The Kings have been a team that has been active in college free agency in recent years inking players like wingers Sheldon Rempal and Alex Iafallo, defensemen Oscar Fantenberg and Daniel Brickley, as well as goalie Cal Petersen (after he declined to sign with Buffalo). It appears that they have their eyes set on adding to that list as Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports that Los Angeles is interested in Clarkson center Nico Sturm as well as Bowling Green winger Lukas Craggs.
Sturm is widely considered to be one of the top players on the college free agent market following a strong junior season. The 23-year-old put up 45 points in 38 games this season and is viewed as someone that could step in and play a lower line role as early as next year. His team is set to play Notre Dame on Friday as the NCAA tournament gets underway.
Meanwhile, Craggs is a player that hasn’t generated as much attention. The junior had 24 points in 34 games this season and surpassed the 100 penalty minute mark for the second straight year. Not surprisingly, he profiles as a bottom-six physical player. Bowling Green is seeded 15th in the tournament and could be eliminated as early as Friday so a decision on whether or not to try to sign him may come quickly.
Los Angeles hasn’t hesitated to burn the first year of an entry-level deal early by giving the player some game action at the end of the season. With the Kings squarely out of the playoff picture and having seven open contract slots at the moment, expect that trend to continue with these free agents and any others they may try to pursue in the coming days.
A lot of success they’ve been finding with that strategy. Remember last year when they signed Brickley and some Kings fans were so thrilled…. he was NHL ready… he was going to make an immediate impact… be one of our best prospects….. aaaaaaannnnnndddd fast forward one year, and we’ve barely seen him. Even Cal Peterson, although he did well in a small sample size with the kings, hasn’t had a good year in the minors.