Artemi Panarin Arrives as Kings Face Life Without Fiala

At the Kings’ practice facility in El Segundo, close to Los Angeles International Airport, the team is navigating a season defined by both arrivals and departures. Artemi Panarin, the team’s recent trade acquisition, has now joined the Kings in Los Angeles. He and his family are currently staying with former Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, a longtime teammate of Panarin from their time in Columbus, New York, and Team Russia. Meanwhile, the team is coping with the loss of forward Kevin Fiala, who will miss the rest of the NHL season due to a severe leg injury sustained during the Olympic men’s hockey tournament.

Kevin Fiala’s Injury Leaves Kings Without a Key Player

Fiala suffered multiple fractures to his left leg in a Switzerland–Canada game at the Olympics, including injuries to the same leg that ended his 2017 playoff run when he fractured his femur while playing for the Nashville Predators. As a result of the injury, Fiala is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and likely will miss the playoffs, pending the Kings securing a postseason berth. His absence came at a critical moment as Switzerland subsequently lost to Finland 3-2, ending their hopes for an Olympic medal.

“Everybody watching, their heart felt for him, and if you were there in St. Louis, you were actually in tears for him. Those are pretty gruesome injuries,”

said Peter Laviolette, former Nashville coach and former coach of Panarin in New York.

“To have to deal with two of them is tough, but Kevin is a pretty strong and pretty resilient kid. I think he’ll bounce back just fine.”

Balancing Olympic Risks and NHL Priorities

The NHL Players’ Association had advocated strongly for NHL players’ participation in the Olympics, the first time since 2014, though the league and teams remain concerned about injury risks. Fiala’s injury echoes previous instances such as John Tavares’ significant injury during the 2014 Olympics, which cut his season short. Laviolette expressed the tension involved in these decisions, noting the passion and high stakes associated with international competition.

“Everybody loves [best-on-best competition]. There’s gonna be these unfortunate incidents that come up, there’s always the risk of something like this. It can be pretty devastating, not only for a player, but for a team or for a city,”

Laviolette said.

“At the end of the day, everybody really wants it. Certainly the players want it and the fans want to watch it. It leads to a really good brand of hockey with players playing for their country, and it’s all part of what’s built the game.”

Panarin’s Role Gains Importance Amid Fiala’s Absence

With Fiala sidelined, the Kings lose their leading power-play scorer and second overall point producer, heightening expectations for Panarin. The Russian star has immediately become the team’s top offensive contributor and will be relied upon to help invigorate one of the NHL’s lowest-ranked offenses and power plays. Captain Anže Kopitar highlighted Panarin’s defensive qualities alongside his scoring ability, adding some lighthearted remarks as the team integrates him into special teams.

“He’s very good defensively, he backchecks a lot and we’re gonna use him on the (penalty kill),”

Kopitar said with a wry smile.

“As soon as he got to the league, you could tell that he was going to be a very good offensive player, and he didn’t disappoint.”

Settling Into Los Angeles and Adopting No. 72

After being traded from the New York Rangers on February 4, Panarin joked about the large Los Angeles media presence, comparing it to his previous coverage in New York. Panarin confirmed he will wear No. 72 with the Kings, a number he wore during his early professional years in Saint Petersburg and Chicago. The symbolic approval came humorously from Bailey, the Kings’ mascot.

“They just called me and they said the mascot [Bailey] was not against it. I’ll probably share the number with him, I wish he’ll stay with 72,”

Panarin said.

“We’ll figure it out, don’t worry about it,”

he added when asked if he had to make a payment to the mascot for the number.

Team Health and Outlook as the Regular Season Nears its End

Alongside Panarin’s arrival, the Kings anticipate the return of defenseman Mikey Anderson and center Alex Turcotte from injury after the Olympic break. Despite some players still managing various ailments, coach Jim Hiller acknowledged the club’s overall improved health status. Winger Andrei Kuzmenko was seen wearing significant facial protection, likely a precaution following an injury from a puck deflection earlier in February.

The Kings now face a stretch of 26 games to determine their postseason fate. They are striving to secure a playoff spot for a fifth straight year, a goal made more challenging by Fiala’s injury and the possibility of additional roster changes before the playoff push.

“We don’t have time or energy to spend outside of what’s right in front of us, and that’s a great challenge,”

Hiller said.

“We’d like to be up and in, and feel a little safer, but we’re not, so here we are.”

Implications for Kings’ Future and Playoff Prospects

Artemi Panarin’s integration offers a vital offensive boost at a time when the Kings are adjusting to the loss of a key contributor in Kevin Fiala. Fiala’s absence removes a major power-play weapon and scoring leader, while Panarin’s arrival could spark the offense and strengthen defensive efforts, particularly on the penalty kill. The team’s health improvements and potential return of injured players provide cautious optimism as they face a critical run of games. Their ability to maintain focus amid adversity will be essential in determining whether the Kings continue their recent playoff streak or face a postseason miss.