Several notable Los Angeles Kings players are set to enter restricted or unrestricted free agency this summer, creating important decisions for Holland and the front office.
There are a handful of impending restricted and unrestricted free agents this upcoming summer for the Kings who are due pretty sizable contract extension deals or that need new contracts entirely on the open market this offseason.
This list doesn't include every Kings player who is a pending restricted or unrestricted free agent this summer. We're just taking a look at those most high-profile of the impending restricted and unrestricted free agents for the Kings this offseason in the cap sheet.
Which Los Angeles Kings free agents are worth bringing back this offseason
While the Kings have more salary-cap flexibility than in recent years, general manager Ken Holland still faces several important roster decisions this offseason.
Here's a projection of the next contract lengths and costs on the cap sheet for the Kings going into free agency this summer.
Brandt Clarke, D (RFA)
While several free-agent decisions remain important, no player appears more critical to the Kings' long-term future than Brandt Clarke. Beyond that, much of Los Angeles' offseason strategy may depend on whether Holland prioritizes maintaining veteran depth or creating flexibility to pursue major upgrades at center and elsewhere on the roster.
Negotiations with Clarke likely begin around the $6.5 million AAV range, though his long-term value to the organization could push that number higher. Signing him to a lengthy extension should be one of Holland's top priorities.
Clarke is arguably the easiest decision facing Holland this offseason. The Kings view him as a foundational piece of the future on the blue line, making a long-term extension a near certainty.
Since the Kings do have ample cap space this offseason, and Clarke is viewed by many as being the future of the blue line on defense in Los Angeles, he should get one of the bigger contracts on the cap sheet roster this summer.
Projected contract: 5 years for $8 million in AAV
Scott Laughton, C (UFA)
Veteran two-way center Scott Laughton provided the Kings depth and proven experience on both sides of the ice in the middle of the lineup down the stretch this past regular season and in the postseason in the first round.
With Kopitar retired and the Kings still searching for center depth, retaining Laughton would provide valuable stability down the middle while the organization evaluates longer-term solutions.
The type of two-way skill set that Laughton brings is pretty highly sought after and valued highly in the modern NHL. While he isn't a clear top-six center in the middle of the lineup for the Kings, he should be due for a decent pay day on a short-term contract deal this offseason.
It makes a lot of sense for all parties involved here to sign a new contract before the unrestricted free agent market officially opens up this summer between the Kings and Laughton at the center position.
Projected contract: 2 years for $4 million AAV
Andrei Kuzmenko, W (UFA)
Winger Andrei Kuzmenko is one of the most offensively potent playmaking talents from the Kings who is a pending unrestricted free agent this summer.
I do still think Kuzmenko is more likely than not to be leaving the Kings via the unrestricted free agent market this offseason. Based on comments following the season, Kuzmenko never seemed particularly committed to remaining in Los Angeles long term.
Kuzmenko's offensive skill set will generate interest on the open market, and there may simply be another team willing to offer a larger role and more money than Los Angeles is comfortable providing.
If there's a team out there that feels like Kuzmenko can contribute at a high level and fit a clear role as a top or middle-six scoring winger offensively, he could get a decent contract deal this offseason in unrestricted free agency.
With the salary cap rising this offseason, I could see Kuzmenko getting slightly more in average annual value on his next contract this summer in unrestricted free agency.
Projected contract: 1 year for $4.5 million in AAV
While Clarke's extension feels like a matter of when rather than if, the futures of players like Laughton and Kuzmenko are far less certain. How Holland navigates those decisions could play a major role in determining whether the Kings remain competitive while transitioning into the post-Kopitar era.
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