Los Angeles Kings 15 Best Contracts (2005-2022)

This was originally published in my 2020 book Hunting Bargains in a Salary Cap World, and has now been updated with new contracts. I will continue to update each team’s list every summer going forward. The rule is that only active contracts can move up or down. Expired deals cannot pass each other. Next summer it may even be expanded to top 20. The book is still available on Amazon, though some of the stats on active contracts are now out of date. You may yet find it interesting because there were detailed stat graphics that you won't find here. One thing you won't find here are entry level contracts because they all come from the same cookie cutter and require less skill at the negotiating table.

My latest book The Hockey Economist’s Betting Prospectus is now available. It's a comprehensive commentary on the last 3 years of hockey betting, broken down by team, by category, by strategy, by season. There is plenty of useful information for bettors of all skill levels. It covers pre-pandemic, peak-pandemic, post-pandemic. What worked, what failed. Lessons learned, market trends, team-by-team analysis. What impact did the pandemic have on hockey betting? The market differences between these 3 seasons are discussed at length, and there's a lot to talk about. To read more, visit the Amazon store.
 
Enjoy! Please note: The formatting on the graphics got scrambled being copied from Excel into Google Blogger. It's among the reasons my blog is looking for a new home.

To see the other best/worst lists recently published, click here.

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The salary cap era of Los Angeles Kings hockey has been a story of peaks and valleys, with the heights reaching the ultimate apex with 2 Stanley Cup championships. In 2010 the Kings broke a streak of 6 consecutive seasons missing the playoffs, which had allowed them to stockpile some high draft picks to help them win a championship by 2012.
 
Dean Lombardi was the architect of those titles, but was fired 3 years after the 2^nd Cup, having missed the playoffs twice in that span. You might expect that a pair of titles would give a GM more leeway when the franchise struggles, but this is a performance-based industry and Lombardi failed to grow the burgeoning dynasty.
 
Former Kings defenseman Rob Blake would assume the role in 2017, and has yet to sign a deal that cracked the Kings top 15 best contracts. The biggest problem behind the team’s fall from grace is that they reached their summit when their foundational players were on bargain contracts, but eventually management had to pay the piper and reimburse those stars in future negotiations. Also, all of their success came when Jonathan Quick was at his most dominant. Once their #1 goalie started to struggle, so too did the team. When he resurged, so did the team.

1. Drew Doughty
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	D
Date:	2011-09-30		Age July 1st:	21
Term:	8 years		Playoff GP:	72
Total Money:	$56M		Playoff PTS:	40
Cap Hit:	$7M		Stanley Cups:	2

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	66.3	613	341	1415
Per 82 GP	8.3	82	46	189	26.9

"It's out there in terms of where (the offer) would put him in the league as a defenseman and where he is on our team. That's our best offer. That's fair to say. What we put out there is out best offer."

– Dean Lombardi

Drew Doughty was a 2^nd overall draft pick who went directly to the NHL and scored 59 PTS as a sophomore. It was obvious very quickly that this kid was a star. Getting his autograph on a new deal wasn’t easy, as Drew went unsigned into training camp. Where were the offer sheets? I’m willing to bet at least one was offered but that Drew had no intention of leaving Los Angeles.
 
At the time Shea Weber was the highest paid defenseman at $7.5M, and Lombardi reportedly didn’t want to pay Doughty more than leading scorer Anze Kopitar’s $6.8M. They reached a compromise at $7M per season ($9M adjusted for cap inflation). Drew agreed to an 8-year term when he could have been UFA in 4, which is where Lombardi really scored the bargain.
 
It was worth every penny. Year one, Stanley Cup. Year three, Stanley Cup. Year five, Norris trophy. Doughty would average 46 PTS per 82 GP and nearly 27 minutes per game of ice time. They also got 40 PTS over 72 playoff GP. It doesn’t get much more successful than that. This is among the top 15 best contracts in all the salary cap era. I’d say that Drew left some money on the table here, but it all got thrown back into the pile for the even bigger home run he’d hit at age 29.
 
 
2. Anze Kopitar
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2008-10-11		Age July 1st:	21
Term:	7 years		Playoff GP:	75
Total Money:	$47.6M		Playoff PTS:	64
Cap Hit:	$6.8M		Stanley Cups:	2

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	61.5	528	480	1331
Per 82 GP	8.8	82	75	207	20.9

"Anze is a special player, but he has also shown a strong work ethic and the type of character we believe is necessary to help shape the core of our team"

– Dean Lombardi

Anze Kopitar came directly from Europe to the NHL, never stopping for a detour in the AHL. The Slovenian’s impact was immediate, putting up entry level point totals of 61, 77, and 66, earning himself an expensive 7-year extension. Eric Staal had just signed a much bigger deal in Carolina one month earlier, but Kopitar accepted a salary closer to what Patrice Bergeron had signed in 2006.
 
Over these 7 years, Anze scored 480 PTS in 538 GP (plus another 64 PTS in 75 playoff GP), finished top 4 in Selke trophy voting 4 times, winning in 2016. Oh, and the Kings won 2 Stanley Cups. Lombardi did buy 3 years of unrestricted free agency, but the money that Kopitar left on the table got stacked onto his next deal (there’s a theme emerging here).
 
 
3. Jonathan Quick
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	G
Date:	2009-10-23		Age July 1st:	24
Term:	3 years		Playoff Wins:	27
Total Money:	$5.4M		Playoff SV%:	0.935
Cap Hit:	$1.8M		Stanley Cups:	1

 

	Avg Adj Cap Hit	GP	W	GAA	SV%
Total	2.4	167	88	2.16	0.919

“It’s a great organization and I’m happy to be a part of it. I’m honoured that they think highly enough of me to offer me that contract."

– Jonathan Quick

Jonathan Quick had only played 47 games in the NHL when he signed this extension with one year remaining on his ELC. The young gatekeeper had mostly been a slightly above average puck stopper, and had not yet elevated himself to star level, allowing the Kings to get his autograph on a very cheap ticket.
 
It didn’t take long for the upside to start showing itself, as he improved in year one, winning 35 games, losing 22, with a .918 SV%. Then one year after Tim Thomas stole the Stanley Cup for the Bruins, Jonathan went on an epic run of his own, playing 69 games with a 1.95 GAA and .929 SV% in the regular season, then won 16 out of 20 playoff games with an astounding .946 SV% to win both the Cup and the Conn Smythe trophy. It’s a little less remarkable than the season Thomas had because Quick lost out to Henrik Lundqvist in Vezina voting. Too bad. Jon got rich quick on the next deal.
 
 
4. Dustin Brown
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2007-10-26		Age July 1st:	23
Term:	6 years		Playoff GP:	76
Total Money:	$19M		Playoff PTS:	45
Cap Hit:	$3.2M		Stanley Cups:	2

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	25.9	451	276	1319
Per 82 GP	4.3	82	50	240	18.9

"Dustin is an integral part of what we are building here with the Kings. We like how he competes. We like his toughness and we are very pleased with how his overall game has developed."

– Dean Lombardi

Dustin Brown had just scored 46 PTS in his sophomore campaign when Dean Lombardi gave him an early 6-year extension in October 2007, locking him into the price-point of a 46-point winger. Brown would go on to score 60 PTS in the final year of his ELC and was named team captain, but wasn’t able to cash in at that pay grade.
 
But don’t feel bad for Dustin, he got that money back on his next contract (the theme continues). Over these 451 regular season games, Dusty threw 1546 hits (this will be addressed on the Kings worst contracts list), and scored 276 PTS (50-point pace). The most important of all his personal accolades, his name was engraved on the Stanley Cup twice, scoring 14 playoff goals in those 2 runs. Does the rest even matter?
 
 
5. Justin Williams
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2011-02-28		Age July 1st:	29
Term:	4 years		Playoff GP:	64
Total Money:	$14.6M		Playoff PTS:	49
Cap Hit:	$3.65M		Stanley Cups:	2

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	18.4	293	176	796
Per 82 GP	4.6	82	49	223	16.7

"I'm not the fastest skater. I don't have the greatest shot. I just try and do the best I can out there with what I have. I feel my smarts and my instincts have gotten me where I am, and my competitiveness."

– Justin Williams

You don’t earn the nickname “Mr Game 7” in sports unless you do something special. Justin Williams won his first Stanley Cup in Carolina, and was later traded to LA for Patrick O’Sullivan and a 2nd round pick. The winger had some injury issues over his first 2 years with the Kings, but had bounced back, on the way to a 57-point campaign when he signed this extension at age 29.
 
The Kings won the Stanley Cup in year one, but were so dominant that none of the series went to 7 games. Williams contributed 15 PTS to that title. They won another championship in year three where Williams scored 25 PTS and was named playoff MVP. Justin scored 19 goals over their 2 Cup runs. Do his regular season stats even matter?
 
 
6. Jake Muzzin
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	D
Date:	2014-10-14		Age July 1st:	26
Term:	5 years		Playoff GP:	14
Total Money:	$20M		Playoff PTS:	7
Cap Hit:	$4M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	21.7	371	170	781
Per 82 GP	4.3	82	38	173	22.0

"This is the place I want to stay, and I want to play here for a long time"

– Jake Muzzin

Jake Muzzin was not a part of the Kings 2012 championship roster, but added 12 PTS to their 2014 run. Dean Lombardi astutely locked the defenseman into an early 5-year extension following Muzzin’s 24-point season for slightly more money than Justin Braun had accepted from San Jose one month earlier. Muzzin had the opportunity to become UFA had he taken a 1-year deal, but instead agreed to a term that would not expire until age 31.
 
The move to sign him early would save the Kings millions, as Jake had a breakout 41-point season before the new deal even started, and would have commanded a much higher price had they waited. Lombardi bought a 40-point defenseman for 70 cents on the dollar. In year four he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 1st round pick and some prospects.
 
 
7. Alex Frolov
 

Signed By:	Dave Taylor		Position:	F
Date:	2005-08-12		Age July 1st:	23
Term:	5 years		Playoff GP:	6
Total Money:	$14.5M		Playoff PTS:	4
Cap Hit:	$2.9M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	24.8	380	302	887
Per 82 GP	5.0	82	65	191	19.3

“We know we got one of our top young players under contract for five years. That was important to us. We wanted to make that commitment to him.”

– Dave Taylor

Alexander Frolov played 156 NHL games before the 2005 lockout, scoring 79 PTS (41-point pace), having not yet earned the pay grade into which he was being slotted. Dave Taylor must have trusted that the upside was there, and he would be proven correct.
 
The Russian scored a career high 71 PTS in year two, averaging 65 PTS per 82 GP over the duration. Unfortunately, every season after that apex resulted in fewer points scored, a disturbing trend that must have concerned potential suitors when the deal expired. When Frolov finally tested free agency at age 28, he only got a 1-year deal from the Rangers, performed very poorly, and returned to Russia.
 
 
8. Jake Muzzin
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	D
Date:	2013-07-12		Age July 1st:	24
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	26
Total Money:	$2M		Playoff PTS:	12
Cap Hit:	$1M		Stanley Cups:	1

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	2.5	152	65	348
Per 82 GP	1.2	82	35	188	20.9

“It’s rewarding and it’s a little bit of security with the two-year deal. I’m excited about it and to start the season in LA. I’ve just got to keep getting stronger, better defensively and continue working on my offence, while being a trustworthy player that’s consistent.”

– Jake Muzzin

Jake Muzzin played most of his entry level contract in the AHL, earning a full-time promotion when the NHL resumed play following the 2013 lockout. He didn’t have much bargaining power having only played 56 games, explaining why he agreed to a 2-year term at half the price that his stat line should have been worth. The deal was a carbon copy of one signed by Matt Irwin 3 months earlier in San Jose.
 
The Kings had a bargain on their hands, as Muzzin played a meaningful role in a Stanley Cup win with 12 PTS in 26 playoff games and elevated into a 40-point player by year two. Lombardi was able to rope him into another discount when this was finished, signing it before the breakout was in full bloom.
 
 
9. Jack Johnson
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	D
Date:	2009-07-17		Age July 1st:	22
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	12
Total Money:	$2.85M		Playoff PTS:	12
Cap Hit:	$1.4M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	4.0	162	78	283
Per 82 GP	2.0	82	39	143	22.9

“I look at Jack and I see the potential for greatness. This kid has got as much talent physically as any player I’ve ever had. He can skate, shoot, do it all. He’s got to learn the mental part of the game and that’s very subtle.”

– Dean Lombardi

Jack Johnson had not begun to tap his offensive potential during his entry level contract, agreeing to a cheap bridge deal despite being a former 3rd overall draft pick who was good enough to gain full-time NHL duty after zero AHL games. He banked more money than Keith Yandle one day earlier, who had just wrapped a much more impressive 30-point season.
 
Johnson’s breakout was instantaneous, with the young defenseman scoring 79 PTS in 162 GP (39-point pace) while adding 12 more PTS in 12 playoff GP. Johnson may have left some money on the table, but luckily he had his parents to help him invest his earnings and make smart business decisions. Jack did hit the jackpot on hit next contract, making more money than he could ever spend.
 
 
10. Dustin Brown
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2006-09-17		Age July 1st:	21
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	0
Total Money:	$2.4M		Playoff PTS:	0
Cap Hit:	$1.2M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	4.1	159	106	414
Per 82 GP	2.1	82	55	214	19.5

“Brownie, Koppie and Cammie were dynamite. When your best line is that good, it makes things easier.”

– Colby Armstrong

Dustin Brown only scored 33 PTS in his first 110 NHL games, and was not in a position to make lofty demands despite being a former 1st round draft pick. The hard-hitting winger went unsigned into September following a 28-point season and would eventually agree to an identical contract as was signed by Chuck Kobasew 3 months earlier.
 
This was a fair price for the stat line, but once Brown was placed on a line with Anze Kopitar, he elevated to a higher level, scoring 46 PTS in year one and 60 PTS in year two. The Kings struggled over these two years as a team, but the building blocks of their dynasty were slowly being assembled.
 
 
11. Michael Cammalleri
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2007-08-07		Age July 1st:	25
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	6
Total Money:	$6.7M		Playoff PTS:	3
Cap Hit:	$3.35M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	10.4	144	129	465
Per 82 GP	5.2	82	73	265	18.0

"We got there the hard way. Nobody wins at these things. I think it is safe to say it came out closer to our end. But these situations aren't for winning and losing."

– Dean Lombardi

 
"I'm really excited. I've always kind of wanted to come back and play in Canada so this is a great opportunity. It's great to be able to compete for the Cup. I love the team that we have."

– Mike Cammalleri

Mike Cammalleri scored 80 PTS in his 2nd full NHL season and should have been due a bigger pay day (by modern standards anyway). Lombardi and Cammalleri were unable to come to an agreement and went to salary arbitration, where the final ruling was closer to the team’s number. The awarded salary was close to what Mikko Koivu had banked a month earlier after scoring 54 PTS.
 
Lombardi was able to re-sign the Squid at a very team friendly price, the bad news was that it would walk him directly to unrestricted free agency at his earliest eligibility. The center’s scoring did decline in year two, so the GM decided to trade him to Calgary for a 1st round pick rather than risk losing him to free agency. Lombardi may have said some unpleasant things to win that arbitration hearing, and knew Mike wasn’t coming back.  Cammalleri lit the lamp in cow town. No Stanley Cups but that’s a good price for 129 PTS in 144 GP.
 
 
12. Alec Martinez
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	D
Date:	2013-07-14		Age July 1st:	25
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	26
Total Money:	$2.2M		Playoff PTS:	10
Cap Hit:	$1.1M		Stanley Cups:	1

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	2.7	117	44	182
Per 82 GP	1.4	82	31	128	17.7

“I tossed my gear, the guys jumped in, and I couldn’t breathe for a while. It’s a surreal moment"

– Alec Martinez

Alec Martinez played his last AHL game in November 2010, when he was recalled to replace Jake Muzzin (who was being demoted). That’s when Alec became a full-time NHLer, later playing a supporting role helping the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012.  He had not evolved beyond that minor role when it came time for a new contract, signing a 2-year bridge at a very affordable price. Jake Muzzin signed a nearly identical deal 2 days earlier.
 
During the 2014 season, Martinez started scoring goals at a greater rate, ripping 11 tucks. But he’s not on this list because of any goals that he scored in the regular season. Alec scored multiple overtime game/series winning goals in the playoffs, including the Stanley Cup winner in 2014.
 
 
13. Jonathan Quick
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	G
Date:	2012-06-28		Age July 1st:	27
Term:	10 years		Playoff Wins:	20
Total Money:	$58M		Playoff SV%:	0.911
Cap Hit:	$5.8M		Stanley Cups:	1

 

	Avg Adj Cap Hit	GP	W	GAA	SV%
Total	6.3	426	210	2.48	0.911

“We are very happy to have a long-term agreement in place with one of our top young players”

– Dean Lombardi

Jonathan Quick inked this ticket shortly after winning the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe trophy. That doesn’t happen very often. Quick could have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of his previous deal, but chose instead a commitment to stay with his championship teammates, for arguably less money than he could have made on the open market. We’ve seen that happen before and since.
 
Quick could have become the highest paid goalie but instead became the 7th highest paid keeper. It was a front loaded, back diving deal that paid extra cash up front. Jon followed up that outstanding 2012 season with a subpar performance following the lockout. But in year one, Quick won another championship as the starting goaltender, albeit with a less impressive showing. The first half of the contract was good, the second half has been bad.
 
 
14. Michael Cammalleri
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2006-07-26		Age July 1st:	24
Term:	1 years		Playoff GP:	0
Total Money:	$1.7M		Playoff PTS:	0
Cap Hit:	$1.7M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	3.2	81	80	299
Per 82 GP	3.2	82	81	303	18.0

“As the team gets younger, those guys -- Brown, Cammalleri, now Kopitar with a year's experience, Frolov -- these guys all have to go to another level. Its one thing to say, ``Hey, these kids had pretty good years last year,'' but we were the third-worst team in the league. At some point, those kids have to take responsibility for winning.”

– Dean Lombardi

Mike Cammalleri lit up the AHL during the 2005 lockout, scoring 109 PTS, then had a breakout 55-point season for the Kings when the NHL returned. Dean Lombardi was never able to secure Cammalleri’s autograph on a long-term contract and always seemed very determined to force the Squid to take a discount.
 
This was a throwback to the old NHL where teams expected young players to just shut up and take what was being offered, which was changing as we slowly transitioned into the player empowerment era. When Cammalleri was put on a line with Brown and Kopitar, the trio flourished. This would lead to a contentious arbitration hearing, and eventually, Mike’s departure from California.
 
 
15. Tyler Toffoli
 

Signed By:	Dean Lombardi		Position:	F
Date:	2015-06-26		Age July 1st:	23
Term:	2 years		Playoff GP:	5
Total Money:	$6.5M		Playoff PTS:	1
Cap Hit:	$3.25M		Stanley Cups:	0

 

	Adj Cap Hit	GP	PTS	SOG	ATOI
Total	7.4	145	92	378
Per 82 GP	3.7	82	52	214	17.0

“He made it quite clear that this was not going to be a gunfight. This is where he wanted to be. He was willing to take a shorter term. Who knows, if this comes July 1, what’d be coming across our table. This was good for everybody, and Tyler knows that as he gets stronger and continues to put in his work as he’s doing in L.A. right now that the sky’s the limit on what he could achieve with his next deal.”

- Director of Player Personnel Michael Futa

Tyler Toffoli eclipsed the 20-goal plateau during his 2nd full season in the NHL and had a very amicable negotiation with Dean Lombardi, agreeing on a reasonable 2-year bridge. The possibility of extending Toffoli on a long-term extension was not exactly palatable now that some now that some of their Stanley Cup chickens were “coming home to roost”. Kopitar and Brown got big new extensions, and Drew Doughty was right around the corner.
 
Tyler would take his game to an even higher level in year one, scoring 31 goals and 58 PTS. He would sign another bridge after this and eventually leave the Kings as a rental at its end.