Los Angeles Kings left winger Kevin Fiala is likely out for the rest of the NHL season after suffering a brutal lower leg injury while representing Team Switzerland in the 2026 Milan Olympics, per a report from ESPN.
The injury occurred Friday late in the third period of a matchup between Team Switzerland and Team Canada, a game that Canada ended up winning 5-1. With less than three minutes left in the game Fiala was checked into the boards by Canada forward Tom Wilson, who plays for the Washington Capitals. Fiala fell onto his leg and after lying on the ice for some time, managed to prop himself up on his elbows, but could not get back to his feet.
Advertisement
“It’s just unlucky,” Wilson said of Fiala (via NHL.com). “He’s a competitor, obviously, and at this point, it’s the Olympic Games, and I feel terrible that he may not be able to keep playing.”
Los Angeles Kings LW Kevin Fiala (22) tries to get by the defender during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday December 27th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Nico Alba – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Kings LW Kevin Fiala (22) tries to get by the defender during an NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday December 27th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher and immediately hospitalized before undergoing surgery that will at least end his time in the 2026 Olympics.
Losing Fiala would be a huge blow for a Kings team that are in the thick of a playoff race. Fiala is second on the team in goals, assists and points and losing him leaves a gaping void in the Kings’ first line.
Advertisement
“Very obviously sad, and it sucks for him and for us,” Adrian Kempe, who’s playing for Team Sweden, said. “It’s really tough for him personally and for us as a team. You know how much he means to our team back home in L.A. It’s just very unfortunate for him that it comes in a tournament like this that we’ve been looking forward to playing in for so long.”
NHL players were kept off of Olympic rosters in both the 2018 and 2022 Games and with Fiala’s injury, the inherent risk for NHL teams lending their star players to international play in the middle of the season is revealed in excruciating detail.
Fiala’s injury was particularly devastating for another one of his Kings teammates, Drew Doughty, who was playing for Canada in the game where Fiala went down.
Advertisement
“We need that guy on my team back home, big time,” Doughty said. “I’m going to go find him now and see how he’s doing,” Doughty said after the game.