77 Jeff Carter C

Kings' Jeff Carter: Facing minimum 6-8 week absence?

McKenzie is one of the most respected names in hockey media, so you can put a lot of stock in his prognosis for Carter. At any rate, this is a significant injury to one of the league's top centers, who's scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday on his lacerated ankle. Expect the Kings to put Carter on injured reserve -- perhaps the long-term list -- soon enough.

Kings' Jeff Carter: Requires surgery

Additionally, the team announced that Carter has an indefinite timeline for his return. The Kings have been one the league's surprise teams in 2017-18 -- starting 5-0-1 after missing the playoffs last season -- and will have to do without Carter's dynamism for at least the foreseeable future. Expect a more concrete timeline to be disclosed as Carter's recovery progresses.

Kings' Jeff Carter: May be held out 'multiple weeks'

A prolific points machine who generates consistent offense year-to-year, Carter's prognosis suggests that he could wind up on injured reserve, but we'll wait for the team to officially make that call. Nick Dowd has been serving as the spare forward for the royal club, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get more rink run in Carter's absence.

Kings' Jeff Carter: Likely done for night with lower-body injury

The exact nature of Carter's injury remains unclear, but the issue will shallow the Kings' forward ranks a bit for the remainder of Wednesday's tilt. Assuming he's unable to rejoin the action, his next opportunity to play arrives Saturday against the Blue Jackets. If he remains sidelined, Los Angeles will likely be forced to shuffle its lines, with Nic Dowd potentially drawing in.

Kings' Jeff Carter: Finds scoresheet in win

His first was a primary assist on Dustin Brown's power-play tally and the second came when Tanner Pearson buried an empty netter. While his slow start is no reason to seriously panic as a fantasy owner, the fact that Carter -- who has never been shy about firing the puck on net -- has just nine shots after four games is a little bothersome.