Kings add Lewis, Talbot, Englund in free agency

The Los Angeles Kings made their big splash in acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois, but they admittedly had some holes to fill in the roster. While the real news is who they’re bringing in to share the net with Pheonix Copley, the move that’s already getting all the buzz from Kings fans is the return of Trevor Lewis.

The veteran forward spent his entire career with the Kings until leaving to sign with the Winnipeg Jets in 2021. He then spent two years with the Calgary Flames, and old friend (?) Darryl Sutter.

Lewis’ re-addition to the Kings gives them another dependable veteran to insert in the lineup. Lewis, 36, returns to a familiar environment where he can chase what’s likely to be one of his last playoff runs. He brings experience and physicality to bottom six and, perhaps most importantly, is probably the inevitable winner of next season’s Unsung Hero award.

In 892 NHL games, Lewis has 90 goals and 119 assists. He also has 9 points in 22 career layoff games. Lewis’ contract comes with a $775,000 cap hit.

The Kings have also brought in veteran goaltender Cam Talbot to share the net with also-veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley. Talbot is coming off of a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators, where he played in 36 games, recording a 17-14-2 record. He had a .898 save percentage and a 2.93 goals against average.

Talbot is a veteran of 432 NHL games across 11 seasons, having played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, and Ottawa Senators. He holds a career record of 218-156-36. Talbot has a career .914 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average. He’s also played in 33 playoff games, with a record of 15-16, save percentage of .921, and 2.51 goals against average.

Talbot’s deal with the Kings is a one year, $1 million contract, with the potential to earn an additional $1 million with ten games played.

The Kings have also re-signed Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Taylor Ward. Neither player was given a qualifying offer, but eventually re-signed for less than what that qualifying offer would have been required to be. Anderson-Dolan and Ward both signed one-year contracts, each with a $775,000 cap hit. Anderson-Dolan’s deal is a one-way deal, meaning he gets paid the same whether he is in the NHL or AHL. Ward’s deal is two-way; he will make $95,000 while he is with the Ontario Reign.

Anderson-Dolan, 23, was drafted in the second round by the Kings in 2017. The forward played 46 NHL games last season, recording seven goals and five assists. In his career, he’s played a total of 96 regular-season NHL games (14 goals, 10 assists) and 112 regular-season AHL games (32 goals, 45 assists).

Ward, 25, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after finishing his college career with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has played a total of 87 regular season AHL games over parts of two seasons, recording 12 goals and 24 assists.

The Kings have also reportedly made two additional depth signings. Defenseman Andreas Englund has reportedly signed a one-year deal. The 27 year old left-shot has spent his career in the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago Blackhawks organizations. Additionally, he’s played in the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan leagues. He’s played 80 regular-season NHL games (no goals, seven assists) and 300 regular-season AHL games (10 goals, 39 assists). England’s contract with the Kings is for two years, with an average $1 million cap hit.

Additionally, 25 year old left wing Mikhail Maltsev has reportedly signed with the Kinngs as well. He has played in the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche organizations, in addition to spending parts of three seasons in the KHL. Maltsev has played 56 regular-season NHL games (six goals, three assists) and 134 regular-season AHL games (40 goals, 51 assists). Maltsev’s contract is reportedly for one year with a $775,000 cap hit.