up there, certainly, but played more regularly lower in the lineup than he did with a McDavid or a Draisaitl, producing in an off the radar situation.

While it’s taken a bit to find perhaps his best fit, Foegele has been a top-nine player every game so far this season. He’s averaging more than 15 minutes on a per-game basis, after cracking 14 just one time in a season throughout his career to date. He’s been a factor on the penalty kill and he’s gotten some power-play time as well. The increased role, for a player who just continues to improve? That’s a guy who has found his fit.

“For sure, and it’s great to see,” Edmundson added, on Foegele finding his place with the Kings. “He’s a big reason as to why we’re winning hockey games and he just keeps getting better and better.”

For Foegele, the game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday was perhaps his best of the season. His start to the game was the definition of shot out of a cannon.

Foegele was flying all over the ice, playing direct, North/South hockey, leading the Kings with seven shot attempts in the first period, on route to a season-high nine in total. His play helped to spearhead his line, on a night when they combined for two goals, one for Foegele and one for center Quinton Byfield.

It wasn’t the only time we’ve seen that game from Foegele, but perhaps the most in your face version of it, in a convincing Kings victory. On a night when so many shined, it was Foegele’s light that was perhaps the brightest.

“He’s an awesome player and he’s a great guy in the locker room too,” Byfield said of Foegele. “When he’s playing like that, on his game, you just want to give him the puck. He creates so much energy for the team and for our line as well. When he’s going like that, you know he’s going to be on the puck first and he’s making plays out there too.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 14: Warren Foegele #37 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

How he’s been able to have so much success has been simple – speed and shots.

Players are quick to point out Foegele’s speed as a reason for his success.

His line with Byfield and forward Tanner Jeannot was the tone-setting line against the Rangers, as it has been a few different times this season. Seemingly, when those three are on their game, the team seems to fall into place. All three players come with sandpaper in their game, with Foegele the intersection between Byfield’s speed and size and Jeannot’s desire to play the body early and often. While it wasn’t the line that was envisioned during the preseason, it’s the line that’s working right now and they have certainly been effective.

“They’re both huge parts of this team,” Jeannot said. “They’re super fast, they can get in and put a team on their heels. It’s really fun playing with them and we’ve just got to keep going.”

There’s that word again. Fast.

The Kings are not a slow team, so for Foegele’s speed to continually be talked about, it must stand out.

On a team level and even on a league-wide level, Foegele’s speed is among the best. With a top skating speed of 23.2 miles per hour, Foegele ranks in the 96th percentile around the NHL. He’s among the top ten percent in terms of speed bursts of 22 MPH or greater and has 56 bursts at 20 MPH or faster, compared to the league average of 35.

Skating fast is good, but skating for the sake of skating isn’t very effective. What Foegele has been able to do is use his speed at both ends of the ice.

He’s a North/South player in just about every sense of the word. The Kings have been guilty at times this season of overpassing in search of the spectacular goal but rarely do you leave a game accusing Foegele of passing up on quality looks. When he’s got the puck, he driving play to the slot as quickly as he can. As a result, he’s atop the leaderboard for the Kings in multiple categories.

Shot attempts? Foegele ranks first on the Kings. Shots on goal? Foegele ranks first on the Kings. Scoring chances? Foegele ranks first on the Kings. Expected goals? Wouldn’t you know it, Foegele ranks first on the Kings.

He’s averaging right around a half point per game, as a result, and is making the most of his opportunity.

“He had a good season last year, scored a lot of goals and I think he just probably got more confidence offensively, that’s what I see,” Hiller said. “He’s got some great skills. We see him skate, he’s got a good move, good first step to his left, can really shoot the puck. I think there’s probably always been a little bit more there.

Perhaps just as importantly, though, is what isn’t happening when Foegele is on the ice.

It’s no secret the Kings build defensively first, with that side of the game important for everyone on the team. Over the last nine games, in which the Kings have lost just once in regulation, Foegele has not been on the ice for a single goal against, the only player to play in all nine games who has not conceded a goal.

Foegele is also one of the team’s most trusted penalty killers, logging a prominent role 4-on-5 alongside Byfield. They’ve been as effective a duo as the Kings have had this season, a big reason the Kings have been as good as they have been since October. Check out this map below –

This shows Foegele’s zone times on the penalty kill. He’s in the 95th percentile or better in all three zones, meaning that when the Kings are shorthanded and Foegele is on the ice, he’s in the offensive zone more, and the defensive zone less, than 95 percent of penalty killers around the NHL. Byfield has equally impressive numbers.

In just over 50 minutes of PK time this season, Foegele has only been on the ice for four goals against. On a per/60 basis, he’s second among Kings forwards, trailing only Byfield. Around the NHL, Foegele ranks number one in the NHL in terms of fewest shot attempts and fewest shots on goal allowed while on the penalty kill, among forwards with at least 50 minutes on ice. When everything is telling you the same thing, perhaps the conclusion is easy. Warren Foegele is a strong penalty killer, just another facet of his role in which he’s excelled.

Looking ahead, with three games left here before the holiday break, the Kings will need to continue to get that type of performance from Foegele.

Important points on the table and Foegele is a player who can continue to help drive the team forward. The best part of what he’s doing, in the eyes of his head coach? There’s more to come.

“I don’t think this is a one off for him,” Hiller added. “I think he’s going to continue to grow his game.”

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