General manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings have been busy early this offseason, adding young and talented players and organizational depth going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The latest player that the Kings and Holland have signed to a contract deal this offseason is the former second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, center Francesco Pinelli.
The Kings officially announced on Wednesday afternoon (June 24) that the team signed Pinelli to a one-year, two-way contract deal early this offseason. The deal is worth an average annual value of $850K in the NHL. He was due to be a restricted free agent this summer.
Los Angeles Kings continue to reward their young talent, bringing back Francesco Pinelli on a one-year, two-way contract
Pinelli has been a mainstay in the roster lineup for the Ontario Reign in this past couple of years. He registered a career-high 35 total points, along with 14 goals and 21 assists for the Reign this past regular season.
This news comes after the Kings signed fellow Reign impact players and forwards Martin Chromiak and Aatu Jamsen to one-year, two-way contract deals early this offseason in this past couple of weeks.
Pinelli will now get to prove that he deserves a spot on the opening-night roster this upcoming season for the Kings. He just had his best season yet in the Kings minor league and developmental system with the Reign in the 2025-26 campaign.
Pinelli's path through the Kings' minor league and developmental organization hasn't always been the easiest. He wasn't always a regular in Ontario's lineup in this past couple of years, but he continued to develop his game and was rewarded with his most productive season offensively of his career in the 2025-26 campaign.
While Pinelli might not be automatically penciled into the roster lineup this upcoming season on opening night, the 23-year-old still has time to carve out a role in the NHL. This contract deal gives both Pinelli and the Kings another season to see if he can make that leap to become a contributor.
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