The Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland were very busy on Day 1 of free agency a couple of weeks ago, addressing multiple roster needs with proven veteran signings.
The second full free agency period for Holland in Los Angeles wasn't built around generating the offseason headlines. Instead, it was about improving the roster lineup in key areas while maintaining cap flexibility for future opportunities.
Avoiding expensive commitments may prove in the end to be just as valuable as the proven veterans the Kings did add in free agency this offseason.
Not every big-name free agent was the right fit for the Los Angeles Kings this offseason
All of the free-agent signings on this list are quality players who signed contracts that didn't align with the Kings' roster needs and/or long-term strategy this summer.
Here's a look at three possible free agent signings that Holland and the Kings were wise to avoid this summer.
Rasmus Andersson, D (Vegas Golden Knights)
The defenseman that many media figures projected would be the top free agent available this summer at the position is Vegas Golden Knights' Rasmus Andersson. In this past couple of years, the Kings have been linked in various trade rumors and discussions to Andersson.
But those conversations have largely quieted down in the last 8-10 months on the trade block.
I'm not saying that Andersson isn't a good player on the blue line, but the potential contract price and timing made him the wrong fit hypothetically this offseason for the Kings.
Instead of committing a long-term contract and $8.5 million in average annual value, hypothetically to Andersson in free agency, the Kings were able to secure young defenseman Brandt Clarke to a much more manageable contract extension while keeping the financial flexibility to pursue other future options on the trade market.
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