Warren Foegele is finally back in action for the LA Kings after a two-week break, and he’s feeling pretty good about it.
The 29-year-old forward hasn’t played since getting hurt in Chicago on October 26, but he’s ready to jump back into the lineup on Sunday.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Foegele, who’s managed just one point in his first 10 games. That’s a big drop from last year when he had his best NHL season ever – scoring 24 goals and racking up 46 points.
He won’t be returning to his usual spot, though. Andrei Kuzmenko has taken over Foegele’s old role on the third line with Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore.
Instead, Foegele’s expected to start on the fourth line alongside Corey Perry and Alex Turcotte. That means Jeff Malott will likely watch from the press box.
Malott’s had a rough go of it this year. Despite earning his shot after a strong AHL season with Ontario (23 goals, 51 points in 61 games), he’s only managed two points in 13 NHL games. He’s barely seeing the ice, averaging less than eight minutes per game.
But here’s why Foegele’s return matters: he’s a key player on the penalty kill. Last season, he was one of the Kings’ top four forwards when playing short-handed, helping the team finish 8th in the league in penalty killing.
The Kings are in a tight battle for the Pacific Division lead, and getting Foegele back could make a real difference – even if he’s not lighting up the scoreboard.
They don’t need to make any other roster moves right now since they’ve got an open spot, which makes the timing of his return even better.
