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The Kings release a statement on forward Kevin Fiala
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- The Kings release a statement on forward Kevin Fiala
The Kings release a statement on forward Kevin Fiala
It's been a rough stretch for Kevin Fiala, and unfortunately for the Los Angeles Kings, the news heading into the 2026-27 season isn't getting any better. The Swiss forward already missed a significant chunk of last season after suffering a devastating injury while representing his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and now it appears the road to recovery is going to take a bit longer than anyone in LA was hoping for.
On Thursday, the Kings put out an official statement revealing that Fiala had undergone an additional procedure connected to the lower-body injury he originally sustained at the Olympics. As a result, the 30-year-old winger will not be available for the start of training camp, and the club indicated that a more specific timeline for his return will only become clear as his recovery progresses.
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The Olympic Injury That Started It All
For those who need a refresher, Fiala's troubles trace back to Switzerland's matchup against Canada at the Winter Olympics. Late in the third period of that contest, Fiala went down hard along the boards in the Canadian zone after getting tangled up with Tom Wilson. It was an ugly scene. Medical staff evaluated him on the ice before he was placed face down on a stretcher with an aircast on his leg and wheeled off to the hospital.
The diagnosis was a fracture in his left lower leg, which required immediate surgery back in February. That procedure knocked him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season, cutting short what had been a productive campaign. In 55 or 56 games with the Kings before the injury, Fiala had tallied 18 goals and 40 points, putting him right on pace for his seventh straight season of 20-plus goals.
Now, months later, the fact that he needed a follow-up procedure related to that initial surgery is certainly concerning. The Kings were clearly hoping to have him back and healthy for camp, but that's just not the reality right now.
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What This Means for the Kings Moving Forward
Fiala has been a key piece of the Kings' offensive puzzle since arriving in Los Angeles. Over the course of his 12-year NHL career, which has also included stops with the Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild, he's put together 229 goals and 528 points across 707 games. Originally selected 11th overall by Nashville back in the 2014 Draft, he's proven himself as a consistent top-six contributor, and losing him for any extended period is not ideal for a Kings team looking to take a step forward this season.
The lack of a firm return date is probably the most frustrating part of all this. "Determined as he continues to recover" is about as vague as it gets, and that kind of uncertainty makes it tough for the coaching staff to plan their lineup heading into the fall. LA will need other forwards to step up in his absence, and how long that absence lasts could have a real impact on how the Kings start their year. Here's hoping Fiala's recovery goes smoothly from here and he can get back to doing what he does best sooner rather than later.
