LA Kings: Who was the MVP for the LA Kings this season?

Who was the LA Kings MVP for this season?

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MAY 05: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings is congratulated by Olli Maatta #6 and Sean Walker #26 for recording his 1,000th career point after assisting on an empty-net goal against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on May 05, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Nominee number three: Matt Roy

Wait, what?

You read that correctly folks, Matt Roy is the real deal, and the LA Kings know it. So much so that they rewarded the 26-year-old defenseman with a brand new three-year contract worth just over nine million dollars.

Matt Roy will not blow anyone away with offensive numbers. For this season, he only had two goals and eight assists. No one will mistake him for Bobby Orr, but Matt Roy has become an indispensable part of the LA Kings blue line. Matt Roy’s strength is his strong defensive play, exemplified by the fact that he tied for the team lead in +/- this season.

Roy on LA Kings’ Masterton Nomination: It’s an Honor. light. Related Story

A case in point would be when Roy was injured in a January 28th game versus the Minnesota Wild, leaving a gaping hole in the LA defense. He would miss approximately three weeks, during which time the LA Kings went on a four-game losing streak. Granted, Roy’s injury wasn’t the only reason for the tailspin, as fellow defenseman Sean Walker was injured in the same game, but without “Steady Eddie’s” steadying presence, the defense looked lost.

Not too shabby for a seventh-round draft pick.

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