Ken Holland got ahead of the curve with Brandt Clarke, and that timing may end up being the real win for the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings locked up the young defenseman on a five-year extension right before the NHL Draft this past weekend, a deal carrying an average annual value of around $7.4 million through the end of the 2030-31 season. In a summer where restricted free agent prices have been climbing fast, that number already looks tidy.
A couple of months ago, it seemed fair to expect Clarke’s next contract to land somewhere in the $8-$9 million range annually. If those talks had dragged deeper into the offseason, the price could have kept rising as other young stars continued resetting the market.
That’s the part that makes this extension stand out. Holland and the Kings avoided getting caught in the churn of a restricted free agent market that has turned volatile in a hurry.
The biggest jolt came this past week, when the Philadelphia Flyers stunned the Anaheim Ducks by putting out an offer sheet for Leo Carlsson that would be worth around $18 million over five years. For a market that has long operated under an unwritten understanding that general managers usually don’t go after other teams’ top RFAs, that move sent a shock through the hockey world.
And the ripple effects don’t stop there. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on July 4 that Connor Bedard is now seeking a deal in the ballpark of $17 million in average annual value on his next contract with the Blackhawks. With that kind of money now floating around, the possibility of offer sheets for other top RFAs - including Cutter Gauthier of Anaheim or Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets - feels a lot more real than it did a week ago.
Chicago, in particular, probably won’t want to play games with Bedard’s next deal after what happened with Carlsson and the Ducks.
For the Kings, though, the important part is simpler: Clarke is signed, the uncertainty is gone, and the organization doesn’t have to wonder whether a rising market would have pushed the price even higher. Whether he becomes a true No. 1 defenseman or settles in as a reliable top-pairing blueliner, the Kings have already taken a major future question off the board.
Right now, that looks like smart business.
In Other News...
Ken Holland Could Still Tempt Kings Fans With One More Move
Ken Holland did not sit on his hands when free agency opened, and the Kings came away with the kind of Day 1 additions that were clearly aimed at shoring up roster needs. Even so, the market still has a few experienced unrestricted free agents lingering, which leaves Los Angeles with the sort of flexibility front offices like to keep in reserve when the first wave of signings is over.
One name that naturally fits the conversation is Patrik Laine, a player who could add scoring punch and some real playmaking if he is healthy enough to deliver it. The appeal is obvious for a Kings team looking to keep upgrading, but the question is whether Holland wants to take on a swing that carries real upside without knowing exactly how much reliability comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Laughton Just Gave Kings Fans A Reason To Believe
The first day of unrestricted free agency gave the Kings a pair of veteran center additions, with Erik Haula and Scott Laughton both landing multi-year contracts as Los Angeles kept working to deepen its roster. For a team trying to build something sturdier under coach Jim Hiller, the appeal of adding experienced middle-of-the-ice help was obvious, but Laughtons return in particular carried a little extra weight because it spoke to more than just cap space and lineup fit.
Laughton said the locker room environment, the front offices moves and family considerations all played into his decision to stay in Los Angeles, a sign the Kings are selling more than a short-term pitch to free agents. In a market where players have choices, getting one to choose the Kings again suggests the organization is building some real trust, and that matters as much as any signing on the first day of July. [Read more 🡒]