The Los Angeles Kings have resigned defensemen Kurtis MacDermid and signed Cole Hults to an entry-level contract, continuing a busy offseason for the club.
MacDermid and Hults are being counted on for the future success of the team in hopes of bringing another Stanley Cup to Los Angeles.
MacDermid, a 6-5, 235 lb monster, was signed to a 2-year extension with an AAV of $875,000 per year. MacDermid is not a flashy end to end player. He relies heavily on defensive play and punishing the opposition. MacDermid was one of the more steady defensemen for the Kings when he was with the big club. He did have career highs in goals (3), assists (5) and points (8) while accumulating 47 penalty minutes in 45 games.
Hults, also a defenseman, comes in at 6-0 and 190 lbs. Hults was signed to an entry-level contract and is a 5th round, 2017 draft pick (134th overall) of the Kings. Hults is an offensive defenseman who has great vision and an accurate shot that is not overly powerful.
During his time at Penn State University (2017-2020), he accounted for 17 goals and 78 assists for 95 points in 111 points, while registering an unheard of +48.
The Kings have had a busy couple of months, signing key pieces to the future success of the team. Signing two defensemen is key because you get a defenseman for each style, one to provide offense and push the puck and one that is strictly defensive and gives that sandpaper.
The Kings have some offensive weapons on defense in their pipeline so MacDermid signing gives them another added dimension.
What do you think of the signings?
Would you have given MacDermid more or less? How do you think Hults plays into the Kings’ plans for the future?
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