Despite my wishes, Jarret Stoll has been re-signed by the Los Angeles Kings for 3 years, and with a cap hit just higher than Dustin Brown’s. While I feel that having a playmaker on each line is a blueprint for success, it is difficult to argue that Jarret Stoll brings nothing to this team. He has some offensive skill and so creates matchup problems for the opposition. If matched up against a team’s greater offensive players, he can defend effectively. If matched up against that team’s lower lines, he can go on the offensive. He wins face-offs. He kills penalties. Who am I kidding. Jarret Stoll is important and he is here for the next three years. And his current salary is lower than his former. Now that Jordan Staal is traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins, is there a team that can match up down the middle with the Kings? I don’t think so.
And Colin Fraser. Two more years of this bad boy. Glue of the fourth line. When Fraser stepped in and gave the lowest line that much desired physical presence down the middle, he installed a jump within the steps of each player in that group and the energy line was born. The fourth line can forcheck like champs(2012 Stanley Cup Champs), and help to create and maintain momentum for the rest of the team. Fraser is the heart and soul of that belligerence. The moxie if you will. Colin Fraser – The moxie. Boom. And two more years of him at $825,000 per. No raise from his last contract. Nice.
How many teams get to keep their championship roster entirely intact? One more signing and we’re there.
Go Lombardi Go!
Filed under: L.A. Kings News
