- Defenseman Alex Edler told Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider that part of the reason that he signed with the Kings was how much interest they showed in him early along with the fit he’d have with the team. He added that he did field interest from other teams which likely helped push his price tag up to $3.5MM for next season, a somewhat high price tag for a player who had just eight assists in 52 games while logging his lowest ice time since 2007-08. The 35-year-old should have a prominent role with Los Angeles next season and could be used in a shutdown capacity similar to the role he had at times in Vancouver.
Kings Rumors
Los Angeles Kings Sign Jacob Moverare
The Los Angeles Kings have reached a deal with another one of their restricted free agents, signing Jacob Moverare to a one-year, two-way contract. The contract will carry an NHL salary of $750K.
Moverare, 22, was a free agent for the first time after spending the last few seasons bouncing around the world. The young defenseman was selected 112th overall in 2016 out of Sweden, but after signing his entry-level deal came to North America to play for the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL. In 2018-19 when he had aged out of the junior ranks, he took his game back to Sweden to play two seasons for Frolunda. His time overseas was supposed to end in 2020-21, but since the AHL wasn’t up and running at the start of the season, he ended up playing with SaiPa in Finland. After 50 games there, he joined the Ontario Reign for their shortened campaign, and ended up playing in 26 AHL games, his first professional season in North America.
After just a few months in the minor leagues, Moverare was never going to get more than a two-way deal, but his time in the AHL was certainly impressive. He finished second among all Reign defensemen in scoring with 15 points despite playing just over half the games and showed the polish that comes from several seasons playing against professionals in Europe. The 6’2″ defenseman will likely be on his way back to Ontario for 2021-22, but things are trending towards a potential NHL appearance in the near future.
Notably, Moverare is no longer waiver-exempt, meaning if the Kings want to send him to the minor leagues he will have to be risked to the rest of the league. At the end of this contract, he will once again be an RFA, but this time eligible for salary arbitration.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Samuel Helenius
Aug 13: The deal has been officially announced and though the Kings include an average annual value of $850,833, that doesn’t include the performance bonuses that are part of the contract. Helenius can earn $82,500 in each of the first two years of the deal, and $57,500 in the third, taking the contract total to $2,775,000 and the cap hit to $925K as CapFriendly reported.
Aug 12: The Los Angeles Kings have signed draft pick Samuel Helenius to a three-year, entry-level contract according to CapFriendly. The deal will carry an NHL cap hit of $925K.
Helenius, 18, was selected 59th overall by the Kings and is still expected to play for JYP in Finland next season. The huge forward–standing 6’6″–spent the full year in Liiga, playing pro against men sometimes more than a decade older than him. He also took part in the World Junior Championship for Finland, scoring four points in seven games.
The Kings prospect pool is deep and wide, with stars and depth players alike. Helenius will be just another name on that list but is certainly one to monitor over the next few years. The son of former NHL defenseman Sami Helenius, the young forward isn’t quite the same type of player but is still more than willing to throw his huge frame around and engage physically. If he can consistently use that size and wingspan to create offensively, he could be a valuable piece for years to come.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Brandt Clarke
The Los Angeles Kings have inked their top draft pick, signing Brandt Clarke to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal will carry an NHL cap hit of $925K. Clarke was selected eighth overall last month.
The 18-year-old defenseman will almost certainly not burn the first year of that deal this season, which would require him playing more than ten games in the NHL. Instead, he’s likely headed back to the OHL, a league he hasn’t played in since the 2019-20 season. This year, because of COVID restrictions in Ontario, the junior league didn’t play at all, meaning the top prospects needed to find a home elsewhere. Clarke found that in Slovakia, where he played 26 games for HC Nove Zamky.
Even as a teenager playing in the professional league, Clarke stood out with his ability to skate the puck out of trouble and drive offensive play. He had six goals and 13 points in those 26 games overseas, while also racking up 41 penalty minutes. The 6’2″ defenseman should dominate the OHL if he does indeed return to the Barrie Colts given his age and experience. Even in 2019-20, starting the year as a 16-year-old, he registered 38 points in 57 games.
There’s a bright future for Clarke in the NHL though, even if it doesn’t come this season. The Kings will see both Alexander Edler and Olli Maatta reach unrestricted free agency next summer, and though they play the left side, it still opens minutes and opportunities on the back end for young players. Now signed, Clarke is one to watch in the Kings’ system.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Kale Clague
The Los Angeles Kings have reached an agreement with restricted free agent defenseman Kale Clague, signing him to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of $761,250, the same number as his qualifying offer this year.
Clague, 23, was a second-round pick of the Kings in 2016, and played 18 games for the team this season. He registered six assists in those appearances by moving the puck quickly and accurately but is still looking for his first NHL goal. That could come this season if the Kings give Clague a chance to play regularly, but it’s not goal-scoring that will ever be the biggest part of his offensive contribution. Instead, it’s all about creating neutral zone turnovers and sending his teammates on a counter-attack for Clague, who relies on a quick stick defensively more than physicality.
Whether he can crack the NHL lineup on a full-time basis is still to be determined though, especially after the Kings brought in Alexander Edler in free agency. The team now has a long list of contenders for playing time, with Clague’s two-way contract likely not helping his case. One thing in his favor though? The fact that the young defenseman is now eligible for waivers, something that Tobias Bjornfot cannot claim. It’s unlikely that he would clear once the season begins, meaning if the Kings intend on slipping him through it might have to be during training camp when teams are less inclined to add to the roster.
This is an important season for Clague, who will be arbitration-eligible next summer and looking for his first one-way deal.
This article previously referenced a Kings’ press release that had Clague signing a two-year deal.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Austin Strand
Austin Strand has accepted his qualifying offer and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth $771,750. He was not eligible for arbitration this summer.
Strand, 24, made his NHL debut this season, playing 13 games for the Kings and registering a single point. The undrafted defenseman has worked his way up through the minor leagues but will have to fight for playing time again this season. Waiver-exempt for 2020-21, he was involved in daily transactions between the minor leagues, taxi squad and NHL roster. That opportunity won’t be available this time around, meaning Strand will be at risk to the rest of the league if he fails to make the team out of camp.
The Kings already have five defensemen signed to one-way contracts, plus Michael Anderson, Tobias Bjornfot, and Christian Wolanin fighting for playing time, not to mention the unsigned Kale Clague and Jacob Moverare. There’s plenty of options for the coaching staff to work with as the Kings try to find a mix that can get them back to the playoffs, with Strand serving as valuable depth even if he’s not in the NHL lineup on a regular basis.
Front Office Notes: Penguins, Flyers, Maple Leafs, Rangers
Once a model organization for goaltending performance and depth, the Pittsburgh Penguins play in net has largely gone downhill since the departure of goaltending coach Mike Bales in 2017. His replacement, Mike Buckley, watched as young starters Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry suffered through struggles and was unable to right the ship. The Penguins have decided that it is time for a new voice, especially after failing thus far in free agency to add a veteran mentor for Jarry. The team has announced that Buckley has been relieved of his duties and former Pittsburgh keeper Andy Chiodo has been hired as his replacement. Though new to the job, Chiodo has been with the organization in a development role since 2018. He has also previously worked as a goalie coach in the OHL and Canadian college ranks. Chiodo was considered a high-IQ goaltender during his playing days and will look to take his knowledge of the game and use it to improve the Penguins’ young, inconsistent net.
- Across the state, the Philadelphia Flyers have made some new additions of their own. The team announced that ten new names have joined the organization, five in hockey operations, two to the Flyers’ coaching staff, and three to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ coaching staff. The headliner of the group is veteran executive Mike O’Connell, named Senior Advisor to the General Manager. A former GM of the Boston Bruins, made infamous as the architect of the Joe Thornton trade, O’Connell has quietly made a very positive difference for the Los Angeles Kings for the past 15 year in various roles in scouting and player development. O’Connell contributed to two Stanley Cup champions and has now helped to draft and develop arguably the best prospect pipeline in the NHL. Among the other front office hires were Pro Scout Nick Beverley, who has spent the past 16 years with the Nashville Predators and Amateur Scout Matt Bardsley, a former GM of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. In Lehigh Valley, the team named two assistants to Ian Laperriere’s staff, former WHL coach Jason Smith former ECHL coach Riley Armstrong.
- While the New York Rangers have lost some big names from their front office this off-season, they just poached a notable name for themselves. The Toronto Sun’s Lance Horsby reports that Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting John Lilley has decided to leave the team to become Director of Player Personnel in New York. Lilley has been with Toronto since 2006, including the past three years as leader of amateur scouting and therefore the Maple Leafs’ drafts. His new title means even more responsibility with the Rangers, though Lilley will still be in charge of amateur scouting and will run the draft. The Maple Leafs have not named a replacement.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Brayden Burke
After acquiring him in a trade last month, the Los Angeles Kings have signed Brayden Burke to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $750K.
Burke, 24, will actually be a Group VI unrestricted free agent next summer unless he ends up playing the majority of the season with the Kings. The undrafted forward has spent all three of his professional seasons at the minor league level, but scored at a better than point-per-game pace in 2019-20 and returned with 14 in 28 games this year. He managed just a single goal for the Tucson Roadrunners but should see that number rebound in the Kings system if he’s sent to the minor leagues.
That’s likely where his future lies, though perhaps he’ll be able to make his NHL debut this year with Los Angeles. The former WHL star has a high offensive ceiling, especially on the powerplay, but is undersized and still needs work away from the puck. If he does go to Ontario, he represents a potential first-line player for them as the AHL looks to get back into a normal schedule.
Kings Sign Brett Kemp, Nikita Pavlychev, John Lethemon To AHL Deals
- The Kings’ AHL affiliate in Ontario, California announced that they have signed a trio of players to minor-league deals in forwards Brett Kemp and Nikita Pavlychev plus goaltender John Lethemon. Kemp had 31 points in 23 games with WHL Medicine Hat in his overage junior season while Pavlychev made his pro debut last season, splitting time between AHL Syracuse (eight games) and ECHL Orlando (28 games). As for Lethemon, he was under contract with Ontario last season but didn’t play for them, instead suiting up in 25 games with ECHL Greenville.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Lias Andersson
Lias Andersson has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings at his qualifying offer value of $874,125K in the NHL. The young forward was a restricted free agent coming off his first season with the Kings organization.
Andersson, 22, was the seventh overall pick in 2017, a selection the New York Rangers received when they traded Antti Raanta and Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes. Even at the time, the pick raised some eyebrows because scouts saw a relatively low ceiling on Andersson, but the young forward was expected to quickly compete for an NHL job thanks to his experience at the professional level in Sweden. In that first season with the Rangers, he ended up playing in seven games and suited up 42 in 2018-19.
Things quickly soured though as Andersson struggled in the NHL, and he returned to Sweden for part of the 2019-20 season. In October last year, with his future basically over with the Rangers, he was sent to the Kings for a second-round pick. Not exactly the return you want from a seventh-overall selection, but at least something for the Rangers to work with.
Motivated and getting a fresh start, Andersson split the 2020-21 season between Sweden, the AHL and the NHL, recording six points in 23 games for the Kings. His performance in the minor leagues was much better, and it looks as though he could have a role in the NHL this year. No longer waiver-exempt, his best chance at showing he can be an NHL player was to accept his qualifying offer and be a cheap, effective option for Los Angeles. Whether he’ll ever experience an offensive breakout at this level is unclear, but for now, he’ll get a chance to show he can be a regular contributor.