Klemm to Kings
Free-agent defenseman Jon Klemm is expected to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the Kings, as a couple astute readers already found on the NHLPA Web site this morning. (EDIT: It's now official. The release is attached below.) It's a $500,000/$100,000 split deal, depending on whether Klemm makes the Kings' roster.
Klemm, 37, had one goal and two assists in 38 games last season. Klemm broke in with Quebec in 1991-92 and he scored a career-high nine goals in 1996-97 with Colorado. His hometown is listed as Cranbrook, B.C., which is also the hometown of Scott and Rob Niedermayer.
KINGS SIGN FREE AGENT
DEFENSEMAN AND TWO-TIME STANLEY CUP WINNER JON KLEMM
TO A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent defenseman Jon Klemm to a one-year contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
Klemm, 37, a two-time winner of the Stanley Cup (1996 and 2001) and a veteran of 14 NHL seasons, played with Dallas this past season. He’s also skated with Chicago and Colorado/Quebec during his NHL career and in 751 career regular season games, he has 142 points (42-100=142), 426 penalty minutes and a plus-78 rating. In 105 career playoff games, he has 14 points (7-7=14), 47 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating.
This past season, Klemm, who recorded three points (1-2=3) and 24 penalty minutes in 38 regular season games with the Stars, earned an assist on the 500th career NHL goal scored by Mike Modano vs. Philadelphia on March 13, 2007. The assist marked his 100th career assist in the NHL. He also recorded zero points and two penalty minutes in one playoff game with the Stars while making his ninth career postseason appearance.
Klemm won his first Stanley Cup with the Marc Crawford-coached Avalanche in 1996, and he posted a plus-7 rating while appearing in 22 postseason games for the Avalanche in 2001, helping the Cup Champions win their second title in six years. A 6-2, 205-pound native of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Klemm has averaged 67 games played, four goals, 13 points and a plus-7 rating during each of his 11 full seasons in the NHL. He was originally signed by Quebec as a free agent on May 14, 1991.
Prior to turning pro, Klemm played with both Seattle and Spokane in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1987-91, and he was a member of the Spokane club that won the Memorial Cup championship in 1991.
Jon Klemm’s career regular season and playoff stats:
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
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1987-88 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 68 6 7 13 24 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 2 1 1 2 0 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Spokane Chiefs WHL 66 6 34 40 42 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Spokane Chiefs WHL 66 3 28 31 100 6 1 1 2 5
1990-91 Spokane Chiefs WHL 72 7 58 65 65 15 3 6 9 8
1991-92 Quebec Nordiques NHL 4 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Halifax Citadels AHL 70 6 13 19 40 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Halifax Citadels AHL 80 3 20 23 32 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Quebec Nordiques NHL 7 0 0 0 4 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Cornwall Aces AHL 66 4 26 30 78 13 1 2 3 6
1994-95 Quebec Nordiques NHL 4 1 0 1 2 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Cornwall Aces AHL 65 6 13 19 84 -- -- -- -- --
1995-96 Colorado Avalanche NHL 56 3 12 15 20 15 2 1 3 0
1996-97 Colorado Avalanche NHL 80 9 15 24 37 17 1 1 2 6
1997-98 Colorado Avalanche NHL 67 6 8 14 30 4 0 0 0 0
1998-99 Colorado Avalanche NHL 39 1 2 3 31 19 0 1 1 10
1999-00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 73 5 7 12 34 17 2 1 3 9
2000-01 Colorado Avalanche NHL 78 4 11 15 54 22 1 2 3 16
2001-02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 82 4 16 20 42 5 0 1 1 4
2002-03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 70 2 14 16 44 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 19 0 1 1 20 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Dallas Stars NHL 58 2 4 6 24 -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 Did Not Play – Lockout -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Dallas Stars NHL 76 4 7 11 60 5 1 0 1 0
2006-07 Dallas Stars NHL 38 1 2 3 24 1 0 0 0 2
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NHL Totals 751 42 100 142 426 105 7 7 14 47
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About Rich Hammond
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Good depth guy. Defensive defenseman who is solid and plays it safe. Sounds like a move to replace Miller.
Now I'm curious...Is this how the team is going to justify the raise in ticket prices???
Unless, of course, DL is stocking up to make a trade???
Rich:
1) There is some rule in the CBA about "For 2-way contracts, if the AHL salary is above/below $___, the player is/is not subject to upload/download waivers ..." Can you clarify what this means for Jon Klemm regarding LA vs. Manchester?
2) Are you hearing any noise that his accepting a 2-way contract has something to do with transitioning him into a teaching role (while still a player) that will eventually become a pro coaching job (when he retires next spring)?
Good depth signing. Either him or Modry will be #6 d-man unless a kid shines in camp.
Unless there is an agreement with Klemm up front that if he goes down to Manchester, it is as a playing assistant coach, not unlike the Ducks did with Eric Weinrich, how in the world do you take a guy who has over 800 NHL games to his credit and send him to the AHL? He's a King. He's going to be a swing guy that will dress when others are injured or when others need to watch. This can not make Dallman, Petiot or Harrold feel very optimistic coming into camp.
No Kingsfan27, the signings of Handzus, Stuart, Preissing, Nagy, and Calder justifies the raising of ticket prices.
When did they raise ticket prices? My season seats are the same price.
Actually, the signing of Handzus, Stuart, Preissing, Nagy, and Calder do not justify increased ticket prices. But since when has that stopped AEG? Look at the increase for last season after a poor season and just one year after the lockout.
"This can not make Dallman, Petiot or Harrold feel very optimistic coming into camp."
good point, but after Petiot's injury he has to prove he's still a legit prospect, the NHL is a couple steps away for him now. And I think Harrold knew as soon as Preissing was signed as a right handed puck mover his chances were slim & nil. This is a good move because it gives the Kings a healthy scratch so Petiot & Harrold can develop in Manchester while racking up 20+ minutes a night. Any major injury & 1 of them will be called up, Klemm is just the short term fill in. Dallman might get another shot as a depth forward. I'm sure between all the spots he can play & the injuries an NHL team incurs over 82 games he will find playing time.
Remember DL's designations of roles in rebuilding? They included "Builder" and "Bridge", the latter being a player to get you to the next level for the short term, while in transition. Also someone to help the youngsters learn. Klemm would certainly fill the role of a "bridge" player - and he makes a good insurance player for just one season. Crawford knows him; so does Blake. Miller out - Klemm in.
It's the signing of Beckham that has raised Kings ticket prices.
I wonder if Klemm has a connection with DL or Crawford? He may be thinking about a future in coaching and DL and MR are giving him 1 more year or there part of and then off to Manchester to help the young D along. Kind of like a Crash Davis role.
I, for one, think this is great. Nobody on any team should feel as though they are a lock for a spot. Everyone should come to camp feeling as if they need to earn their position.
What Lombardi is doing is creating competition for roster spots.
How nice is it that the Kings coaching staff will be able to evaluate who has *earned* the 5 and 6 spots rather what player will be used to fill in those spots.
Klemm and Crawford spent three full seasons together in Quebec/Colorado, so there's definitely a connection there. I'm really not aware of any plans that Klemm might have for going into coaching and I agree with Marc that he will be a NHL player. I don't think his salary situation would subject him to waivers, unless there's some small type in the CBA that deals with veterans.
Real good depth signing. Klemm can still play a #6 D-man or a PK'er on a team with a thin defense or that needs depth. The main issue I can see here is if his play time comes at the cost of the development of youngsters. I don't think that will be a problem, and over an entire NHL season, you can count on a few injuries to happen. This is definitely a good move.
Good verteran signing. But, at the same time, kind of a head scratcher. I'd rather have any of Petiot, Harrold, or Piskula on board, if they're NHL ready.
i think it's a good filler signing... especially considering he's a stanley cup champ. he won't last past this season, but the veteran presence will help. i would be shocked if he went down to manchester.
I thought is was the rise of the CAP that made the single seats go up? Not the players..
maybe he was signed to save us from having to watch Modry all season long.
I'd rather have any of Petiot, Harrold, or Piskula on board . . .
Agreed.
. . . if they're NHL ready.
The problem is that nobody is ever "NHL ready" coming out of the AHL; there's only different degrees of 'unready'. Becoming an NHL player always involves on-the-job training and spending too much time in the AHL can get a player too comfortable with that (slower) pace of play.
According to King Blazer at HF, Klemm will be subject to waivers if he is sent down during the year, but would not be subject to re-entry waivers on the way back up. If that is the case, assigning him to Manchester out of TC (provided Petiot or Harrold prove themselves ready, of course) and then calling him up once injury strikes or one of the young guns doesn't work out could be a good course to take.
Good point Eric K. Klemm gives Crawford options with 5 and 6 and doesn't force him to play a kid who isn't quite NHL ready.
You don't take a 37 year old who hasn't been in the AHL in 13 years and assign him to Manchester out of training camp UNLESS he has some pre-ordained arrangement with the team. Jon Klemm is an NHL player, who, while getting up there in years, will be invaluable to the team in case of injury or Modry being incapable of doing anything right.
Personally, I am a believer that Dallman is ripening on the vine, and am sorry to see him fall out of favor (moreso than Petiot, who I had high hopes for years ago, but needs to play more on a regular basis in Manchester, and No-Hit Harrold, who will most probably be a lifetime AHL guy with a smattering of callups throughout his career.)
Great! Another Crawford Crony!! How many more will come? Sooner or later we'll have half the Vancouver and half the Colorado team in the next years!!
Does that mean we'll eventually sign Sakic, Naslund, and the Sedins?
We should be called the Los Angeles Kings of Vancolorado...and only Kings fans will know what Vancolorado is...
or maybe not...
anyways...not a bad signing i guess...
Not a bad signing but what became of Jamie Heward? He wanted to stay and I thought he did pretty well at the end of last season, at the very least comparable to Modry's effort...
If the Kings manage to make the playoffs, Klemm will also provide experience at critical point of development.
Heward signed with a Russian team.
Klemm, a number 6/7 defensemen, worth $2Mil less than Tverdovsky would have (potentially) in the same spot. Works for me.
Rich, continued success!
Can you guys help me out here? Other than Piskula, Conroy and Laperriere who wore #22 for the Kings? I just had a brain fart and couldnt think of anybody. Thanx!
Former #22's? Too many to list . But the King's site has a nice "History" section. Check it out:
http://cdn.nhl.com/kings/ext/kings_history/kings_all_time_uniform_numbers.pdf
Here you go Jon,
Former Kings #22 =
----------------------
Current = JOE PISKULA (D)
Jason WARD
Shay STEPHENSON
Craig CONROY
Ian LAPERRIERE
Rick TOCCHET
Charlie HUDDY
Bob HALKIDIS
Ken BAUMGARTNER
Glen CURRIE
Dave WILLIAMS
Steve SEGUIN
Warren HOLMES
Dean JENKINS
Pierre GIROUX
Steve JENSEN
Gary SARGENT
Barry LONG
Jean POTVIN
Al MCDONOUGH
Bryan CAMPBELL
Marc DUFOUR
Billy INGLIS
Jimmy ANDERSON
Kyle B.
Don't forget that DL is the one signing the players. He also brought in a few former Sharks. Which means the name should be San Vanorodo...just a thought.
Anonymous (whoever you are), you don't sign a two-way contract unless you're prepared to go to the AHL. I expect Klemm to get a legitimate shot at the big club, but I also suspect that the terms of the AHL side of his contract were not worked out to allow him to forego the waivers process by coincidence. IMO, if one of the kids proves that he's a better option (or even a just slightly worse option) than Klemm, you'll see JK assigned out of camp.
a few days ago i wrote a post about getting a "good feelin bout this season boy's"
that good feelin came after reading NHL.com's puff piece on the Kings (currently stuffed away in the "Pacific Notes Archives")
to wit:
"Pacific: Kings see a bright future"
and
"Pacific: Kings eschew the quick fix for long-term gains"
Stay away from the "NOTES" section at nhl.com ... EVERY SINGLE TEAM in the league has "explosive talent devloping" and "reason to expect possible playoff run".
It took me too long to figure it out but there are a couple of shmucks employed there whose sole job it is to glorify EVERY SINGLE TEAM in the league in one way or another.
Well it is the League website after all... what the hell do I expect? Actual News?
Hey Rich- You hear anything about this effort by AEG to get an NHL team in that arena they're building in Vegas?
Personally I think the league has enough teams. When it can go 3-5 years w/o some team being in a state of flux then maybe expand but the last decade has been filled with teams having issues and now it's Nashville's turn.
Thanx Daniel and Puck u!
GO KINGS GO!
Thanks for great work as usual. You have made my summer livable for at least, and maybe even enjoyable.
Saw note on Hockeybuzz.com that Kings were linked to some Teemu rumours. That site is very ineffective at predicting anything that actually happens, but I'm curious from where this rumor may have sprung, and what, if anything you might have heard. Thanks