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    Kings place Viktor Arvidsson on long-term injured reserve
    • October 12, 2023

    The Kings had two days off between games but when you’ve taken a job as a tightrope-walker in the NHL’s salary-cap circus, eventful moments are often unscheduled.

    De-scheduled were the team’s practice and media availability Thursday, however the Kings confirmed that winger Viktor Arvidsson has been placed on long-term injured reserve. Arvidsson is in his third season with the Kings, having proven a prolific and versatile winger who put up 108 points in 143 games while playing in all situations in two years as a King.

    Additionally, they sent Arthur Kaliyev and Alex Laferriere to the minors, while recalling Alex Turcotte and Brandt Clarke. Both Kaliyev and Laferriere’s demotions are mere paper transactions and they should return to the Kings imminently. Turcotte and Clarke’s purpose was less clear. They could also be paper transactions, but Arvidsson’s placement on LTIR could also open up the possibility of carrying a full roster after dressing just 19 players on opening night due to salary-cap constraints.

    “Arvy isn’t going to be with us for awhile, I’ll break that news for you,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan said Wednesday after a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

    McLellan then said he was uncertain whether the lower-body injury Arvidsson sustained this week in practice would require surgery. He also lauded rookie Laferriere, who made his NHL debut thanks, in part, to Arvidsson’s absence as well as that of the suspended Kaliyev, whose ban will be lifted after Sunday’s match against the Carolina Hurricanes. Laferriere will likely stick around a bit longer, though Clarke and/or Turcotte could end up being the sort of paper transaction the Kings will make on an almost daily basis this season to accrue cap space for the trade deadline, or it could be a real opportunity for the two former top-10 picks.

    The opening week of the 2023-24 season has offered a bizarre parallel with the final days of the 2021-22 campaign. In both instances, Arvidsson left practice abruptly and was not available afterward. What was described as a personal issue through laughter and smiles turned out to be a herniated disc that precluded him from playing in the playoffs and nearly forced him to miss the following season’s opener. Earlier this week, Arvidsson again left practice in a hurry. McLellan described Arvidsson as needing “an adjustment” and said he would be fine. Yet a day later, Arvidsson was day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the following day he was ruled out of both the first two games and now he has been placed on LTIR. Despite the nebulous nature of the revelations, it seemed more like a cautious approach rather than a deceitful one from McLellan, and General Manager Rob Blake later clarified the timeline in detail publicly in both instances.

    While a timetable for Arvidsson’s return is not yet known, NHL rules stipulate that a player placed on LTIR must miss at least 24 calendar days of action and 10 regular-season games.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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