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The LA Kings faced every NHL team’s worst nightmare at the 2026 Olympics, seeing one of their stars go down on the ice.
The LA Kings faced every NHL team’s worst nightmare on Friday. The main concern of all clubs is having one of their main stars sustain an injury while representing their native country.
That’s exactly what happened to the Kings in the game between Switzerland and Canada. Late in the third period of Team Canada’s 5-1 win, Kevin Fiala and Tom Wilson got tangled up in an awkward collision.
The hit left Fiala on the ice, unable to get up. The medical staff rushed a stretcher into the stunned Santagiulia Arena, taking the LA Kings’ star off the ice.
The replay showed Wilson’s legs tangling with Fiala’s left leg. While it’s tough to assess what actually could be the case, it seems that Fiala might have sustained a knee injury. Of course, that’s not a medical opinion. So, it remains unclear what the official diagnosis could be.
The hope is that Fiala left the game on a stretcher purely as a precautionary measure. Also, the hope is that he’ll just end up really sore in the morning. Even if the LA Kings’ star misses the rest of the Olympics, the expectation is that he’ll be back on the ice soon enough.
Again, that’s purely speculation at this point. The optics of the hit were not good. That’s why the LA Kings could be staring at disaster heading into the NHL trade deadline.
Losing Fiala Would Be Terrible Blow to LA Kings
The loss of a crucial piece like Fiala would be terrible for Los Angeles. The club is coming off a huge coup in landing Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers. That situation fueled optimism in Tinseltown.
But now, losing Fiala could put the LA Kings in a tough spot. The team will have to figure out a replacement for him, should the scoring winger miss time moving forward. A trade for a suitable piece may be out of the question. That’s why the club may need to look for depth options to offset the loss of Fiala.
The LA Kings are still looking to make the playoffs. So, they’ll need to scramble now to figure out their options moving forward.
Los Angeles May Not Have Many Replacement Options
So, the biggest question would be how to replace Fiala if he’s out long-term. Barring a trade, the club would have to find internal options. Panarin would certainly mitigate part of Fiala’s absence.
But bear in mind that the LA Kings are in the bottom third in scoring this season. The team can ill afford to lose a crucial top-six piece, especially at this point in the season. That’s why the Kings will need to determine if now is the time to push for a trade on whoever might be readily available.
For the time being, the club will need to await further news on Fiala’s injury. That information will determine the path forward for the club. Regardless of whether Fiala’s situation is just one massive scare, the fact is that the LA Kings will be on the prowl, looking for more scoring options.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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