LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Akil Thomas

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Akil Thomas!

Akil Thomas

Birthdate: January 2, 2000

Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario

Height: 6’0

Weight: 194 lbs

Position: Center/wing

Shoots: Right

Draft: 2nd round, 51st overall, 2018 NHL Entry Draft

2024-25 season

The 2024 offseason seemed like a promising one for Akil Thomas. After staying healthy for most of the 2023-24 campaign, where he posted career highs in games played (64), goals (22), assists (24), and points (46), Kings brass started to take notice of the former second-round pick and former general manager Rob Blake made it a point in his end of the season interview that he was a player they would look to add to the lineup.

Real DEAL Akil ✍️

We have signed forward Akil Thomas to a two-year contract!

— LA Kings (@LAKings) June 6, 2024

Fresh off signing a two-year deal in June, the season didn’t go as Thomas probably would’ve hoped. A slow preseason saw Thomas fall out of favor in the lineup, and he wasn’t a regular in the lineup as I had thought he would be. In sporadic appearances, Thomas appeared in 26 games for the Kings and recorded three points (1 G, 2 A).

Akil Thomas gets his first goal of the year in his season debut!#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lRbpDS83R3

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 30, 2024

2025-26 outlook

This year’s training camp will be different for Thomas. Unlike last year, when he was fighting for a lineup spot, he will be fighting to stay on the roster for the 2025-26 campaign. And even that isn’t a guarantee. Thomas can play center and wing, and was leapfrogged by Samuel Helenius and Andre Lee at times last year, and was blocked by Trevor Lewis. Looking in from the outside of the bubble, this could be Thomas’ last chance to earn a roster spot with the Kings.

Featured image credit: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Akil Thomas

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