In advance of yesterday’s NHL Trade Deadline, the LA Kings were involved in a flurry of activity, overwhelmingly directed at the Ontario Reign.
With several players recalled to the big club — for what is expected to be an extended stretch — reinforcements were needed at the AHL level.
The annual paper transactions:
Unless something changes in the next 30 minutes, sounds like LA Kings will make the following roster moves for the purpose of AHL playoff eligibility…
Sent down / to be recalled…
Byfield
Kupari
Vilardi
Spence(See yesterday's tweets)
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 21, 2022
He's a 6-ft-2 forward who will play for Ontario Reign for the remainder of the season. Turns 24 soon, and he's the son of former LA Kings forward Dixon Ward.
As a senior, Led the Mavericks with 39 points (19G, 20A) in 38 games this season. https://t.co/YMdOAjgcPF
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 19, 2022
Checked in w/ a few top scouts on Taylor Ward for more info
Scout A: Can really fire the puck. Great shot.
B: Very good skill level & offensive tools. Led NCHC in PPG. Late bloomer type; improved every season. Competitive, very strong in half court. Shoots puck extremely well.
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 19, 2022
And the weirdness just keeps getting weirder in 2022…
NYI have loaned defenseman Thomas Hickey to the Ontario Reign.
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 19, 2022
NHL clubs can loan/assign players pretty much anywhere they desire. For example, Matt Moulson played in Ontario for years while not under contract to the LA Kings organization in any way. https://t.co/cm1GTMlNSC
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 19, 2022
Thomas Hickey will wear No. 8 and make his Ontario Reign debut tonight… pic.twitter.com/3YiJknLlnC
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 20, 2022
Reign related… https://t.co/sJFI7hom3U
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 21, 2022
LA Kings org made another Ontario Reign related move today…
Dman Markus Phillips sent to Winnipeg in exchange for blueliner Nelson Nogier (a Jets 4rth rounder who has spent six seasons in AHL). Gives each guy the change of scenery they needed. Both on expiring contracts too.
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 21, 2022
Tkachev scores his second goal of the game to make it 2-1 #Reign
Assisted by: Fagemo(14), Hickey(9) pic.twitter.com/Ewuf2eCAxe
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) March 21, 2022
Nobody — and that includes everybody, everywhere — had Thomas Hickey returning to play for an LA Kings affiliate this season. Yet, there he was on Sunday night, making his Ontario Reign debut, picking up an assist in a rare 4-2 defeat on home ice.
With their next win, Ontario will clinch a playoff spot.
They’ll have to do so without the services of defenseman Christian Wolanin on Tuesday. Although he’s bounced back and forth between the Kings and Reign of late, in a dizzying array of paper transactions, the expectation was that he’d be available for tonight’s game. However, he has temporarily been sidelined with a non-COVID illness.
Ontario’s opponent tonight will be the Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings). It’s one of the extremely few times they’ll venture outside of the Pacific Division for an opponent. Back in February, the two teams played in Michigan, with the Reign claiming a 5-2 victory on night one, followed by a 5-3 loss the following evening. After tonight, they’ll meet up once more this season, coming up Friday in Ontario.
In that previous series, Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored in each game. Sammy Fagemo scored once and had assists in each game.
Meanwhile, Grand Rapids features a Slovenian player — forward Jan Drozg.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
Ward – Tynan – Frk
Tkachev – Anderson-Dolan – Fagemo
Kemp – Sutter – Dudas
Pavlychev – Thomas – Doty
Other options include: Ulett, Wagner
Injured: Madden
Unavailable: Turcotte (explained here)
Gaunce – Grans
Hickey – Allard
Kasastul – Noger
Other options include: McIvor, Wolanin
Villalta (starter)
Sparks
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm tonight and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
RELATED CONTENT:
Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 123 – Trades, Injuries, and Playoffs, Oh My!
Lead photo via ALo Images
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