The Los Angeles Kings just completed one of the most thrilling and
impressive runs to a Stanley Cup title in the history of the National Hockey League, but they are
not about to rest on their laurels heading into the 2012/2013 season.
Penner agrees to one-year deal to
remain with the Kings
The world
champion Los Angeles Kings had one major piece of business on their agenda
heading into this offseason and quickly took care of the matter by signing Dustin
Penner to a one-year deal worth a reported $3.5 million to keep the left-winger
from testing the free-agent waters. Penner posted just seven goals and 10
assists in 65 regular season games, but came into his own in the Kings’
historic run to a Stanley Cup title. In 20 playoff games, he tallied three
goals and eight assists including the game-winner in Game 5 against Phoenix
that vaulted Los Angeles into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Bovada has already opened the Kings as one
of two 11/1 second-favorites along with Vancouver
to win next year's Stanley Cup as well. The following is the first post in SBR
Forum's offseason blog following the news and notes surrounding the team.
2012 NHL Draft
The NHL recently conducted
its annual draft and, while the Kings were pushed all the way to the back of the
bus with the 30th and final pick of the first round by virtue of their recent
championship, they made the most of the situation by selecting left winger
Tanner Pearson, who most recently played for the Barrie Colts in the Ontario
Hockey League. He ranked third in the league in points with 37 goals and 54
assists in 60 games this season.
Los Angeles did not pick again until the 121st pick in the fourth round, but
picked-up another quality left-winger in Nikolai Prokhorkin, who played in the
Russian Junior and Russian League for CSKA 2 this past season. The Kings
added Canadian defenseman Colin Miller in the fifth round and Czech right
winger Tomas Hyka and USA
defenseman Paul Ladue in the sixth round. They closed out the draft with
the final pick in the seventh round by taking another defenseman from the USA, Nick Ebert.
Kings re-sign a pair of centers
Veteran center Jarret Stoll
has agreed to a new three-year contract. The eight-year vet was set to become
an unrestricted free-agent on July 1, but this new deal ensures that he will be
with the Kings through the 2014/2015 season. Stoll posted 21 points (6 goals,
15 assists) in the regular season and has led the team in faceoff winning percentage
in each of his four seasons in LA.
The Kings also announced
that it had come to terms with center Colin Frazer on a two-year deal. In his
first season with the team since coming over from Edmonton, Frazer scored two goals and added
six assists in 67 regular season games.
Penner looks to remain a King
Looking at the rest of the
Kings’ roster, the only major unrestricted free agent that could leave the fold
is Dustin Penner. A few months ago that may have not been too big of a deal,
but after a stellar performance in the playoffs with a 11 points and a
game-winning goal in Game 5 against Phoenix to seal the series, his value on
the open market as risen dramatically. Fortunately, Penner has reportedly
indicated that he wishes to stay in Los
Angeles and might be willing to go has far as to even
take a pay cut to remain with the team.