Within minutes of the free agent window opening on Wednesday morning (July 1), the Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland have been really busy addressing key offseason priorities and roster needs.
Following initial reports that the Kings were "closing in" on a one-year contract with free agent defenseman Erik Gustafsson, it appears that Holland is making moves to address a big need at the center position.
After reports this morning that Scott Laughton was likely to re-sign with the Kings, experienced center depth immediately became Los Angeles' biggest priority in free agency. Getting Haula in the fold gives the Kings an proven and experienced two-way center capable of filling that role left by Laughton this offseason.
Erik Haula gives the Los Angeles Kings a proven veteran presence down the middle
Elliotte Friedman reported on July 1 that the Kings signed Haula to a two-year contract deal, worth around $3.6 million in average annual value.
Even though Haula isn't a direct replacement for the Kings for Anze Kopitar and/or Laughton individually, his addition to the middle of the roster lineup helps to stabilize the team's center depth going into this upcoming season.
The Kings are getting a gritty and reliable two-way veteran center in Haula who has consistently scored double-digit goals and can amass 30+ total points when healthy.
He also brings an abundance of regular season and postseason experience, having played over 800 career regular season games over this past 13 years in the league. Haula can also fill a role as a reliable center on special teams on the penalty kill and he can play on the power play if needed. He's registered multiple goals on special teams on the power play in the last two consecutive seasons.
In this past regular season with the New Jersey Devils, Haula scored 14 goals, 24 assists, and 38 total points over 81 games played.
While Haula isn't the big marquee free agent signing that some Kings fans were hoping for, this is the type of move that helps to address arguably the team's biggest offseason priority. If the Kings can continue adding more scoring and depth on the blue line, adding Haula could be one of the more underrated signings in this cycle of free agency.
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