Kings defenseman Alec Martinez day-to-day with concussion
The Kings resilience is about to be tested once again.
In the first period of Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez, was on the receiving end of a legal check from Cedric Paquette.
Martinez left the game after the hit, and did not return.
On Sunday, an off-day for the Kings, updated the media on the defenseman’s status. Via LA Kings Insider, Jon Rosen:
“He’s day-to-day,” Sutter said. He’s got concussion-like symptoms which don’t appear to be very severe, but we have to be careful and cautious.
Though the Kings have an available roster spot, there is no word at this point whether the Kings plan on recalling a defenseman from AHL-Manchester.
Martinez is ninth on the team in scoring at 17-points, and put whatever you want to into the stat, he’s a plus-11; third highest on the team, first among defensemen. He’s best known for scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal for the Kings last spring.
As Josh Cooper wrote earlier, the Kings are close to missing the post-season, but shouldn’t be counted out just yet. Losing Martinez for any amount of time will test the organization’s depth at defense. Jamie McBain will probably see more ice time with Martinez out, and should this end up being a longer term injury, Nick Schultz might get a call up back with the big club.
Knowing Dean Lombardi and his propensity for a blockbuster deal, he’s probably concocting some magical trade that will result in Shea Weber coming to LA for a bag of magic beans and a jug of whatever Drew Doughty was drinking at the All-Star Draft.
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Jen Neale is a staff writer for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter!
