Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Kings Rumors

Los Angeles Kings Sign Brandt Clarke

at CDT | by 1 Comment

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

at CDT | by 6 Comments

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

at CDT | by 1 Comment

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

at CDT | by 6 Comments

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

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

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

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • 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

at CDT | by 5 Comments

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.

Kings, Andreas Athanasiou Sign One-Year Deal

at CDT | by 7 Comments

July 29: The Kings have officially announced the contract for Athanasiou, which will be for one year and $2.7MM. The contract will take him to unrestricted free agency next summer.

July 28: Since he wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer by Edmonton last fall over fears of what an arbitration award would look like, Andreas Athanasiou was a player that wasn’t a guarantee to receive one from the Kings earlier this week.  He ultimately did and now TSN’s Darren Dreger reported (Twitter link) that the two sides were close to finalizing a new one-year deal. David Pagnotta reported that it’s a one-year contract worth $2.7MM.

The 26-year-old had to settle for a one-year, $1.2MM contract with Los Angeles in late December after longer-term offers failed to materialize in unrestricted free agency.  The investment proved to be a wise one for the Kings as Athanasiou finished tied for sixth in team scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists in 47 games; getting someone averaging close to half a point per game at that price tag is a pretty good bargain.

Athanasiou is still only two years removed from a 30-goal season with Detroit, a stat that certainly would have come up had his case gone to salary arbitration.  Accordingly, it’s fair to expect that this new deal will take that into account and that the price tag on this one will be a bit higher than what he made last season.  This contract will take Athanasiou to UFA eligibility next summer so if he’s looking to establish himself as a more viable option than he was last fall, he’ll need a big season in his second year with Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Alex Edler

at CDT | by 4 Comments

Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that the Los Angeles Kings have shored up their defense today, signing veteran defenseman Alexander Edler. The deal is for one year, per Pierre LeBrun, and carries a cap hit of $3.5MM.

Edler, 35, is joining just the second NHL team of his career after spending 925 games and parts of 15 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. Once a star two-way defender who could log more than 24 minutes a night against the other team’s best, racking up 30-point season after 30-point season, it’s obvious that Edler is no longer going to change the look of a defensive group. Instead, he should be able to provide some experienced depth to a unit in Los Angeles that doesn’t have much of it.

Take out Drew Doughty and you have a defense corps for the Kings where 26-year-old Olli Maatta is the grizzled veteran, he of 468 NHL games. The others are either young or inexperienced (or both), meaning Edler should be an important member this season if they have their sights set on a playoff spot. While $3.5MM might be a little pricey for the player he is now, a one-year deal offers almost no risk for the Kings, unless you consider the opportunity cost of the roster spot. There will still be plenty of minutes for the young guns though, and if the team falls out of the race, Edler makes a nice deadline chip to flip for a mid-round pick.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Phillip Danault

at CDT | by 15 Comments

The Los Angeles Kings have signed Phillip Danault, the team said today. It’s a six-year contract worth $5.5MM per season.

The 28-year-old Danault enters the Los Angeles organization after a successful stint with the Montreal Canadiens. Finishing top-10 in Selke Trophy voting for the past three seasons, Danault has cemented himself as a truly elite defensive centerman who can play top-six minutes. While he’ll never break the bank offensively, nor should he see power-play time, Danault still carries 40-50 point upside with incredible solid possession numbers. He’s coming off a 24-point season in which he shot a near-career-low 6.8 percent, so some increased goal totals for next season should be expected.

Danault currently slots in as the Kings’ second-line center behind Anze Kopitar, but how long he holds that title remains to be seen. Danault’s strength in the faceoff dot likely cements him at the center position, so it’s reasonable to surmise that he could serve as the team’s third-line pivot by the end of the deal. The Kings have many young centers, especially Gabriel Vilardi and Quinton Byfield, who look to be consistent top-six contributors within the next few seasons. However Danault gets used, though, he’ll bring a strong impact to a team who’s struggled mightily defensively in recent years.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top