Hicketts signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level with the Kings on Friday.
Hicketts was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 28-year-old defenseman had a goal and 20 points in 30 regular-season AHL outings with Ontario in 2023-24. He also supplied a goal and six points in eight minor-league playoff appearances this year. Hicketts is expected to remain in the AHL for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
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Kings' Taylor Ward: Secures one-year deal
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Ward agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles on Friday.
Ward has yet to make his NHL debut, having spent the past three seasons playing exclusively in the minors with AHL Ontario. The 26-year-old winger did set new personal bests with the Reign this season, recoding 11 goals and 21 helpers before adding seven points in eight postseason contests. With his new deal in hand, look for Ward to once again spend most, if not all, of the 2024-25 season in the minors.
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Kings' Kaleb Lawrence: Signs entry-level contract
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Lawrence signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings on Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Lawrence wrapped up his junior career in 2023-24, picking up 37 points over 58 contests between OHL London and OHL Ottawa. The 21-year-old winger was a seventh-round pick in 2022. Given his lack of offense at the junior level, it's likely Lawrence will spend most or all of 2024-25 with AHL Ontario.
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Kings' Aatu Jamsen: Signs entry-level deal
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Jamsen signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Kings on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Jamsen was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He produced 25 points over 36 contests with the Pelicans in Finland's Liiga last season. It's likely he'll move to North America and join AHL Ontario for the 2024-25 campaign.
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Kings' David Rittich: Inks one-year deal
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Rittich signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Kings on Wednesday.
Rittich had a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage in 24 regular-season appearances with the Kings in 2023-24. He also stopped 34 of 39 shots (.872 save percentage) across two playoff outings this year. Rittich would have become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he didn't sign this extension. Cam Talbot, who logged 54 regular-season games with LA, remains set to become a UFA, so it's unclear who Rittich's goaltending partner will be next year. Although the 31-year-old Rittich is coming off a strong campaign, he has spent most of his career as a backup goaltender, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Kings seek to pair him with an established starter.
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Kings' Aaron Dell: Back in AHL
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Dell was reassigned to AHL Ontario on Friday.
Dell was recalled at the start of the playoffs to serve as the Kings' No. 3 netminder. He's gone 7-4-1 with a 2.57 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 12 AHL appearances this season.
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Kings' Matt Roy: Two assists in loss
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Roy notched a pair of helpers in a 4-3 defeat to Edmonton in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Roy was able to bring a six-game pointless streak to a close with his two helpers but it wasn't enough to stave off elimination for Los Angeles. Unless the Kings can come to an agreement soon, the blueliner is set to be an unrestricted free agent July 1. Roy should have plenty of offers if he goes to the open market after reaching the 20-point mark for the third consecutive campaign.
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Kings' Vladislav Gavrikov: Snags helper in Game 5
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Gavrikov picked up an assist in a 4-3 loss to Edmonton in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Gavrikov ended the 2023-24 campaign stuck in a 17-game goal drought during which he put just 19 shots on net. During that stretch, the Russian blueliner did chip in five assists, including two in postseason action. Despite the slow end to the year, Gavrikov still managed to get back over the 20-point threshold after missing that mark last season.
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Kings' Andreas Englund: Delivers helper in loss
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Englund recorded an assist in a 4-3 defeat to Edmonton in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Englund registered his first point since March 15 versus the Blackhawks, a stretch of 20 games without writing his name on the scoresheet. In 82 games during the regular season, the 28-year-old blueliner managed one goal and nine helpers, reaching the 10-point threshold for the first time in his NHL career. Fantasy players probably shouldn't be expecting much more out of Englund heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
Kempe scored a goal on a team-high three shots in Wednesday's 4-3 Game 5 loss to Edmonton.
Kempe cut the Kings' deficit to one goal 17:42 into the third period, deflecting a Matt Roy shot past Stuart Skinner, though Los Angeles would ultimately come up short as Edmonton took the series in five games. Still, it was a strong effort from Kempe, who tallied four goals and five points in the series. He posted a career-high 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in 77 regular-season contests.
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Kings' David Rittich: Falls to Edmonton
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Rittich allowed four goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 Game 5 loss to the Oilers.
Rittich and the Kings couldn't overcome Edmonton's three-goal second period in the series-deciding loss. The 31-year-old Rittich started the series' final two games, going 0-2-0 with an .872 save percentage after Cam Talbot struggled in the first three games. Rittich was solid in the regular season, going 13-6-3 with a .921 save percentage. Rittich could be looking for an opportunity to win a starting gig as a free agent this summer.
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Kings' David Rittich: Set to start Wednesday
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Rittich is slated to start on the road against Edmonton in Game 5 on Wednesday, Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton reports.
Rittich is getting his second straight start after saving 12 of 13 shots in a 1-0 loss to Edmonton in Game 4 on Sunday. Edmonton has a potent offense, which ranked fourth in the 2023-24 campaign with 3.56 goals per game, so the Oilers will probably fire considerably more shots in the upcoming tilt. Rittich had a 13-6-3 record, 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage in 24 regular-season contests.
Moore couldn't put one past the goalie despite registering five shots on goal in Sunday's 1-0 Game 4 loss to Edmonton.
Moore and the Kings couldn't figure out Oilers' netminder Stuart Skinner, who recorded his first shutout since Dec. 28 versus the Sharks. Through the first four postseason contests, the 29-year-old Moore has notched just one goal, a far cry from his career-best regular season in which he set new highs in goals (31) and points (57). If the Kings are going to climb out of their 3-1 series deficit, Moore is going to have to start contributing offensively.
Rittich stopped 12 of 13 shots in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Oilers in Game 4.
Rittich got the start after Cam Talbot struggled in the first three games of the first-round series. Rittich was solid, though Game 4 was controlled by the Kings, who couldn't find a goal against Stuart Skinner. Rittich was 13-6-3 with a 2.15 GAA and a .921 save percentage over 24 regular-season appearances. The 31-year-old may get another chance to start in Game 5 on Wednesday, though the Kings are in must-win mode down 3-1 in the series.
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Kings' David Rittich: Starting Sunday
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Rittich will guard the home net Sunday in Game 4 against the Oilers, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.
The Kings will turn to Rittich in net for Game 4 after Cam Talbot struggled to an .861 save percentage through the first three games in the series. While Rittich took a back seat to Talbot down the stretch, Rittich had a solid regular season, going 13-6-3 with a career-best .921 save percentage and 2.15 GAA.
