The Los Angeles Kings have found common ground with an unqualified restricted free agent.
Two days after declining to extend a qualifying offer to Brendan Lemieux, the Kings have now agreed to terms with the depth forward on a one-year deal worth $1.3 million.
Lemieux is perhaps best known for the incident in which he bit Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk last season and earned a multi-game suspension. The 26-year-old produced just eight goals and 13 points in 50 games for the Kings in 2021-22, logging a little over 10 minutes in ice time per game in largely offensively-focused minutes.
It’s a slight overpay for a player with a skill set that could likely be found on the open market at a cheaper price. But the Kings have put together a phenomenal offseason with the addition of Kevin Fiala and are opting for the familiarity of a known asset over the unpredictability of an external piece.
At just one year of term, it’s not a massive risk. Lemieux can be buried in the AHL with minimal cap implications and, if reigned in, can provide some energy and tenacity in Los Angeles’ bottom six.
Buckle up, folks. The moves are far from over.
