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The Los Angeles Kings start the season tonight, and we’ve got plenty to say about that today! Last night, though, I only had my mind on Alec Martinez’s health. Jon Rosen did a good job of phrasing the news to better summarize the temporary nature of Martinez’s apparent lower-body injury, but that didn’t stop me from assuming that Martinez had his leg bitten off by a werewolf or something.
Believe Alec Martinez is dealing with a lower-body issue and Paul LaDue is on his way up to the #LAKings.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) October 5, 2017
Fortunately, it’s become more clear in the last 12 hours that Martinez’s “issue” is considered day-to-day, thanks to a Kings press release which used exactly that phrasing. The press release also announced that Paul LaDue, a rather surprising exclusion from the Opening Night roster, is actually going to be an inclusion as he slots in for Martinez on the 23-man roster. LaDue likely won’t play tonight, though, meaning both Oscar Fantenberg and Kurtis MacDermid are in line to make their NHL debuts.
Addition to what @lakingsinsider reported last night, my understanding is Alec Martinez injury not serious. Maybe a couple games, at most.
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) October 5, 2017
As for Martinez, we’ll have to wait at least a few more days to see if he and blueline partner Jake Muzzin can rebound from a difficult 2016-17. (Christian Folin will play next to Muzzin tonight.) Here’s hoping this isn’t a lingering issue that hampers Martinez as they year begins, but merely a small hurdle that heals quickly.