Thursday, September 04, 2008

Stoll Signs in LA for Four

The Kings took yet another step towards getting themselves towards the salary cap floor by signing centre Jarret Stoll to a new 4-year deal, reportedly worth $14 million in total. The average salary/salary cap hit for the next four years will be $3.5 million.

Stoll was traded to the Kings in the off-season from Edmonton and will now be a key fixture on the second or third line. Stoll finished last season with 36 points (14G, 22A) in 81 games with the Oilers last year. The Kings are a ways away from being the up-and-coming team that Edmonton is at the moment, so Stoll may see a slight dip in production this season, which should drop him down on your priority list. The only thing that may save him from having a sub-par season would be a pair of wingers that may include Dustin Brown.

The Kings still have to sign Patrick O'Sullivan in the off-season, which should bump Stoll down to the third line centre position, also behind Anze Kopitar.

ForwardsDefenseGoaltenders
Anze KopitarTom PreissingJason Labarbera
Alexander FrolovJack JohnsonErik Ersberg
Dustin BrownMatt Greene
Jarret StollDenis Gauthier
Derek ArmstrongDrew Doughty
Michal Handzus
Kyle Calder
Matt Moulson
Ratis Ivanans
Matt Ellis


The Kings still have a few more spots to fill this summer with some new contracts, but they are finally coming around to getting up to the cap floor. Stoll's $3.5 million and Doughty's $3.475 million this season has taken a good chunk out of the gap between making it and where they were. Now the Kings sit at $33.8 million, only $6.9 million away from the floor, with seven more spots to fill, including O'Sullivan and Brad Richardson. The team's number doesn't include the likely spot saved for Jonathan Bernier, who hasn't quite sewn up his spot just yet, but things are likely to change through training camp.

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