The LA Kings announced today that they have signed forward Nic Dowd and goalie Jack Campbell to new contracts, while confirming the reported signing of defenseman Derek Forbort. The three players were restricted free agents and all signed two-year two-way contracts.
Dowd, a 26-year-old forward from the notorious hockey town of Huntsville, Alabama, reportedly signed his second contract with the Kings for $640K per year at the NHL level. Dowd got his first taste of NHL action last season, playing in five games for the Kings. He enters his third pro season in 2016-2017, having split the majority of the past two seasons between the King’s new AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, and their former AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs (now ECHL affiliate), where he helped the team win the 2015 Calder Cup.
Campbell, 24, is new to the Kings organization after coming over from Dallas in a draft day exchange for defenseman Nick Ebert. Campbell was the first goalie selected in the 2010 NHL Draft, as the stars took him 11th overall. However, his career has not turned out as either party planned, leading to the recent trade. Campbell has played in just one NHL game, a start in which he allowed six goals on the way to a loss. He has spent the majority of his career with the AHL’s Texas Stars, but has also spent a significant amount of time down at the ECHL level with the Idaho Steelheads. Campbell is expected to resume AHL play with the Ontario Reign next season, and the Kings hope that the change of scenery will help to get him back to his 1st round-caliber form. If he work his way back into the NHL, he will make a reported $612.5K, and could end up being a great value acquisition by Los Angeles.