Forward Blake Lizotte will be back in L.A. for another year. The Kings have announced that they have signed the impending restricted free agent to a one-year extension. It is a one-way, $800K deal for Lizotte, a decrease from the value of his entry-level contract but with more security. A 10.2(c) RFA, Lizotte had not accrued enough professional experience to even have the right to sign an offer sheet this summer, so Los Angeles held all of the leverage in negotiations, as displayed by the short-term, low-money “show me” contract.
Lizotte, 23, does have more to prove, though. An undrafted free agent out of St. Cloud State University, Lizotte was a star in the NCAA and left after just two years. However, his small stature may have worked at the college level but it has held him back in the pros. At 5’7″ and 175 pounds, Lizotte’s size is a concern, especially at the center position. He looked to be on his way to NHL success in 2019-20, his first full professional season, as he recorded 23 points in 65 games. He did miss five games due to injury, but that was not an abnormal total. This season however Lizotte took a major step backwards. He recorded just ten points in 41 games, well off of his rookie scoring rate and only on pace for 20 points in a full season. His ice time was slashed, his power play role was reduced, and he settled into a one-dimensional bottom-six spot. It didn’t help that he also missed 15 games due to injury or sickness, including the Kings’ final nine contests.
Heading into year three, Lizotte needs to show that he can be more consistent and won’t be pushed around by bigger opposition. L.A. is giving him a one-year deal to see if he can bounce back and show the promise of his rookie season, or if his size and lack of dynamic skill means that he is not a player who can be an NHL regular. Proving himself may be even harder next year; while Lizotte walked out of college and into a starting role on a depleted Kings roster, the team has vowed to add more talent this off-season and Lizotte may have to fight for starts, nevertheless ice time and power play opportunity.
While this move wasn’t necessary for the Kings ahead of the Expansion Draft, it does give them more flexibility. L.A. now has eight forwards who meet the exposure requirements, allowing them more protection choices if they elect to protect seven forwards and three defensemen. Lizotte himself could be protected, but if not his extension allows for someone like Brendan Lemieux or Austin Wagner to be protected when previously both needed to be exposed to meet the quota.
I really hope they leave him unprotected and Seattle picks him up, I’m done with him. With all the high end talent coming up he should be the odd man out
You really think that’s the guy they’ll take… With one of Maatta, Roy, Wagner, and Quick/Petersen available. Not likely
No chance in hell Roy & Petersen will be available!
So then Walker would be exposed? They can only protect two of Walker/Clague/Roy/Maatta or risk losing a forward like Grundstrom/Kempe/Lemeiux/Wagner, two of which would then have to be exposed if they protect 4 defenders…
Ummmmmmm yay………….
It seems fairly obvious that the Kraken are going to take Clague. The only potential wrench in that is if the Kings leave Grundstrom unprotected, which I seriously doubt. It’ll be Clague they take.
As for this signing, I honestly don’t really get it. I mean, it’s not like it moves the needle either way, but Lizotte is exactly the kind of player the Kings need to start moving on from if they want to start taking real strides.
I hope they protect Clague and not Grundstrom. they need depth at D, which they don’t have. They have a massive influx of forward talent coming soon.
Yeah, I get that. Unfortunately it’s not an either/or situation. You’re not going to protect Clague over Doughty (NMC and wouldn’t be exposed anyway,) Roy, or Walker. So then you’d have to do the 8 skaters instead of 7/3 protection, which means you’d have only 4 forward spots to protect. Kopitar and Iafollo are obvious, and then if Grundstrom takes the other, that means you have to expose someone like Kempe, Brown, Andersson, or Moore, all more valuable players. So you expose Clague and hope they see better Defense options elsewhere and convince themselves on someone like Athanasiou or Wagner.
Lizzo is good for depth. He should not be starting on this team. Top 4 centers next year. Kopitar, Byfield, Vallardi, Dolan.
I really hope you’re right but while I respect all opinions, I feel Byfield is a few years away. He’s got a lot of growing and learning before we can call him the 2nd or 3rd line center. We need a few of the other young guys to step up. Vilardi started strong then fell completely apart. I don’t know how much longer the teams patience will last. None of them look strong or good enough to have a big impact. Sad times in my opinion.
Are the players that are at risk of being selected worth packaging together and trading for a high-end asset? You may overpay a bit, but that’s better than losing an asset for nothing…