INSIDER: Mats Zuccarello Talks Return + Byfield/Wright Updates in NY

Good to see Mats Zuccarello back in action with the Kings.

It’s been a bumpy start in Los Angeles for the veteran winger, outside of his control. He sustained a shoulder injury just before training camp, which limited his practice participation during camp and he was the only veteran player to get just one exhibition game, though he looked pretty effective in the preseason finale against Anaheim. He played each of the first three games of the season, collecting his first point in San Jose, but after the loss against Florida, Zuccarello was placed on injured reserve, which cost him a couple of weeks.  

He was out ever since, until yesterday, that is, as he returned to the lineup in the win over Washington. 

Overall, it wasn’t the start he wanted with a new organization and that brought on some frustration, in not getting up to speed as quickly as he’d like. But he’s got a chance now to settle in and integrate into the group, at a pivotal moment early in the season, which is where his focus is. 

“You want to come in and make an impact,” Zuccarello said. “When you miss camp and miss time, especially in a new group, it’s not even just on the ice, it’s getting to know everyone outside, around the locker room. When you’re hurt during camp, early in the season, you feel kind of like an outsider, so that sucks, but it’s a part of the game. It’s a long season, I’ve got time to settle in here and it’s a great group of guys, easy to get along with. So, I just have to find my groove on the ice, feel comfortable. New system, new players, so a little bit of an adjustment, but hopefully that’s not going to take too long.”

In terms of last night, Zuccarello didn’t think he was perfect. But in watching the game, I thought he looked pretty effective and you could see things in his game that the Kings have really lacked, playing with the puck.

There are still a lot of areas of his game he wants to get back to a higher level and in one game, he didn’t think they were quite there. I think that’s to be expected. He had a shortened training camp and what I felt was a slightly impacted training camp, meaning that even when he was on the ice, he wasn’t a full participant on a lot of days. With camp shorter as it is, on top of the new fit, there’s more to come. He knows that. Speaks to the standard Zuccarello has for himself and the top gear he is certainly capable of.

“I mean, I feel like I've got a little bit to go to get my timing,” Zuccarello said. “Obviously, I missed part of the camp, so getting your hockey conditioning up and timing and seeing the ice. The most important thing is that we won. Hopefully can get some confidence in the group and keep going like that, so that one was big.”

Zuccarello is here to help the Kings score more goals. He's got an eye for the game offensively and, all in all, he thought that the team created a little bit more than he saw in the past few games. 

I don’t think anyone would really argue with that. The coaching staff felt it. Offensively, the Kings created more than they have been. With that came a looser defensive game, which they’d like to clean up, but when you bury five goals in 60 minutes - one more than was scored in the previous four games combined - I think you’ve got to accept what came along with that in the interim. The Kings had Darcy Kuemper to clean up a few messes and he did that. 

Offensively, though, the Kings were far more cohesive and dangerous and they got rewarded with the five goals and two points.

"I think we were able to create a little bit more, to be honest with you, once we settled in," he said. "Yesterday was good. First line played really well, created a lot of chances. We had a couple. Every line, I think, played pretty good. There's some things on the back end we need to clean up, but that's just a part of the game, it goes fast out there. We're playing good teams, so you're not going to be able to take away everything."

For his part, Peter Laviolette was very happy to have Zuccarello back. Zuccarello’s gifts are greatest at the offensive end of the ice and that is exactly where the Kings need the most help. 

“He brings offense, he had a couple of really good chances, there was one in the second period where he walked in, puck was on his stick from about 10, 12 feet out, and the goalie made a nice save. It's nice to have him back. We're short on offensive pieces and to get guys like that back, I think especially with QB leaving the game five minutes in, having him back in there was a help. We need our guys back in the lineup, healthy, and back in in the lineup.”

Good first night back and Zuccarello seemed to come out of the game feeling good, which is always worth monitoring after that first one. Would expect him to continue to build his game from here. If he finds the timing he spoke about, he's a massive help for the group offensively.

For today, a couple of updates to add below, as noted in the tweet above - 

The Kings were without forward Quinton Byfield today, due to an upper-body injury sustained during last night game in Washington against the Capitals. Byfield left the game midway through the first period and did not return. Byfield did travel with the team to New York, which is encouraging, but wasn't among the players on the ice today. 

"Right now, we're just day-to-day with him," Peter Laviolette said this morning. 

Laviolette said earlier today that the Kings were going to recall a player for "precautionary measures". That player is Jared Wright, who is expected to meet the team here on Long Island. Wright played one NHL game in Vegas a couple of weeks ago, his first of the season with Los Angeles, and has three points (2-1-3) in five NHL games played with the AHL's Ontario Reign. 

With the team on the road for four additional games, I did not see them proceeding with just the 12 forwards, assuming that Byfield remains out, even on a day-to-day basis. With forward Alex Turcotte on injured reserve and Kevin Fiala on the injured/non-roster list, the Kings did have an open roster spot to bring up a forward, meaning that no other move was required in order to add Wright to the roster. 

I felt there were a couple of ways the Kings could go. They have four centers on the roster and could align them as we saw them last night, after Byfield left the game. Erik Haula and Scott Laughton were playing together on the third line and both are natural centers. With Alex Laferriere continuing to earn his place on the first line, Haula moved up with Zuccarello and Trevor Moore. That left Laughton to center the third line with Joel Armia and often times Andre Lee, though the rotation was thrown a bit with only 11 forwards. More to come on Lee tomorrow, but I felt he played pretty well again, after a good night versus Boston. He could get the look there tomorrow, although a Wright/Laughton/Armia third line is also familiar from last season. Should have a better feeling there in the morning.

The other way the Kings could have gone was with a center coming up. Kenny Connors and Lane Pederson have been the top two at the position for the Reign. I'd imagine that Martin Chromiak is also working his way onto the radar and he had a three-point night yesterday in Ontario's win over Calgary. Wright is the organization's top option, though and I think that's been detailed through the call-up patterns. I think that Haula is the ideal swing guy, meaning that he's got top-six experience, even if the ideal, fully healthy configuration of the Kings has him on the third line. Laughton is versatile and can move around. I'd like to see a Connors look in time but I think Wright is more plug and play. Byfield is still a day-to-day evaluation so there's every chance he plays tomorrow, which is certainly not off the table.