Los Angeles Kings face a turning point after Kevin Fiala’s devastating lower leg injury threatens to sideline the star winger for the rest of the regular season. Is a push to secure a playoff spot possible, or will GM Ken Holland’s trade strategy define the team’s fate? With Artemi Panarin added to the roster and rumors swirling about potential moves for Nazem Kadri, Charlie Coyle, or Vincent Trocheck, roster dynamics are shifting fast.
Host Eddie Garcia shares passionate Kings fan reactions, analyzes the Tom Wilson hit controversy, and weighs in on NHL player participation at the Olympics. The episode highlights rising expectations for Trevor Moore, Warren Fogle, Quinton Byfield, and Adrian Kempe, as well as questions the team’s coaching approach under Jim Hiller. Key insights include salary cap implications. Will the Kings rally or fall further behind as injury chaos mounts?
00:00 — Fiala Injury Update
Eddie Garcia provides the latest news on Kevin Fiala’s injury, surgery details, and discusses speculation about his possible playoff return and the impact on the Kings.
04:27 — Fan Reactions & Trade Talk
Eddie Garcia shares Kings fan emails reacting to the Fiala injury, debates about the Tom Wilson hit, opinions on NHL players at the Olympics, and explores trade possibilities (Panarin, Kadri, Coyle, Robert Thomas, Evander Kane, Trocheck, etc.).
21:35 — Non-Fiala Topics & Team Analysis
Eddie Garcia shifts focus to other fan emails about coaching issues, Kings culture, best historical trades, Olympics update, trivia, and closes with community shout-outs and ways to interact with Locked On LA Kings.
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28 Comments
While it would be nice to have Kevin Fiala back for the playoffs, I don't see that realistically being an option — even if cleared to play — unless the Kings make it to the Stanley Cup Final.
This is the time for true roster evaluation. Who will step up and earn their spot for next season?
With Fiala's money off the books for the rest of the regular season, now is the time for the Kings to really be aggressive and land a huge fish. Not a big fish, a HUGE fish. This is the one window they are likely ever going to have to stack their top-6 for both this season and the years ahead.
If that means trading valuable assets (except Brandt Clarke and one of Hampton Slukynsky or Carter George) to get Auston Matthews, you do it.
Wilson is obviously a jerk. In contrast, Kopitar would never do this.
lol, like the Kings were gonna make the playoffs anyway.
Willson was really dirty, no doubts, it’s his long hate of Panarin… It’s a shame that such outstanding team as Canada needs such a shameful player…
As to LA improvement, why don’t you consider Matvey Michkov of Philadelphia?
I know there're a lot of "band wagoneers" on your show, Eddie. But for those of us who've been around from the start, it's still hard to let 2011/'12 & 2013/'14 be the final word on our Kings. And the frustration of 2009/'10 & 2010/'11 instantly return to my memories. One year, around this same time period, Dustin Brown was injured/knocked out for the rest of the season. the next year, same thing happened to Anze Kopitar. I'm sure that was the main reason the L.A. Kings added so many existing guys who had the ability to take the team all the way. So, wake up, Luc. Let's go. It's time to go for it and get a couple more players. I can think of two new fellas they are welcome to let go of as they appear to be going nowhere-as you had predicted. In any case, this is the last chance. It's time to sink or swim…and then, start shooting for another 5-10 year wait! Thanks for still being there, Eddie!
I think Kadri is the more realistic target we could trade for, Thomas would cost a lot of assets we frankly don't have. Petterson? see Thomas.
Eddie “Young Bear” Garcia 😂😂😂
27:39 As a Russian native speaker I never heard “a Russian word” Panar, moreover, I’ve found that it’s a Mordva ethnic group word, which means a shirt
I found Vladimir Tsiplakov as a member of the Belarus Olympic team in Nagano
Norstrom (SWE), Berg (FIN), Tsyplakov (BEL), Palffy (SLV). Not sure sure about Berg and Palffy.
I loved the Olympics when it was for amateurs, today, many college players are paid and wouldn't qualify.
We weren’t making the playoffs WITH Fiala.
I didn't see a fight, I saw 2 guys wrestling, but I didn't see any punches thrown!
https://youtube.com/shorts/HmwXGpR85MY?si=U8WHhR6gx52LiyXz
NHL players shouldn't be at the Olympics. The Olympics were historically strictly for amateur athletes, with rules prohibiting professionals until the late 1980s. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially removed the amateur requirement in 1986.
Glad Fiala injury wasn't career threatening. Hearing the injury being Bo Jackson type was icing on the cake when it comes to stupidity on internet today. 2030 olympics will be in France. 2034 back in Utah
At 6 to 8 weeks he could be back in the first round which is 8 1/2 weeks away.
If he is it 8 to 12 weeks obviously the Kings would have to get through a couple of playoff rounds.
If it is beyond that he is gone the rest of the season.
The key for me is they will reevaluate by payoff time. That gives us a possible timeline of anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks.
No more trades. Let’s play and see what happens. I think a high draft pick would help us for next season
Olympic international hockey rules are for WIMPS! If you BREATHE on a player, it's a 5 minute major and misconduct 🙄🙄🤨
With Hiller as our coach we will be hard pressed to make the playoffs and a couple fans that are friends from other NHL teams have all asked why he’s still our coach cause they all say the same thing, that he’s not a good coach
I don't think pro athletes should compete in the Olympics. 1980 was special because it was a group of young Americans playing for their country, not for a paycheck or an endorsement deal. It was about America vs the World, not "my NHL players vs your NHL players."
Wilson got Fiala's leg between his legs, that's why i believe it's intentional, then he he fell or sat down on Kevin's leg. Some called it a slew foot move, others called it a banned football tackle called hip drop tackle. The dirtiest players learn how to make dirty plays without it being obvious.
As far as trades: I'm convinced qb is never going to fulfill his #2 pick in the draft, defensively absolutely horrendous, offensive he's still trying the same thing he did in juniors thinking it'll work but not against nhl'ers. I like Fogle's shot and forechecking. Also, perry may be good in front of the net but that's it, he's slow AND lost a couple steps making defense questionable.
Nothing beats an Olympic game when your country has a chance to win it all. Keep them in the Olympics.
Whatever they do, I hope they don't gut the farm.
Line Up without Fiala:
Panarin – Kopitar – Kempe
Laferriere – Byfield – Moore
Kuzmenko – Turcotte – Foegle
Perry – Helenius – Armia
Any move the Kings make for a rental player or a player over 30 or maybe 32 will probably be a lateral move and keep the Kings at the middle or bottom of their division. The number one move they need to make is to fire Holland. The style he coaches is boring and doesn't lead to Stanley Cups
Thomas is out for the season with injury. Not an option. Trocheck already said that he doesn’t want to leave the east coast. Not an option either.
No one will be steping up while Hiller is coach.