Rich, wow, only four lines and so many riddles! I'm guessing this is as much as you are able to elaborate? Any "informed guesses" on why only 1 year? Can't wait to hear what's the spin on this from Deano.

Well Rich just shows to go ya, DL is a smooooooth operator. I'm sure he has all the beans figured out and will beable to sign Cammy and a goaltender. One year on a couple of the new guys, very interesting.

Wow! I like this. I'd have to assume DL is actually happier with the way things have ultimately turned out with the free agents. I know I am.

Awesome!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Position Defence
Shoots Left
Nickname(s) Stuey
Height
Weight 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
213 lb (97 kg)
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born November 6, 1979,
R.M.H., AB, CAN
NHL Draft 3rd overall, 1998
San Jose Sharks
Pro Career 1999 – present

Brad Stuart (born November 6, 1979 in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings.

THIS WAS POSTED IN AM.

This is great news! The blueline for next season is looking pretty solid. Dean has done a good job of filling holes with veterans. If the goaltending is solid, this team on paper could see the playoffs come next spring. Very exciting! Thanks for the great blog Rich.

What a great two days for our organization. We've taken a couple of steps forward. Congratulations to DL and his staff for their hard work and results.

Now, it's the coaches and players turns to make these signings mean something. If we make some noise this year, we will have a better stance for future Free Agents.

One year is interesting. Maybe he is setting up some of these players to be movers at the trade deadline with few strings attached? Or it's motivation for longer term at next negotiations? Or testing the fit before committing to more term? I'm interested to hear Dean's take.

Thanks again, Rich.

Wow, great price. Lots of new faces this next season. Now if they can stop enough pucks, this team will be able to have a longer season.

Good job DL.

Wow, I can't wait for training camp!

I think the latter. Since Stuart has moved around so much, I think this is his opportunity to take the ball and run with it.
Then again, a 1-year deal could attract a lot of interest come trade deadline if The Kings aren't content with keeping Stuart.
The only thing left I believe is to re-sign Cammalleri. That's it. The goaltending will resolve itself. That's my honest opinion.

Modry - Visnovsky
Stuart - Preissing
Johnson - Blake

It's an interesting 6. One nice thing is that Blake will be able to play fewer minutes, which hopefully means better minutes. Also, Visnovsky has been a 60 point defenseman, Preissing a 40 point guy, Stuart somewhere between 30-40 usually, which again creates a situation where Blake can be used more effectively at his age. And who knows, if Blake ends up paired with Johnson, maybe he can take a bit of a step back and focus on defense a little more. Blake is still big, he still has good reach, and he's always been high risk/high reward. At 37, just keep it simple(while the young guy runs around).

The group is certainly more about puck movement than anything. They're not the Red Wings yet, but that seems to be the direction they've gone in.

Love the signings of Stuart and Preissing. The Kings got 2 defenseman for the price of One Sheldon Souray...Not Bad

Is it possible to retract my statement of 7/1 that nobody wants to come to the Kings?

This has been a heckuva 24 hours for Dean Lombardi. Bravo!

I wish the season started tomorrow.

Question for Rich:

Stuart may be the BEST signing so far by the Kings (of players off other teams' rosters). What do you think?

Brad probably will have the biggest impact on the team's success next season. Would you consider him a Top-2 defenseman for the Kings next season?

Assuming he's healthy, I'd still have to give the edge to Handzus as ``best signing.'' I think he can do some damage from that No. 2 center spot.

As far as Stuart being a top-two defenseman...hmmm...I might have to think about that. My initial thought is, yes. Nobody is ahead of Visnovsky, clearly. Blake? Not anymore. Johnson? We'll see, but it's too much to assume that right now. Preissing? Not sure. I hadn't seen him at all in person until the Finals, and from what I'm told, that wasn't his finest hour. Modry? Well...

Interesting that Lombardi signed Stuart to a one year deal. I guess right now he is viewed as one of those "filler" players coming off a disappointing season, but Brad Stuart's potential is as a top four defenseman.

So depending on how he performs this season, he could turn himself into a "builder" in Lombardi's eyes.

Great job as always, Rich.

A lot of folks have said the short term for Stuart is because he's a higher risk player. It could also be that Stuart is one of those bridge players. We're already commited to having one rookie this year on D in Johnson. You don't want to have two rookies starting the season on the blueline. So with Modry and Stuart we have 6 capable guys with only one of them being a rookie. Don't forget Dallman is also under contract. So now Petiot, Piskula et al either have to play amazing in camp or they just grow in the AHL this year. Late in the year if we're not in it these 1 year guys could easily be traded for prospects (they'll be UFAs anyway at the end of the year) and our youngsters can come up and get some more seasoning. All these D signings also mean there's a snowballs chance in hell that Oleg skates in LA this year. Now if only one of the goalies can stop the puck this year...

boy o boy,
From agony to ecstasy in only 24 hours> If this is how deano's gonna work the next few years look out mister toads wild ride. I get a little dizzy and i barely crest the ride height line at the entrance but count me in dean. I'm right there with you buddy. P.S. can i be your pen Caddie for the next signing

Did Stuart sign this 1 year deal with and "handshake" deal of some kind so that he could re-sign a longer deal with the KINGS later for cap reasons ? Blake's money will be gone next year and I assume that money will go to Lubo.....Then Stuart signs a 3 year at a higher rate......Just a thought....

Stuart was a great signing! I think the 5 guys Deano picked up and the singing of LaBabs are solid. Definitly better then last offseason when we were getting guys like Cloutier, Thornton, McCauley...

Rich,

What's the news on Cammalleri? Isn't tomorrow his deadline to declare that he's going to arbitration?

Can he just accept the QO? Around what figure is the QO?

If he declares, can the Kings trade him before arbitration even begins?

These questions confuse me and hopefully, you have some insight.