Los Angeles Kings: Trevor Lewis hopeful he can return next year

Talking with the guys on Kings of the Podcast, Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Lewis is optimistic that he can return next season.

Trevor Lewis is one of a handful of free agents on the active roster that the Los Angeles Kings will have to decide whether to retain. Lewis, 33, has been with the Kings for his entire career since being drafted 17th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He hasn’t lit up the box score during his time in LA, but he was key in Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring two goals to help the Kings secure their first championship.

He would go onto win another in 2014, and he joined the guys on the Kings of the Podcast. When asked which (Stanley) Cup run he liked better, Lewis had drastically different memories of each one.

"“I think the first one,” said Lewis. “We were young, and it was the coolest thing ever. We actually cruised through the playoffs that year, too. That was so much fun to see my parents on the ice with me…The second one, it was so hard. Every game was such a battle. Three game sevens on the road. In the first one, everyone is drinking and throwing champagne, and everyone is so excited. And the second one, it was like whoa that was tough, that one meant a lot. So that it was pretty cool to just sit back and know how hard you worked to get that one. It was a special moment for sure.”"

Lewis’ best year arguably came during the 2016-2017 season when he played in all 82 games, scoring 12 goals with 12 assists for 24 points and averaging 14:16 on-ice time. He finished eighth on the team in shots on goal (145) and was one of the more physical forwards in the game, logging 174 hits that year, third-most on the team.

As noted, he’ll be a free agent when the new league year begins. He made just $2M AAV in his last contract, and his best days are likely behind him.

"“It is what it is, but yeah, it just kind of sucks to think about that,” Lewis said regarding the unusual year. “I could have been signed already. Now, it’s kind of an unknown. It’s just a weird time, not only in hockey but in life right now. It is what it is, but all I can is train hard and make sure I’m ready when the opportunity. We’ll see what happens.”"

The Kings will also have an influx of young, offensive talent coming through within the next couple of seasons. So while it won’t be critical to retain Lewis, if the Kings were to offer him a contract with a $1.5M to $2M contract for one of two years, I don’t think many would oppose to that, except for Lewis, of course, who might be looking for something long-term.