First it was Arthur Kaliyev. Then Austin Strand. Then Jaret Anderson-Dolan.
Each Kings rookie celebrated a milestone this week, either a first NHL goal or NHL debut — or in Kaliyev’s case, both.
They each spoke with reporters over Zoom, reflecting on their young careers and the gravity of their breakthrough moments.
They each offered another glimpse into the franchise’s future, another reason for optimism amid the club’s current struggles.
The only problem: Their accomplishments came during the Kings’ recent four-game losing streak, a skid that illustrated the difficult balance between building for the future and competing in the present.