What does Kevin Fiala’s latest injury update mean for the LA Kings’ NHL season

Kevin Fiala had a second procedure on his lower-body injury and won’t be ready at the start of Los Angeles Kings training camp.The 30-year-old forward first injured himself while playing for Switzerland at the 2026 WinterOlympics. Fiala suffered an injury during Switzerland’s game against Canada after a hard collision by Tom Wilson, which caused a fracture of Fiala’s left lower leg.What happened to Kevin Fiala and LA Kings?The latest procedure is related to the injury Fiala suffered during the Olympics. He first needed surgery in February and then sat out the rest of the 2025-26 regular season.Fiala was a big part of the offensive production for the Los Angeles Kings before the injury. He scored 18 goals and 40 points in 56 games and remained one of the club’s established top-six forwards.The extra procedure means the recovery process has gone beyond original expectations. The Kings have not given a timetable for Fiala's return, so it's unknown if he'll be ready for the start of the regular season.How could Fiala’s absence affect LA KingsFiala’s loss could add to the load of the Los Angeles Kings’ forward group as training camp nears. If the recovery takes longer than expected, the team will need other offensive players to absorb his minutes and production.Since joining the franchise, Fiala has been a fixture in the Los Angeles lineup. The forward has also played for the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild during his NHL career, where he has become a reliable scoring option.The timing of this latest injury update is particularly important. Training camp is an important time for setting line combinations, special-teams units, and overall roster roles, and uncertainty around Fiala could make that difficult.Kevin Fiala has not yet been assigned a return date, and the Los Angeles Kings said the timeline will become clearer as he continues to recover.That uncertainty means the Kings will have to monitor Fiala’s progress rather than committing to a specific week or game. Whether he will eventually make it back depends on how he responds after the latest operation and rehabilitation.For Los Angeles, it’s about getting Fiala back to full strength, not rushing him back, he said. The forward’s health could play a major role in the Kings’ offensive options in the lead-up to the 2026-27 NHL season.Kevin Fiala is still important to LA KingsThe continued absence of Fiala could be a big factor in the way the Los Angeles Kings arrange their forward lines in the early part of the 2026-27 NHL season. Since arriving in Los Angeles, the veteran winger has proven to be a reliable offensive weapon, bringing scoring talent, experience and offensive ingenuity. His return also provides opportunities for younger forwards to vie for bigger roles in training camp.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.