2/3 Updates – Anderson Skates, Kings Optional in LA Return, Quick 400

Happy Monday, Insiders!

Sharing a few updates here from Toyota Sports Performance Center as the LA Kings return to the ice……sort of.

A very exciting update off the top – defenseman Mikey Anderson skated on his own before the rest of the Kings group. Anderson was in a red, non-contact jersey this morning and seemed to be working hard with a decent amount of intensity. Similar to Alex Laferriere, who recently returned to the lineup off an upper-body injury, Anderson being on the ice already is important from a conditioning standpoint. Upper-body injury there which doesn’t impact his skating at all. When he’s ready to go, he will be truly ready to go. No ramp-up period should be needed, it’ll be only about the readiness of his injury specifically. Gripping and using a stick, making sure no additional risks of further re-injury, all of that stuff.

So, good news there. Should get a better sense tomorrow if Anderson is an option against Montreal on Wednesday or perhaps this weekend against Dallas/Anaheim. Anderson has only missed the one full game to date after getting injured against Tampa Bay, on top of the bulk of that game versus the Lightning. Getting him back in without a ton of missed time would be a huge win for the Kings, especially when considering Jim Hiller’s initial “concerned” prognosis. Will have a better update tomorrow on Anderson’s status when we hear from Hiller after practice.

Some positive @LAKings news – defenseman Mikey Anderson is on the ice this morning skating on his own.

Upper-body injury so conditioning shouldn't miss a beat when he's ready to go, similar to Alex Laferriere recently.

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) February 3, 2025

Today was originally supposed to be a full-team practice day but the Kings changed it to an optional skate. Players trickled onto the ice on the earlier side, with a decent group, but not a full group, skating together with assistant coaches.

Jim Hiller’s philosophy when it comes to rest versus practice has always leaned towards the former. I’d expect the team to have longer practice tomorrow with more intensity than today’s likely would have if it were a full skate. Sharing this quote from earlier this month on Hiller’s coaching philosophy when it comes to rest days versus practice days.

“It’s always a balance and maybe different coaches have a different philosophy on it, but I’m always of the opinion that the most important thing that the players are is that they’re physically ready to play, as fresh as possible, because it’s such a demanding, physical game. When you do that, sometimes, when you prioritize that over let’s get on the ice, let’s make sure we’re touching this up, sometimes you lose a little bit in that area. You hope that just your overall energy, feel and vibe can compensate for some of those.”

While I might’ve been surprised, initially, to learn the team might not practice in full today, perhaps I shouldn’t have been.

In Carolina, during Hiller’s pre-game availability, he gave the following quote about the state of the team from an energy perspective.

“It’s been a long month, so you’re tired. It’s one of those times where you just look around, I can see the guys are tired. You guys are tired, I can imagine, and you have more fun than they do, so it’s just can we pull together for one more night. It’s kind of special, because it’s really a challenge. When you can do that, it just tells a lot about yourself as a player, your teammates, ultimately as a team. We’ve done a really good job of that so far this year.”

Haven’t heard very many coaches admit fatigue and while yesterday was a day off, it was a challenging one. The team got back to Los Angeles around 2 AM, which is 5 AM in the timezone they departed from. For the older players, it’s not much of a day off. More of a straight recovery day. So, getting another day to recuperate probably isn’t the worst thing heading into three games in four nights from Wednesday through Saturday.

Could tell post game that Hiller was proud of the group for finishing on the note that they did. Trevor Moore used that word as well. Proud. The Kings aren’t proud of the roadtrip as whole…..at least they shouldn’t be. But there’s something to be said for the way the team finished the trip off in Carolina, for sure, after how the first four games went. More on that HERE.

So, a lot of different words to say that the Kings chose not to hold a full-team practice day today.

Beyond Anderson, the majority of the group was on the ice. Only saw five players not on the ice and I didn’t catch the entire practice, meaning a couple of others might have been out there earlier but off by the time I checked in. Head Coach Jim Hiller did not lead the skate but all of the assistant coaches were out with the bulk of the players taking part in the practice. Only players I didn’t see were veterans – Kopitar, Danault, Moore, Gavrikov and Kuemper. All high-usage players who merit the optional and everyone was around the rink today. Drew Doughty was on the ice. Doughty, in full condition, would have likely taken the optional, but I think the last thing he wants right now are days off. The conditioning was pretty good over his first three games but he’s still working on game-sharpness. Lots of positives but also some areas you know he’d like to be better in. Doughty wants to play in the upcoming 4 Nations Faceoff and personally, I want him to play. Another couple weeks of practices with some of the best players in the world and 3-4 games against high-level competition. No better way to shake the rust. Sounds like his participation feels more and more likely. Think it’s a win/win.

Full group will be back on the ice tomorrow at 11 AM. Kings will have practice days tomorrow and Thursday around home games on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Then it’s time for a break. Other than forward Adrian Kempe and perhaps Doughty, everyone will get a much-needed break, beginning on Sunday, February 9. The formal NHL break runs from 2/10 – 2/21, but the Kings will be able to resume practice before the 21st, with their first game back coming on Saturday, February 22 against Utah.

On a non-Kings front, would also like to extend congratulations to Jonathan Quick, who became just the 15th goaltender in NHL history to win 400 games in the league. Late last season, Quick became the winningest US-born goaltender, winning game 392 to surpass Ryan Miller. Now he’s in an elite club. With one more victory, Quick would hit 450 between regular-season and playoffs combined, an almost equally small club of players.

The undisputed number-one in Kings history in net. Obviously. Of Quick’s 400 wins, 370 of them came with the Kings. Jonathan Quick is the greatest goaltender in franchise history, bar none. Not a person alive who can dispute that one. Quick’s place in franchise history will be cemented one day based on his accomplishments in Los Angeles. One of the single greatest playoff runs in NHL history by a goaltender in 2012 and during his peak, you could make the case he was the NHL’s best goaltender, certainly in the postseason.

Congrats, Quickie!

Congratulations on 400, Quickie! 👏 https://t.co/6UMhduvWeQ pic.twitter.com/MejqMuxy74

— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 3, 2025