LA Kings Recall Defenseman Joe Hicketts Amid Injuries

Hicketts joins team as Mikey Anderson, Brian Dumoulin, and Alex Turcotte miss practice with injuries

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:47pm

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The LA Kings returned to practice today ahead of their upcoming games against the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights. However, the team was missing several key players, including defensemen Mikey Anderson and Brian Dumoulin, as well as forward Alex Turcotte. The Kings have recalled defenseman Joe Hicketts from their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, to provide depth on the blue line.

Why it matters

The Kings are dealing with a rash of injuries on the backend, which could impact their lineup and performance in the final games before the Olympic break. Hicketts' recall provides the team with an experienced defenseman who can help fill the void left by the injured players.

The details

Anderson and Turcotte are both out with upper-body injuries and are considered day-to-day, according to head coach Jim Hiller. Dumoulin had a 'maintenance day' and his status for the upcoming games is unclear. To bolster their defensive depth, the Kings recalled Hicketts, who has 22 games of NHL experience with the Detroit Red Wings. Hicketts is familiar with the Kings' system, having played for their AHL affiliate, and is expected to provide a steady presence on the blue line if called upon.

  • The LA Kings returned to practice on February 3, 2026.
  • The Kings play the Seattle Kraken on February 4 and the Vegas Golden Knights on February 6 before the Olympic break.

The players

Mikey Anderson

A defenseman for the LA Kings who is currently out with an upper-body injury.

Brian Dumoulin

A defenseman for the LA Kings who had a 'maintenance day' and his status is unclear.

Alex Turcotte

A forward for the LA Kings who is out with an upper-body injury.

Joe Hicketts

A defenseman who was recalled from the AHL's Ontario Reign to provide depth for the LA Kings.

Jim Hiller

The head coach of the LA Kings.

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What they’re saying

“Hicks, I have a long history with him because I was in the Western Hockey League when he came as a 16-year-old into Kamloops and was really impressive, even at 16. I followed his career, he came to Detroit, played quite a few games in the NHL, so he's somebody with good experience. Had he been six-foot-one, you would have known his name, he'd be a household name in the NHL, but he stayed with it. Great teammate and somebody that, in a pitch, is going to be able to help us out.”

— Jim Hiller, Head Coach, LA Kings (lakingsinsider.com)

“It's exciting, I think anytime you get that opportunity, something that you dream of and the fact that it came this long since the last one, it was special for me. When you still get those butterflies, you know you've made the right decision. I'm excited to come in and try to help this team get a couple wins.”

— Joe Hicketts (lakingsinsider.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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