An unwavering commitment to his hockey homework continues to pay dividends for student-of-the-game, Warren Foegele.
It’s a long-standing routine in his regular-season NHL life: after every game, win or lose, Foegele heads home, sits in front of the TV and reviews every shift he took that night.
“I watch TV for a little while and then I watch my shifts,” said the 29-year-old forward, who is playing in his eighth NHL season and second with the Los Angeles Kings. “I feel like I learn a lot, and it keeps me honest, in a sense. I guess it’s the competitive drive in me. You are always finding ways to be better and to give your game an honest look.”
Originally selected 67th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2014 NHL Draft, Foegele certainly liked what he saw in his 2024–25 performance.
His first campaign with the Kings – after signing a three-year deal as a free agent last July following three seasons in Edmonton – delivered career-best numbers for the Markham, Ontario, native.
“Last year was about building off the year before. The group here in Los Angeles was so welcoming – players, coaches, management, staff – which made the adjustment so easy. That’s helpful when you go to a new team and everyone makes the transition seamless.
“I don’t know if there is just one certain thing I learned about myself last year. I think playing for good coaches and with good teammates over the years is something to build on and gain more experience.”
A conversation with head coach, Jim Hiller, two months into last season led to a larger role for Foegele.
“I had a slow start,” recalled the left winger. “I was creating chances, but it just wasn’t clicking. Jim pulled me aside and told me that I have a great opportunity here. He put me in a bigger role around November or December and then things took off, especially in December, and I embraced the opportunity.
“When you overthink, you tend to rush your decisions. When you aren’t overanalyzing and are just playing the game, it feels much slower.
By season’s end, Foegele had played in all 82 games, finishing with 24 goals, 22 assists and 46 points – all NHL career highs.
But it wasn’t just the offensive numbers that stood out. His plus-36 rating, which was also a personal best, highlighted his dedication to a full 200-foot game.
“I suppose one takeaway that comes to mind is that hockey is a game of inches, which is something Rod Brind’Amour spoke about when I was in Carolina. The longer you play, the more you appreciate and understand that hockey is exactly that.
“I also feel like every year you learn something new. I learned a lot during my time in Edmonton, playing with Leon and Connor – you learn to get confidence and then play with confidence.”
His seamless fit with the Kings has not come as a surprise to him.
When he hit the free agent market in 2024, Foegele did some studying of his own, looking at clubs he felt might be an ideal match for his game.
A team he knew well from his Oilers days caught his attention.
“I felt last year during free agency – I’m kind of a hockey nerd – that there were certain teams I would gel with. Playing against Los Angeles so many times when I was with Edmonton, I felt I fit their style. It seemed like a good fit.”
And it has been.
“I would go with hardworking as the best way to describe the group,” said Foegele. “That’s what I saw from them when I was with Edmonton. It’s a defence-first approach, not giving the opposition much room. We compete every night, which gives us the best chance to win.”
There is added incentive for Foegele and his teammates in 2025-26.
Before the start of the year, Kings captain Anze Kopitar, one of the NHL’s all-time great two-way forwards, announced that this, his 20th NHL season, will be his last.
“I think it is incredible to see him be the player he has been for so long,” praised Foegele. “He is so consistent, so smart and he’s still doing it at the highest level. I will say to him, ‘I don’t know how you are still doing this.’ He plays against the top lines, he’s reliable, he’s dependable and his hockey sense is through the roof. His brain is 95 percent faster than anybody on the ice.”
Kopitar’s leadership and calming presence have quickly left a mark on Foegele.
“He’s super humble, so calm and so level-headed. He’s a good balance for me. I can get emotional at times, and he’ll just say, ‘Hey, it’s okay – not that big of a deal.’ And as soon as you hear him say it, you realize he’s right. He’s a great person, a great leader and a great teammate. He deserves every ounce of praise.”
What would it mean to deliver the two-time Stanley Cup champion and the first NHL player from Slovenia with the ultimate retirement gift?
“Every year, you try and win the Cup and every year, you realize how hard it is to do it,” said Foegele. “Being Anze’s last year, that would be the icing on the cake. We have a tough schedule to start, but in the long run, I think that will only make us better as a team. Our group is excited. I know I am, for sure.”
All photo courtesy of Getty Images
