The Los Angeles Kings are trimming their roster to open up cap space with a three-day break before their next game. The organization announced they’ve reassigned Samuel Helenius, Andre Lee, and Jacob Moverare to their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.
Lee has the most playing time of the trio with 16 games already under his belt for this season. The 188th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft has tallied two assists on the year while operating in a fourth-line role in Los Angeles. He’s known more for his physicality than his offensive production as Lee ranks sixth on the team in hitting with 34 body checks handed out to opposing teams.
Moverare is the longest-tenured of the group as he’s entered his fifth professional season with the Kings organization. He’s suited up in 52 games for Los Angeles since the start of the 2021-22 NHL season but only has one goal and two assists to show for. The Ostersund, Sweden native has understandably performed much better in the AHL for the Reign scoring 10 goals and 71 points in 163 contests and an assist in three postseason contests.
The final member of the group heading back to the AHL is Helenius who was drafted 59th overall by the Kings in the 2021 NHL Draft and likely has the highest ceiling of the three reassignees. He’s collected two assists in nine games in Los Angeles this season while also scoring two goals and three points in eight games for AHL Ontario.
Los Angeles has four players (Arthur Kaliyev, Akil Thomas, Caleb Jones, and Darcy Kuemper), and an additional player (Drew Doughty) on the team’s long-term injured reserve. There is no indication any of the injured players will be activated before the Kings’ contest against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night so a few if not all of the trio should be back in Los Angeles in a couple of days.