Kings agree to terms with forward Patrick Bjorkstrand on one-season, $667,500 contract

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

The Kings and forward Patrick Bjorkstrand agreed Thursday on a one-season, $667,500 contract. Bjorkstrand, a 6-foot, 192-pound Dane, participated in the Kings’ development camp last week in El Segundo. The 24-year-old played last season for a team in Zagreb, Croatia, in the KHL. He had 13 goals and 22 points in 57 games. He also has played for Denmark in the past four World Championships. He is a left-handed shot who can play either wing. He signed as an unrestricted free agent.

Here’s the report on him via eliteprospects.com: “Bjorkstrand is a forward with nice hands and playmaking ability. Has good vision and anticipation on the ice. He also has that winning mentality.”

Milan Lucic’s agent says there have been no new talks with the Kings about a contract extension

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Milan Lucic’s agent told a Vancouver, British Columbia, radio station Monday there have been no talks with the Kings about a contract extension for the veteran left wing and he is preparing for free agency July 1. Lucic can become an unrestricted free agent if the Kings fail to sign him to a new deal before July 1.

“Milan Lucic would love to re-sign with the Kings, but is preparing for July 1,” agent Gerry Johansson told NEWS 1130 in Vancouver on Monday.

Lucic, a Vancouver native, was acquired by the Kings last June 26 in exchange for goaltender Martin Jones, defenseman Colin Miller and the 13th pick in the 2015 draft. Lucic had 20 goals and 55 points in 81 games for the Kings, who bowed out in the first round of the playoffs to Jones and the San Jose Sharks.

The Bruins flipped Jones to the Sharks after acquiring him from the Kings.

Lucic said at season’s end, “I really enjoy being an LA King and everything it has to offer. Hopefully, it can get done here in the near, near future. Just a little bit more work to do to bridge a gap here (and agree on an extension).

“It’s definitely something I want moving forward. I think it’s something they want too. Hopefully, we can make it work out. The sooner the better. To be honest, I don’t have much interest in hitting the open market or even hearing what’s out there because, in my mind, this is where I want to be.

“Why flirt with something when you know what you want? That’s the case for me moving forward.”

The Kings have salary-cap issues and there have been reports recently that the NHL could lower the cap for next season below $70 million, which could further complicate negotiations with Lucic. He made $6.5 million for 2015-16, the final year in a three-season, $18-million deal he signed with Boston in 2013.

Kings re-sign defenseman Brayden McNabb to a two-season, $3.4-million contract

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb on Saturday signed a two-season contract extension with the team worth $3.4-million. The deal includes a $50,000 signing bonus on top of his base salary of $1.550 million for next season, according to the website generalfanager.com. McNabb also will make $1.8 million for 2017-18. He could have been a restricted free agent July 1. The 25-year-old completed his second season with the Kings in 2015-16, scoring two goals and 14 points.

Ducks’ list of free agents (restricted and unrestricted)

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Free agency begins July 1, and Ducks general manager Bob Murray figures to be busy. Here’s a list of the Ducks’ unrestricted free agents (those eligible to sign with other teams without the Ducks having the right to match their offers), via the indispensable website generalfanager.com:

Forwards Shawn Horcoff, Jamie McGinn, David Perron, Mike Santorelli, Chris Stewart, defenseman Korbinian Holzer and goaltender Anton Khudobin.

Here are the Ducks’ restricted free agents (those whose rights the Ducks continue to hold):

Forwards Brandon Pirri and Rickard Rakell, defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen and goalie Frederik Andersen.

LA Kings’ list of free agents (restricted and unrestricted)

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Free agency doesn’t begin until July 1, but the Kings (and every other NHL team) can give their own players contract extensions at any point between now and then. They’ve already done it with one unrestricted free agent, agreeing to terms with coach Darryl Sutter on a new deal that will kick in when his old one expires July 1.

Here are the Kings’ unrestricted free agents (eligible to sign with any team without the Kings able to match the offer), per generalfanager.com:

Forwards Milan Lucic, Kris Versteeg and Trevor Lewis.

Defensemen Jamie McBain and Luke Schenn.

Goalie Jhonas Enroth.

Here are the Kings’ restricted free agents (the Kings have the right to match offers from other teams):

Forward: Nic Dowd.

Defenseman:Brayden McNabb.

Ducks exit interviews: Frederik Andersen

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen needs a new contract for next season. He can become a restricted free agent July 1. Here’s some of what he had to say Saturday about free agency and remaining with the Ducks:

“Tough to say right now. I think when the time comes some decisions will be made. I like playing here and all the guys love having me in the net. I like it here, so obviously I would love to play (here). It’s their decision to make, but I think I definitely proved that I can be a No. 1 goalie, especially in the playoffs to do well. Last year, I took the team deep. It didn’t pan out this year, but I feel like I personally did my part in trying … obviously, you’ve got to be better … but to get to a Game 7. It’s decided by a single goal or two goals early like that. Other than that, I played well. I liked my preparations before that. Sometimes it doesn’t work out.”

Andersen also cleared up the specifics of the injury that sidelined him for the last few weeks of the regular season, before he returned to shut out the Washington Capitals in the finale, helping the Ducks clinch their fourth straight Pacific Division title.

“I took a shot two days before (the Calgary game) in the jaw and it kind of locked up on me, some muscles around that area and messed with my eyes and made me feel dizzy,” he explained. “It took a couple of days to figure out, but after that I got the right treatment on my jaw and started working with my eye doctor to get back and make sure my eye movements were doing the right things. It was in practice. It was a tipped shot and kind of came from the side and locked up some muscles.”

Kings exit interviews: Jhonas Enroth

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Kings goaltender Jhonas Enroth appeared in only 16 games this season while serving as Jonathan Quick’s infrequent backup. Enroth said Sunday it wasn’t the workload he envisioned when he signed with the Kings last summer as a free agent. He didn’t rule out re-signing with the Kings for next season, but you can read between the lines here, with more of Enroth’s conversation with reporters Sunday:

“I wish I had played more games. I didn’t really feel like they gave me a lot of opportunities to play. That’s the way they like to do it here, so I kind of knew what I was signing up for. … Just be a bigger part of a team, trying to play more games. Just being a bigger part of a team is what I’d like to do (as a free agent) over the summer.

“I really thought they were going to play me more. If you sign a guy for $1.2 million, you’re not going to play him 13 games, in my opinion. You should play him, 20-25. I thought I earned more games. Played pretty solid in the games I got, but there were a lot of breaks between games, too. It was hard to get a groove going. I think I had a pretty solid season.”

Kings exit interviews: Milan Lucic

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Elliott Teaford

Kings left wing Milan Lucic talked Sunday about contract talks and how much he’d like to get them done before free agency begins July 1. Here’s more from him about re-signing and remaining with the Kings:

“There have been some talks before the playoffs started. There’s two months until July, so hopefully something can get done here, so I can remain a King moving forward into the future. That’s something I’ve expressed that I really want to have happen. I really enjoy being an LA King and everything it has to offer. Hopefully, it can get done here in the near, near future. Just a little bit more work to do to bridge a gap here.

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