Practice 4/6 – Turcotte skates in non-contact jersey + Doughty update, Malott on almost first goal

Few updates for you today, Insiders.

Let’s start with the return of a familiar face. Forward Alex Turcotte skated with the team today, in a red, non-contact jersey. From what I’m hearing, Turcotte skated yesterday with the team’s healthy scratches prior to the game against the Oilers, so it isn’t surprising he skated today as well.

Welcome back, Alex Turcotte! pic.twitter.com/rrxO0WmPRv

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 6, 2025

Really good sign for Turcotte.

He’s missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, suffered on March 23 in the win over the Boston Bruins. Hasn’t played since. It’s really nice to see him back on the ice today.

“I thought he looked good today,” Head Coach Jim Hiller said after practice. “We’ll be careful where he goes. I won’t expect him anytime soon, but progress for sure.”

Since the Kings acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko at the trade deadline to round out the top nine up front, Turcotte was given a new role. He took that challenge head on. Turcotte has driven play for the Kings on the fourth line, alongside Tanner Jeannot and Samuel Helenius. Two big bruisers and a lightning bug of energy, with Turcotte’s speed and skill meshing quite well with the size and physicality that Helenius and Jeannot bring to the table.

While Jeannot remains out with an injury of his own, timeline not known at this time, Turcotte practicing today certainly suggests that he is the closer of the two to returning to the lineup. While the emergence of Jeff Malott in his own right has helped to mitigate the absences of Turcotte and Jeannot, getting Turcotte back in the mix is certainly welcomed heading into the postseason in two weeks’ time.

Let’s talk about Malott though.

First things first, that goal. Man.

😢 https://t.co/sAqXgbw3aO pic.twitter.com/fm6sjXXuoD

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 5, 2025

The greatest first career NHL goal that almost was.

“It would have been cool if it counted,” he said with a laugh.

Mal-ott……more like mal-ORR.

Said he got a few texts from guys with the Ontario Reign and even got a couple from people who didn’t know the goal didn’t count. Jim Hiller called it a “beauty” and if you pair it with the highlight of his first career NHL fight, you’ve got quite the highlight reel.

If you didn’t know and just saw the highlight, man would that have been pretty nasty to see.

It shows why I think a number of people internally are Malott supporters. He has the size and physicality that you want from a fourth-line player. Especially in trying to fill Jeannot’s spot, those traits are needed.

Loved how he explained his goal also.

“It’s an accumulation of plays in the league,” he said. “I had a similar chance against Colorado in the first game and I kind of rushed it a little bit, so just building off that, maybe not try and take the first thing available and try to just have a little more composure there. That was just the move I saw.”

What this play, and others he has made, show about Malott though is that he has the skill element also. Malott has played four seasons in the AHL and he’s scored 20-plus goals in all four seasons. It’s actually funny to me that he talked about having more composure, because I was impressed early by Malott’s composure, dating back to his Kings debut in Colorado. He didn’t panic and was comfortable making composed plays under pressure. He’s continued to impress in showing some of the abilities that’s made him a favorite of many at the AHL level, while also bringing the other elements of his game that the Kings need to see from him in the role he’s playing.

Naturally, I think everyone would like to see Jeannot get healthy and contribute during the playoffs. Once he found his role with the Kings, he has been extremely impactful in a few different ways. Right now, though, he isn’t available and we don’t have an idea on his timeline. Therefore, the Kings need someone else to step up. That guy has been Malott, who does things every game that show he is an NHL-caliber player.

Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Back on the injury front, have to talk about Drew Doughty as well.

Doughty did not practice today, which is not a red flag with both he and Hiller being open about his progress this season in returning from his fractured ankle.

What makes it worth mentioning is that Doughty did not play the last 7:46 of yesterday’s win over the Oilers.

Hiller was non-committal on Doughty’s status specifically for tomorrow’s game, though he did not seem concerned about the long-term availability of Doughty going forward.

“I think everything is precautionary, is what I would call it, it’s not a concern,” Hiller said. “We’ve said he’ll be dealing with something the rest of the way, so it’s never going to be 100 percent, but we just want to make sure with schedule, minutes, timing all of those kinds of things that we keep him relatively fresh.”

So, we’ll see tomorrow on Doughty’s status.

No one has hidden from the fact that Doughty isn’t at 100 percent. Both player and coach have been pretty open about it. So far, though, he’s only missed one game, an overtime defeat against Vancouver on February 26. He was back in the lineup in the next game against Dallas and has not missed a game since.

In lopsided wins, Doughty’s minutes have been managed. The Kings have had a few more of those as of late, scoring seven goals against Carolina and Boston and eight against San Jose. In those games, the Kings have had the chance to limit Doughty’s involvement and they have done so. He’s been available every game, though, and even at 85 percent, Doughty is a pretty solid player. Not to say that’s where he’s at but just for example, we’ll say 85 percent.

For tomorrow, we’ll wait and see. With six games left, wouldn’t be surprising if Doughty is given a little bit of time off down the stretch, especially as the Kings seed and potential Round 1 opponent comes into focus. The plan for Doughty has been fluid and everyone has been in lockstep, between him, Hiller and the medical/training staffs with the Kings. Assuming that remains in place, he’ll be in a good place.

Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NHLI via Getty Images

Look for an optional skate tomorrow, in advance of the game against Seattle. Doesn’t sound like Turcotte will play and feels questionable on Doughty. From there, we go.