After signing in free agency with the Los Angeles Kings last summer in the 2024 offseason, defenseman Joel Edmundson added grit and consistency on the blue line for this defensive group. Edmundson proved to be the added punch of physicality and reliable anchoring in the defensive zone that the Kings needed on the blue line for the 2024-25 season.
Statistically, last season was one of the best of Edmundson's career in the NHL. The 31-year-old defenseman registered a career-high in assists (14), points (20), and plus-minus last season for the Kings. He also scored the second-most goals in his career in the NHL (six).
Edmundson was asked to rise to the occasion when the Kings needed him to play more second-line minutes on the blue line last season due to the ankle injury Drew Doughty suffered in the preseason last fall.
He proved to be a very reliable and durable defenseman for the Kings last season, playing over 1,500 minutes on the ice for the first time in his career in the regular season.
Joel Edmundson 2024-25 Los Angeles Kings player season recap
2024-25 season stats: 73 games played, 6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points, +25
2024-25 advanced stats: 6.7 shooting %, 10.5 5-on-5 shooting %, 0.8 points/60, 5.8 point shares
2024-25 possession metrics: 50.9 CF%, 48.3 SCF%, 102.5 PDO, 50.6 HDCF%
The counting stats did a nice job of painting the true picture of how effective Edmundson was and in what areas he impacted the game most for the Kings' blue line this past season. He led the Kings in blocked shots in the regular season and in the postseason last spring in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
He had at least one blocked shot in a team-high 59 games this past regular season for the Kings. Also, the fact that he led all Kings' defensemen in plus-minus shows that Edmundson had a very positive impact on the ice for this team.
Edmundson did a nice job when playing on part-time second-line blue line minutes for the Kings, and with the third defensive pairing with Vladislav Gavrikov and Brandt Clarke this past season.
Managing the puck better will be a key area to improve upon for Edmundson going into his second season in a Kings uniform this fall in training camp and the preseason. Last season, Edmundson led the team in 5-on-5 and power-play defensive zone giveaways (per Money Puck).
Rink Royalty season grade for Joel Edmundson: C+
Joel Edmundson 2025-26 Los Angeles Kings season preview
With three years remaining on his contract worth just under $4 million in average annual value, Edmundson is on a team-friendly deal that looks especially good after the NHL raised the salary cap for this offseason.
Since the Kings didn't re-sign Gavrikov this offseason (signed with the New York Rangers this summer in free agency), Edmundson could be expected to step up and play more second-line minutes on the Kings' blue line.
Given how much head coach Jim Hiller played Clarke and Edmundson together as a defensive pairing down the stretch last regular season, it's probably to be expected he'll do the same for this upcoming season in the West.