Los Angeles Kings Make Moves On Draft Day
By Jamaal Artis
The Los Angeles Kings were busy today ahead of the 2015 NHL Draft on Friday, and this was before the day’s big event took place. The Kings were able to secure two top forwards for their two top lines going into next season as well as answering a few other questions concerning their roster.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings GM Dean Lombardi started by signing an extension with high priority forward Tyler Toffoli. A member of the Kings famed 70’s Line, Toffoli signed up for an additional two years for slightly more than $6.25 million dollars with a cap hit of $3.25 million. Toffoli a cup winner in 2014 had a 23 goal, 49 point season and would have been a restricted free agent starting July 1. By locking up Toffoli, Lombardi admitted he was able to make the Kings second deal on the day.
Apr 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center
Tyler Toffoli(73) passes the puck to Los Angeles Kings center
Jeff Carter(77) during the second period of the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Kings pulled off a big trade right before the NHL Draft got started. The Kings sent their backup goaltender Martin Jones, AHL prospect defenseman Colin Miller, and the number 13 pick of the draft to the Boston Bruins for forward Milan Lucic.
A big power forward at 6’4″ and 235 pounds, Lucic is cut in the Kings mold. He was a key contributor to the Stanley Cup winning Bruins in 2011 and the 2013 team that lost the Cup in a hard fought final against the Chicago Blackhawks.
During last season Lucic point production dropped below 50 points for the first time since 2009-10 during a non-lockout season. Being added to the Kings can turn that around especially if he plays as expected on the top line with the likes of Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik.
During a conference call Lucic expressed his emotion after hearing the news of the trade, “I’m thrilled. Gives me another chance to win a cup.” Lucic also described his thought upon following the news abut his impending trade,
"I kind of had that nervous, anxious, excited, sad…all in one feeling going on in my stomach, especially this morning, thinking something was going to happen."
The Kings were able to save some money on the trade as the Bruins will be picking up half of Lucic’s salary for this his final year of his contract. Despite this due to a lack of cap relief, the Kings trade likely means they will not sign unrestricted free agent defenseman Andrej Sekera. This is a major disappointment for Kings fans as he was a a trade line pick up that cost the Kings a 1st round pick for 2016.
With plenty of moves still to be made it is likely that Dean Lombardi and the rest of the Kings front office will be busy during the summer trying to return the Kings to the top of the NHL standings.