Kings Defense Faces Questions Amid Blueline Health Issues

As a professional hockey player, you experience bruises, welts, cuts, and plenty of soreness. As a gritty, shutdown defenseman, you would naturally face these injuries more frequently and to a greater extent.

Edmundson embodies a gritty, defense-first style as a third-pair defenseman who isn’t afraid to engage with opposing forwards. He has been a valuable asset while paired to young Brandt Clarke, who is seen as the future cornerstone of the defensive corps—and possibly the franchise itself.

The pairing of Edmundson and Clarke has been one of the most stable in the league, considering their average time on ice: Clarke at 17:29 and Edmundson at 20:39. According to Moneypuck, among pairings that have played at least 400 minutes together, they rank ninth in expected goals-for percentage (53.1%) and tenth in expected goals against (17.6). Yes, there are only 25 defensive pairings logged at 400+ minutes, but it's impressive to see the Clarke-Edmundson duo listed in the upper half as one of the league’s most consistent pairings.

Edmundson’s average time on ice is the second highest of his career, first was 20:44 in his 2017-18 season with St. Louis, which is just five seconds above his current season's average. He is on track for his best statistical season, with 4 goals, 6 assists, and a total of 10 points, boasting a +12 rating in 36 games.

While Los Angeles has a reputation as a goalie haven, aiding in career revivals for players like Cam Talbot and Darcy Kuemper, the same resurgence seems to be taking effect for Edmundson, who appears to be worth the price the Kings paid for him.

However, his recent fall during a game against the Lightning raised concerns when he landed on his neck and spine after a shoulder-height drop. He briefly went down the tunnel but surprisingly returned to the game, managing just two shifts for a total of 1:47 of time on ice in the third period. Although he finished the game on the bench, he did not participate in practice the following day. Head Coach Jim Hiller commented:

There’s some optimism regarding his recovery, with hopes that he could return soon. However, there’s also skepticism, especially considering Trevor Moore’s injury, which resulted in an extended ‘day-to-day’ situation, encompassing weeks. Unlike Moore, Edmundson is a defenseman, and the Kings don’t have as many capable replacements in the defensive lineup as they do among forwards.

Today’s practice will be crucial in assessing Edmundson's status. If he misses a second consecutive day, fans may react negatively, especially if Andreas Englund becomes a regular again.