Changes Still Coming For A Team in Transition
- Updated: May 11, 2017
For a couple of years there, the Kings were happy to showcase little change in a lineup that held much promise not just for a successful season but also for a Stanley Cup run. Times have changed and so has some rosters. Two big news items came through Tuesday for the Los Angeles Kings and its ever-changing lineup.
Forward Tanner Pearson, 24, signed to a four-year, $15-million contract so we’ll be seeing him for a while. The contract averaged $3.75 million per year. A first-round selection in 2012, Pearson had one of his best seasons last year with 24 goals and 20 assists. Overall with the Kings, he has 54 goals and 103 points in 226 regular season games.
With the contract, the Kings will have roughly $13 million to play with, for those yet to sign, including a much-loved and high-scorer Tyler Toffoli.
Through the LA Insider, Pearson said, “I think it’s probably a great fit. Obviously the main goal was to stay here in LA. I wanted to stay here for a long-term if we were able to come to a deal that was good for everyone, and I’m happy to be here.”
The other big line-up shake up was the trade of goalie Ben Bishop to the Dallas Stars for a 2017 fourth round draft pick. Bishop, 30, only appeared in seven games after being traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that time he was 2-3-2 with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. Now that Peter Budaj is gone (in that Tampa Bay trade) and Bishop is gone, that leaves an empty backup net for the Kings and starter Jonathan Quick.
For the 2017 draft, the Kings have eight picks, including first, second and third rounds.
Let’s see how much more change takes place for a team that’s been experiencing rapid change since the end of the season.
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One Comment
About Jim Ellis
Ed Shapiro
May 11, 2017 at 1:59 pm
The Bishop deal wasn’t a big shake up. Unless the Kings had an issue with Quick’s health going forward, Bishop was being moved. With that being said, he’s a rock solid goalie who can start for most teams in the NHL.