With Dominik Kahun still unsigned, it makes you wonder if the LA Kings should swoop in and sign the 25-year-old?
Outside of a few signings here and there, the frenzy of NHL free agency has come to a screeching halt. But there are still several attractive names on the free-agent market. The LA Kings took care of their main priority, acquiring Olli Maatta from the Chicago Blackhawks to shore up the defense’s left side.
And one name – who has ties to Maatta – remains available. We are talking about Dominik Kahun. The 25-year-old forward went undrafted, signing with the Blackhawks in May 2018. He wound up making the team’s roster, scoring 13 goals with 24 assists in the 2018-2019 season. Kahun also finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting.
Dominik Kahun goes to the backhand to open the scoring agains the Devils. pic.twitter.com/GV7UYBZTNU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 23, 2019
During the offseason, the Penguins acquired Kahun in exchange for Maatta. Last year, the former tallied 10 goals with 17 assists for 27 points before being traded to Buffalo. Before the shutdown, Kahun tallied four points in six games. In Pittsburgh, Kahun logged a 50.7 Corsi-for percentage and a 51.1 expected-goals-for percentage.
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Buffalo didn’t give Kahun a qualifying offer, making him a free agent. He had a measly $925,000 cap hit last season, so his next contract figures to be fairly inexpensive. Obviously, it depends on the term, but I don’t think it hurts for Rob Blake to kick the tires here.
While he’s listed as a center, Kahun most of his time playing left-winger along all four lines. His versatility would be invaluable for a Kings’ roster that isn’t as deep along the left side right now. Sure, prospects may fill those voids in the future. But a strong argument can be made that he’d be an immediate upgrade over Trevor Moore.
If the season started today, Alex Iafallo, Adrian Kempe, Carl Grundstrom, and Moore would likely plug-in at left-winger on each line, respectively. We recently discussed the notion of trading for Tyler Johnson. Guess what? Kahun had the same point production as Johnson last year.
He’d be far less expensive to add to the roster in terms of cap hit, the return, and potentially term. No doubt, the 2020-2021 season is an evaluation year. I get that. Along with perhaps the uncertainty of when the NHL season will begin, there could be the potential to expand rosters.
Kahun would be a small addition in terms of the salary cap, but he’s already twice-proven that he’s a 30+ point producer. Perhaps more importantly, age is on his side, whereas Johnson is already 30. Kahun would likely be part of the next great Kings team.