Restricted free agent forward Andy Andreoff has re-signed with the Kings for two years, the club announced Wednesday. Via hockey operations, the contract carries a $587,500 average annual value.
Los Angeles now has $64.45-million allotted to 20 players for the 2015-16 season, figures that include Mike Richards’ cap recapture ($1.32M) and Jamie McBain’s contract (he’s on a two-way deal) but do not include the contracts of Slava Voynov (under league and team suspension), Jeff Schultz ($850K cap hit), Derek Forbort ($863K cap hit), or restricted free agents Jordan Weal and Nick Shore. Next year’s salary cap has been set at $71.4M; teams may have up to 23 players on their active roster. Here’s a neat salary chart from General Fanager.
For the third straight year, Andreoff’s going to be competing for a job at training camp. He’ll have the inside track given that he carries an inexpensive cap hit and already has NHL experience, and despite the catch-22 situation that developed last year, did show a useful set of tools in practice and promise when used over periods of the second half of the season. For Andy, the next step in his career will be the continued establishment of his role as a player and perhaps a leap up from 18 to 60-plus games, should he create an opportunity for himself and all goes well. He’s an energy forward with a bellicose temperament, and the Kings are still encouraged by his potential to grow while mindful of his need to adhere to a well-disciplined, positionally sound game. He’s playable at both wing and at center, and won 32 of his 61 faceoffs last season.
Because the contract is for two years, it also decreases the chance that another team would claim him off waivers, should the Kings at any point decide to assign him to AHL-Ontario in the coming year.
Last season, Andreoff totaled two goals and three points in 18 games with Los Angeles and five goals and 10 points in a seven-game December conditioning stint with AHL-Manchester. The former Oshawa General turned 24 in May.
Congrats @andyandreoff #amigo #missyou
— Tyler Toffoli (@tytoff16) July 15, 2015
Congrats @andyandreoff on the new deal! #youkiddingme #roomie
— Brayden Mcnabb (@nabber03) July 15, 2015
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