LA Kings reportedly interested in Vinnie Hinostroza

The LA Kings are reportedly interested in depth forward Vinnie Hinostroza. What does he have to offer to the club?

The LA Kings could be working towards a depth signing in the form of forward Vinnie Hinostroza. The 26-year-old is reportedly drawing interest from the club, which would seem to align with general manager Rob Blake’s plans for free agency.

Hinostroza broke in with the Chicago Blackhawks after being drafted by the organization in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. His first full season came in 2016-2017, scoring 6 goals with 8 assists in 49 games.

He was part of the Marian Hossa trade to Arizona, in what ended up being an $8.5M salary cap clearing move for the Blackhawks. In his first year with the Coyotes, the then 24-year-old scored 16 goals with 23 assists in 72 games.

In a COVID-shortened season, he tallied 5 goals with 17 assists, including one power play and shorthanded assist. In 2018-2019, he spent most of his time playing on the team’s top two lines at the right-winger position, but his minutes dropped this past year, as he saw time spread across all four lines.

He’s coming off a two-year extension at a $1.5M cap hit. Hinostroza could be fairly inexpensive to sign, perhaps another two-year deal at a $2M AAV. I suppose the question would then becomes where does he play?

Maybe the Kings’ top-four lines look something like this with Hinostroza in the mix:

Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown

Kempe – Vilardi – Frk

Grundstrom – Lizotte – Carter

Moore – Amadio – Hinostroza

It wouldn’t be a significant addition, but Hinostroza could chip in 10 goals with 15 assists on the fourth line. I suppose it boils down to what happens with a couple of the prospects in training camp, especially Arthur Kaliyev and Samuel Fagemo.

UPDATE:

UPDATE #2

Hinostroza will join former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville in Florida.