The Kings have made a pair of roster moves in advance of their game today against Detroit. The team announced that they’ve activated forward Alex Turcotte off injured reserve. To make room for him on the roster, winger Andre Lee was assigned to AHL Ontario.
Turcotte was placed on IR a week ago today after sustaining an upper-body injury early in the month. The 23-year-old is in his first full NHL season and has held his own in a limited role. Turcotte has played in 13 games so far this season, picking up a goal and four assists while averaging just under 12 minutes a night in their bottom six. For his career, he’s up to 45 appearances at the top level, tallying two goals and seven helpers.
As for Lee, he was an early-season recall and had been up with Los Angeles since then, spanning more than five weeks in total. Along the way, he played a regular role in the lineup, collecting two assists and 32 hits in 15 games in 9:26 of playing time per game. Those games were the 24-year-old’s first taste of NHL action. Lee had eight goals and five assists in 38 games with the Reign last season, resulting in a one-year, two-way contract worth the league minimum of $775K with the Kings and $100K in the minors.
Notably, Lee’s assignment means that Samuel Helenius will remain with Los Angeles for now, at least. He was brought up when Turcotte landed on injured reserve and it would have made sense for him to be the one who lost his spot with Turcotte returning. Helenius has an assist, nine hits, and a 60% faceoff success rate in his first three games, earning himself a longer look in the process.
Turcotte back with Kopi & Kempe. 4th line – Jeannot, Helenius, Lewis.