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Kings’ $1 Million Gamble Hit With Another Injury Setback
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- Kings’ $1 Million Gamble Hit With Another Injury Setback
The Los Angeles Kings thought bringing on an almost 40-year-old player would spark their offense, but instead, that player's body has been sparked out twice by injuries.
Mats Zuccarello has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Kings announced Monday. He will miss the team's matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with head coach Peter Laviolette offering no further details about the injury.
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The timing is unfortunate for Zuccarello, who spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career in New York and became a fan favorite. Monday's game offered another chance to return to his former home, but he'll have to wait for another opportunity.
Another Setback for Zuccarello
The 39-year-old already missed three consecutive games earlier this month because of an undisclosed injury. He returned to the lineup last Tuesday against the Washington Capitals and appeared in each of Los Angeles' next three games before this latest setback.
His most recent appearance came Saturday, when he logged 13:20 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
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Unfortunately, the offensive numbers haven't been encouraging either. Zuccarello has recorded just one assist through six games and has gone without a point in his last four appearances. He's posted a plus-one rating while averaging 16:23 of ice time per game.
Los Angeles signed Zuccarello to a one-year, $1 million contract this summer after several injury-plagued seasons with the Minnesota Wild.
The move offered relatively little financial risk, but the potential reward was significant. Zuccarello had recorded at least 50 points in each of the previous five seasons, making him an appealing addition for a Kings team searching for more offensive production.
So far, staying healthy has been the biggest obstacle. Los Angeles needs its veteran addition available consistently, particularly when the offense is struggling to find its footing.
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Kings Face Another Challenge
Los Angeles enters Monday's matchup with a 2-5-2 record, sitting seventh in the Pacific Division despite winning back-to-back games last week.
Without Zuccarello, other forwards will need to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility against the Rangers.
For the Kings, the hope is that Zuccarello's latest absence will be a short one. On the bright side, things are looking a little more encouraging between the pipes, giving Los Angeles at least one reason for optimism.
