MICHAEL CAMMALLERI
This season: 63 games, 19 goals, 28 assists, minus-16 rating.
Positives: They all came early. Cammalleri was named an assistant captain at the start of this season, the youngest member of the Kings’ leadership, and scored 10 goals in his first 10 games. He also further proved that he has the best shot on the team, with an unmatched ability to one-time the puck.
Negatives: After his brilliant start, Cammalleri scored only nine goals in his final 53 games. Nagging injuries didn’t help, but Cammalleri took a huge step backward from the previous season, when he totaled 34 goals and 46 points. Also, there have been whispers — loud whispers, to be accurate — about how good of a teammate Cammalleri is. Cammalleri insisted that last year’s arbitration process didn’t impact him, but his downturn is otherwise hard to explain.
Looking ahead: 2008-09 will be a crossroads season for Cammalleri, in every sense. If he’s not traded — a move the Kings are expected to explore this summer — he will return and enter the final year of his contract, needing a big comeback. Cammalleri clearly has first-line talent, but he will need to re-prove himself, both as a scorer and a potential team leader.
Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $3.35 million next season).
