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Off the Ice

New Jerseys, New Numbers

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A few updates here on the jersey number front.

Akil Thomas took the liberty this morning of announcing his own change, via his participating in the NHLPA Rookie Showcase. Thomas is one of several Kings players to change their number this season, as a rookie who is expected to make the jump to the NHL roster. Thomas wore number 41 last season when he made his NHL debut, which came after he wore 86 in past preseasons, which was the rookie number he was assigned upon joining the organization as a draft pick back in 2018. Thomas is changing his number to 26 this season, as he is expected to solidify his place on the NHL roster as a full-time player.

Also changing their numbers this season are forwards Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte and Samuel Fagemo who are all expected to be on the NHL roster alongside Thomas. Laferriere played in 81 of 82 games last season, on top of five in the postseason and is a full-time NHL player. He’s expected to get a look on the top forward line alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. Worthy of a number of his choice. Laferriere will wear number 14 this season, the number he wore in the USHL. For Turcotte, he’s in a similar boat to Thomas. It wasn’t his NHL debut last season, but it was his longest stint of NHL action. He’ll be switching to number 15 as he looks to make the NHL roster out of training camp for the first time, which he is expected to do. 15 was Turcotte’s number at Wisconsin during his lone NCAA season. For Fagemo, he’s played in a handful of NHL games over the last couple seasons and will make the switch from his rookie number – 68 – to number 19. He’s worn 11 throughout his career but that’s a number no one else will ever wear for the Kings.

Additionally, the Kings have four NHL roster additions who are not changing numbers per se but will have new digits for their first seasons respectively with the Kings. For goaltender Darcy Kuemper, it’s a new, old number. Kuemper will wear 35 with the Kings this season, the same number he wore back in 2017-18, when he last played for the team. No player has worn 35 since. Kuemper has worn that number throughout his entire NHL career and he will do so again this season with the Kings.

Forward Tanner Jeannot will need to make a change this season, as number 84 is currently being worn by defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who is actually the only player in Kings history to wear that number. Jeannot wore 84 in both Tampa Bay and Nashville but will wear number 10 with the Kings this season. Jeannot wore 10 with the Chicago Wolves during his only season there and also wore it in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors when he played junior hockey.

For the team’s newest free agent signings, Joel Edmundson will wear number 6, while Warren Foegele will wear number 37. Edmundson wore number 6 in St. Louis, Carolina and Washington, making it the natural choice on a Kings team who did not have a number 6. Foegele wore 37 in both Carolina and Edmonton and will continue with the same number here as a King.

Also signed over the summer, the Kings announced that defenseman Caleb Jones will wear number 82 at the NHL level, while forward Jack Studnicka will wear number 53. Jones wore 82 in Edmonton, Chicago and Colorado, so that makes sense. Studnicka’s most common number as an NHL player is 23, which is obviously not available with the Kings. Neither is 18, which he wore in Vancouver, or 16, which he wore in San Jose. 53 it is. For defenseman Kyle Burroughs, he will wear number 7 with the Kings this season, after he was acquired from the Sharks. His two most recent NHL numbers have been 4 and 44, which are both not available with the Kings. He’ll take over 7 from Tobias Bjornfot.

Beginning later on this week, we’ll have training camp previews by position, beginning with Kuemper and the goaltenders. Camp is set to begin in approximately two weeks, with rookies on the ice in El Segundo in just eight days. Content about to pick up, Insiders. Exciting to have something to write about once again.

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