The Los Angeles Kings took another step toward ensuring they stay in Stanley Cup contention for years to come. The club has signed rising star defenseman Slava Voynov to a six-year, $25 million contract ($4.16 million cap hit) extension. The move pre-empts Voynov's impending restricted free agent status. He can be an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
The signing is a tremendous one for Los Angeles, which was one of the most dynamic young blueline duos in the league between Voynov and Drew Doughty. However, the signing also creates some challenges for the Kings.
LA has just 15 NHL roster players signed for next season, and a little less than $7.7 million of cap space remaining under the ceiling for next season (not counting the 10 percent overage teams are allowed during the summertime). The next order of business for the Kings will be to deal with the Jonathan Bernier contract situation, with a trade of the highly regarded young goaltender looking more and more inevitable with each passing day.
More to come...
Listen to today's HockeyBuzzcast with myself and Mike Augello at 12:45pm here:
Join the Discussion:
»