LA Kings: Three LHD to consider signing to an offer sheet

Aside from Mikhail Sergachev, the LA Kings should consider signing these three left-handed defensemen to an offer sheet.

Although offer sheets are rarely used anymore, the LA Kings are in a favorable position with a surplus of draft picks and in good standing financially. Last week, I wrote about Mikhail Sergachev being the preferred target in an offer sheet scenario. The 22-year-old’s play both in the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs was nothing short of outstanding.

The NHL set the offer sheet compensation in early September and is as follows:

• $0 – $1,439,820 AAV: No Compensation
• $1,439,821 – $2,181,545 AAV: 1 Third Round Pick
• $2,181,546 – $4,363,095 AAV: 1 Second Round Pick
• $4,363,096 – $6,544,640 AAV: 1 First Round Pick, 1 Third Round Pick
• $6,544,641 – $8,726,188 AAV: 1 First Round Pick, 1 Second Round Pick, 1 Third Round Pick
• $8,726,189 – $10,907,735: 2 First Round Picks, 1 Second Round Pick, 1 Third Round Pick
• $10,907,736+ AAV: 4 First Round Picks

Prior to the 2020-2021 campaign commences, the LA Kings are expected to add a left-handed defenseman either via free agency or acquired in a trade. And it would seem that targeting a younger defenseman is the preferred option, so that player can continue to develop and be with the Kings’ organization for the foreseeable future.

But another avenue that should be explored further is looking at other players to sign an offer sheet. Aside from Sergachev, there are several promising options available that the Kings’ front office should consider. Let’s look at three players.

Haydn Fleury

Projected Contract: Two years, $2.0M AAV

Several years in the making, Haydn Fleury had a breakout season, by his standards, in the 2019-2020 campaign. Being drafted seventh overall in the 2014 NHL Draft comes with enormous expectations. In his rookie season, Fleury scored no goals with 8 assists in 67 games.

The 24-year-old saw increased playing time when Dougie Hamilton went down with an injury. In 45 games, he scored 4 goals with 10 assists for 14 points while averaging 13:40 on-ice time.

Fleury recorded a 53.3 Corsi-for percentage and a 51.0 expected goals-for percentage. He also had 2 goals in eight playoff games for the Hurricanes. And while he’s a left-handed shot, Fleury only played at RD, primarily on the third pairing with Jake Gardiner last year.

He also saw a few games on the top pairing with Jaccob Slavin, and a switch to LD could do wonders for Fleury. Unfortunately, to this point, he’s been blocked from doing so, but he’d have that opportunity in LA.

Acquiring Fleury for this contract amount would cost the Kings a third-round pick in 2021.

Devon Toews

Projected Contract: Four years, $3.5M AAV

We have arrived. Other than Sergachev, Devon Toews might be my favorite candidate to sign to an offer sheet this offseason. He was highly underrated for the Islanders, who have $8.9M in cap space. They are without a second-round pick in next year’s draft, and given that they don’t have a first or second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, there might be some incentive to gain some draft capital back.

At 26, Toews is the oldest of the three guys listed here, but he’s also the closest to a first pairing LHD. He played on all three pairings for the Islanders last year and tallied 6 goals with 22 assists in 68 games.

He logs a ton of minutes every game – 20:31 to be exact – and Toews has become an excellent shot-blocker just two years into the league. His even-strength metrics are encouraging, with a 50.8 Corsi-for percentage and 52.2 expected goals-for percentage.

While he’s not the powerplay monster than Vince Dunn is, Toews contributed a goal and 5 assists on the man advantage.  And he shined in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 2 goals with 8 assists in 22 games. An accepted offer sheet would cost the Kings a second-round pick in 2021.