Kings lock up another piece of Stanley Cup nucleus till 2020, but was the intent of the deal more Martinez? Or another defenseman’s uncertainty?
With the Los Angeles Kings signing Alec Martinez to a six-year, $24M contract extension, what does it mean for the Kings long-term?
What happens to Slava Voynov and his ongoing domestic violence investigation?
This season, with Willie Mitchell’s departure and Voynov’s legal issues, Martinez (left) has been given a larger responsibility on the back end. And with Voynov’s future in question, the Kings felt it was necessary to lock up one of their young defenseman in case Voynov is unable to come back in the future, let alone be allowed in the United States.
The Martinez signing follows Jake Muzzin’s five-year, $20M extension signed earlier this season. Next on the list should be Tyler Toffoli. His three-year NHL entry level contract is set to expire this summer leaving him a restricted free agent.
Toffoli (10 G and 20 A 25 GP), has said his focus is on this season and that the contract will work itself out.
The Kings likely signed Martinez, knowing not only that he could have fetched closer to $5 million per year on the open market this Summer, but to also ensure that they have two core blue liners for the future (Drew Doughty being the other).
By signing this contract for less money than the free market would have granted him, Martinez has shown his commitment to the organization and the newfound winning culture that surrounds it.
That’s pretty admirable from a player to an organization he said took a chance on him.
Martinez was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2007 NHL draft out of Miami University. He made his debut with the Manchester Monarchs (right) in 2008 and saw his first significant NHL action in the 2010 season.
After signing his first major NHL contract in the Summer of 2011, Martinez played in 51 games and averaged 14:43 of ice time during the regular season. He played in all 20 games of the 2012 playoff that culminated with the Kings winning the Stanley Cup.
The Kings saw a scoring renaissance of sorts from Martinez last season. He has 23 goals for his career and 11 of them were from last season.
He also tied his career high of 11 assists and played in every playoff game, scoring five goals and five assists, averaging 16:37 on the ice in 26 games.
But Martinez’s greatest achievements came in game seven against the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Clarence Campbell Bowl (Western Conference Championship)…
Oh and this.
Hopefully another in those six years.
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