[dsavillian]

The LA Kings are pleased to announce that we have locked up our top 3 UFA candidates to long term deals.

David Backes - RW/C - 75OV - 7.5M x 3 years
Jay Bouwmeester - D - 77OV - 8.5M x 3 years
Dan Girardi - D - 77OV - 8.5M x 3 years


While all three contracts carry a high AAV, we feel that the value is there. Girardi and Bouwmeester will play top minutes all year with Chara testing the UFA market and Backes has been an elite two way player for us for the last few seasons. Their experience and skill will help anchor an otherwise youthful team.


The Kings still have some cap space left to test the market, but here is our current depth chart if we don't land anyone:

Skinner (68) - OReilly (75) - Backes (75)
Williams (68) - Johansson (71) - Versteeg (66)
MacArthur(68) - Hoffman (69) - Chaisson (65)
Fiddler (65) - Hertl (65) - Gerbe (65)

Bouwmeester (77) - Girardi (77)
Russell (75) - Hjalmarsson (72)
Schultz (71) - Scott, the most valuable contract in the CPHL, Hannan(67)

Holtby (87)
Johnson (65)