No Thornton but LA Kings’ Bring Back Cammalleri and Sign Others

By Jeff Duarte
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Updated: July 2, 2017

Did anyone really believe that long time San Jose Sharks superstar, and future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton was actually going to sign with the rival Kings? I know some were hoping yes, while others no, but one person that did try his best to bring “Jumbo” Joe to Los Angeles, was general manager Rob Blake, who played with Thornton in San Jase and for the Canadian Olympic team in 2006. Thornton listened to the offer, but followed his heart by re-signing with the Sharks for one more year and allegedly $6.5 million. (Ouch! No wonder we couldn’t sign him. He has asking for too much, especially at 37 years old and suffering from two bad knees. Maybe we in the Kingdom dodged a bullet on that one). Blake also announced that the Kings were not going to re-sign the now 40 year old unrestricted free agent, and also future Hall of Famer, Jarome Iginla as well. Iginla played well with the Kings in his short stint in Los Angeles, scoring 6 goals, 9 points and 16 PIMS in 19 games. From what I have heard, it was a respectful and mutual split by “Iggy” and the Kings. Either way, Iginla wasn’t coming back, Thornton was going back home to San Jose, and speaking of coming back home, one free agent player that Blake was able to sign, was none other than good ‘ole Mike Cammalleri, by signing him to a one year, $1 million contract to bring him back home to Los Angeles.

Born on June 8, 1982, “Cammi” was drafted by the LA Kings’ 49th overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft. With his booming one timing shot and his stubborn refusal to let any opposing defenseman escort him out of his preferred bread and butter position of holding his fort in the slot, (which was impressive considering he is only 5’9″), Cammalleri grew and developed his game and skills with the AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs, before reaching the bright lights and big city atmosphere of playing in the NHL with the Kings. After bouncing back and forth from LA to Manchester and back again, “Cammi” finally cracked the main Kings’ roster permanently during the 2005-06 season, (which I like to call, the year of the “GREAT KINGS’ COLLAPSE), collecting 26 goals and 56 points in 80 games.

The following year was ever better when Cammalleri scored 34 goals and 80 points, before demanding he be paid $6 million a year at the end of the season. GM Dean Lombardi balked at that price, so they had to go to arbitration, which resulted in a decision that Cammalleri would receive a 2 year contract of $3.1 million for the 2007-08 season, and $3.6 million for the 2008-09 season.

(Somewhat) happy with his new contract, and coming off a IIHF World Championship Gold Medal victory with Team Canada, (playing with future LA Kings’ legend Justin Williams, and coached by former LA Kings’ head coach Andy Murray), contributing 4 goals and 7 points in 9 games in that tournament.

Cammalleri immediately set the NHL on fire by exploding into the new season with 10 goals in 10 games, leading the NHL’s goals category by a landslide, (which made this LA Kings’ fan very boastful and cocky to my co-workers at work). Unfortunately the fire didn’t last, as he then suffered a brutal slump where “Cammi” seemed he couldn’t even be able to hit the side of a barn with a puck from 5 feet away. It was that bad. Things didn’t help either when he injured his ribs and had to miss some games. The year ended poorly as he only scored 9 more goals for the rest of the season, (and made me lower my head down in shame, while making an oath to never be boastful and cocky to my co-workers again …. well at least not for a while *cough* 2012 *cough* 2014 *cough*).

That summer Cammalleri was traded away to the Calgary Flames in a three way trade that included Anaheim. Playing on a line with (future LA King) Jarome Iginla, “Cammi” hit his stride and scored 39 goals and 82 points in 81 games. As great as a fit as he was in Calgary, the Flames were having salary cap issues (sound familiar?) and couldn’t afford to re-sign him. That summer, as a free agent, Cammalleri signed with the Montreal Canadiens for a contract of 5 years and $30 million. His time in Montreal was frustrating due to the numerous injuries he accumulated, but he did greatly contribute to the “Habs” reaching the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1993, defeating the Alexander Ovechkin, (and former King Eric Belanger) led Washington Capitals, and the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, (complete with Sydney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury), along the way before being eliminated by the (drunkenly?) Mike Richards and Jeff Carter led Philadelphia Flyers, with 13 goals and 19 points in 19 playoff games.

After Montreal, Cammalleri went back to the Calgary Flames for a bit and was more recently with the New Jersey Devils, but he never reached the same levels that he did with his first stint with Calgary and with Montreal. Last season, “Cammi” only achieved 10 goals and 31 points in 61 games.

Now at 35 years of age, (and possibly injury prone?), the left-winger from Richmond Hill, ON, is back to where his NHL journey started, but his time with a much better Los Angeles Kings’ team (while at least in theory), than the one he left in 2008.

The Kings don’t really lose anything with this new deal. First, he was cheap to sign at $1 million, and since he was a free agent, the Kings didn’t have to give anyone, or any prospect, or any draft pick away to attain him. Best case scenario, “Cammi” can score anywhere from 16 to 25 goals from the left wing. Worst case, it doesn’t work out and the Kings only lose some short term money before getting it back the following season.

Now this is just my idea. I haven’t heard any rumors about this or anything like that. It’s just something that popped in my head once I heard “Cammi” was coming back to LA, and that is … maybe Rob Blake should try to trade Cammalleri and Jake Muzzin to the Colorado Avalanche for scoring superstar Matt Duchene? Duchene, who is 26, and can play left wing, has an annual AAV of $6 million for two more seasons. With Cammalleri, we can take that $1 million off of our books and send Colorado a veteran that can replace Duchene on the left wing and for cheap, and still give them a ‘top’ defenseman with Stanley Cup winning experience with an annual AAV of only $4 million in Jake Muzzin as well, (plus Muzzin’s $4 mil a year would be gone from our cap too, to help make room for Duchene). Sounds like a win, win scenario to me, but then again, maybe I’m just day dreaming.

Either way, welcome back to Los Angeles “Cammi,” but just so you know, the #13 jersey now belongs to 2 time Stanley Cup Champion Kyle Clifford, so you got to think of a different number to wear now. Sorry.

Kings’ GM Rob Blake wasn’t done yet after signing Mike Cammalleri, as he also signed free agent defenseman Christian Folin, previously of the Minnesota Wild, to a 1 year, $850,000 contract.

Folin, born on February 9, 1991 in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 6’3″, 204 lb, right shooting defenseman finished last season with 8 points and a plus+ 10 in 51 games with the Wild, (along with two playoff games as well), but had to have surgery done to repair a damaged shoulder he suffered during the season.

The idea that Blake and company had about Folin, was to replace the physicality the team lost with their defense after losing the unprotected Brayden McNabb in the Vegas expansion draft. Plus, as a right handed shot from the point, for the first time since the 2012 Stanley Cup winning season, the Kings are back to having three right shooting defenders with Folin, Drew Doughty and RFA, Paul LaDue, and three left shooting defenders in Alec Martinez, Muzzin and, RFA Kevin Gravel.

Next, Blake continued to add depth to the once depleted goaltending pipeline that the Kings’ were suffering with by signing the highly touted Cal Petersen of Notre Dame to a 2 year entry level contract.

Drafted in the 5th round by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL entry draft, Petersen has been a stand out star and Captain for Notre Dame, (look at the ‘C’ on his chest in the above pic), becoming their co-MVP last season, where he posted a record of 23-12 5, with a 2.22 GAA, .926 SPCTG and 6 shutouts, before helping Notre Dame reach the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

Earlier last month, Petersen made it known to Notre Dame that he was forgoing his senior year to play professionally, and refused to sign with the Sabres, (or the Chicago Blackhawks, as they were super interested in signing him as well), and had agreed to terms with the Kings, once the 30 day window for Buffalo to try and re-sign him closed, which it did today.

Peterson is very athletic and is quick on his feet. Has a very strong glove hand, and excellent puck rebound control. Some scouts say his playing style models that of the Vezina Trophy and Stanley Cup winning goalie of the Boston Bruins, Tuukka Rask. And that is high praise indeed.

And last but never least, Blake also signed the 6’7″, 225 lb, defenseman Stepan Falkovsky, a 186th overall pick by the Calgary Flames during the 2016 NHL entry draft, who had played with the Ottawa 67s in the OHL, and was recently playing for the Adirondack Thunder in the ECHL, to a 3 year, entry level contract.

(photo courtesy of CHL images)

Born on December 18, 1996 in Minsk, Belarus, the left shooting defensemen scored 21 goals and 32 points in 54 games. He also played for his native country at the 2016 World Junior Championship Tournament, scoring a goal and an assist in 6 games.

Here is what Diana C. Nearhos had to say about Falkovsky in an article she wrote for PostStar.com;

“Stepan Falkovsky has a rocket of a shot; he made that clear when he hit 99 miles per hour in the hardest shot competition at the all-star game. So it’s unsurprising when he fires off a rocket to score. He scored one of those on Saturday, but the 6-foot-7, 224-pound defenseman also landed a more finessed wrist shot. Falkovskey showed off a little stick work as he skated in on Elmira goalie Andy Iles and wristed a shot into the upper corner, over Iles’ glove. Falkovsky was a draft pick (seventh round last year), but he’s also a 20-year-old rookie. When he started the season, he was a little too quick with the puck. His skill was always there, but it’s the decision-making that has improved. There are still moments when coach Cail MacLean would like to see the defenseman be more conservative offensively. But when it works, when he makes a great play at the blue line to beat someone and create a chance for himself, there’s not a lot you can say. In Falkovsky’s first multi-point game Saturday, he had four (two goals, two assists).”

Sounds good to me. More than likely Falkovsky will be sent down to play with the Ontario Reign in the AHL, where his game and skills can continue to develop under the always watchful eye of head coach Mike Stothers and company.

So as I said earlier to Cammalleri…

…Welcome to LA, Christian Folin, Cal Petersen and Stepen Falkovsky!

Alright I’m out of here, GO KINGS … NO WAIT!

Just as I was about to end this article and hand it in to my editor-in chief, it was announced that Blake had signed another player to a contract, (damn, that man works fast!), by signing former Minnesota Wild goalie, (and LA Kings’ killer, am I rite???), Darcy Kuemper to one year and $650,000.

Born on May 5, 1990 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Kuemper was drafted 161st overall by Minnesota in the 2009 NHL entry draft. A veteran of 5 seasons, mostly in a back-up role for the Wild, (where he would seem like a Vezina Trophy superstar every time the Kings played against him), achieving a 41-34 14 record, a 2.60 GAA, 7 shutouts, and a .910 SPCTG in 102 NHL career regular season games so far. He also boasts a 3-1, 2.13 GAA, 1 shutout and .911 SPCTG record in 9 playoff games.

So welcome to LA Darcy Kuemper and good luck! As there is now going to be some tough competition for Jonathan Quick‘s back up spot in the NHL (as there can only be one!), as well as for the two spots for the Ontario Reign. With Jack Campbell, Matt Villalta, Cal Petersen, Jeff Zatkoff, Mike Bitzer (of Bemidji State University in the NCAA), Jeremy Brodeur (of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and son of the legendary Martin Brodeur), Kris Joyce (from the University of Windsor), and now you all battling for a roster spot, this is the first time in a long time that I can imagine this song in the video below being played while the battle of the goaltenders is raging on! May the best goalie win!

As of right now, the Kings have $7, 506,440 of projected cap space left and still have to re-sign their restricted free agents Michael Mersch, Jonny Brodzinski, Nick Shore, Andrew Crescenzi, Justin Auger, Kevin Gravel, Paul LaDue, Kurtis MacDermid and Zachary Leslie to contracts. And I still have that gut feeling that Muzzin and Martinez are being dangled as trade bait.

But until then, only time will tell … SO STAY TUNED!!!

GO KINGS GO!!!

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