One of the acquisitions in the off-season for the Los Angeles Kings was left-winger Warren Foegele. He had previously played for the rival Edmonton Oilers and had a good showing but he wanted more. He got that in Los Angeles and he is showing what he is capable of with more ice time.
Foegele was drafted 67th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Draft. He has developed into a solid two-way player but he often goes unnoticed. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, his size comes in handy when there are board battles and battles for pucks in the open ice.
The Kings brought him into the fold because they saw something in him. His speed and aggressiveness on the puck stood out and filled a void in the lineup. Why he chose Los Angeles was because he was given a bigger role with increased ice time, which he has fully taken advantage of. He was singed as a free agent by the Kings on July 1, 2024 and has played in the middle-six since he arrived.
This season, he has 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 70 games, including three goals and five assists for seven points over his last 11 games. However, it goes beyond points for Foegele. He has given this lineup new energy and has been a hound whenever the puck is available. He also plays on the penalty kill, in which he has been greatly successful because of his speed.
While Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson has been equally as good in his first season with Los Angeles, Foegele has been amazing. He is not averaging a point per game but he has been effective in so many other ways. He spreads positivity and has been a great locker room guy, showing he can be a leader without a letter on his jersey. His play speaks for itself and he is a great complementary player to the top-line players like Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. He gives the Kings a player who is versatile and gives the roster a new look that produces speed on every line. He will not get the attention most free agents get but he should be based on what he has done in Los Angeles.
(photo: imagn images; Steve Roberts)
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