Kings sign T.J. Tynan to two-year contract extension (AAV: $787,500)

Good Morning, Insiders!

The LA Kings announced this morning that the team has signed forward T.J. Tynan to a two-year contract extension, carrying an AAV of $787,500 at the NHL level through the 2023-24 season. Tynan’s contract is reported as a two-way deal in the first year and a one-way deal in Year 2.

Tynan skated in two NHL games with the Kings this past season and spent the bulk of his time with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, as he became the first player in franchise history to win the league’s MVP Award. With 84 assists, Tynan was one shy of the modern-day AHL record, set by Jason Spezza back in the 2004-05 campaign.

In addition to being named as the league’s most valuable player, Tynan was on the AHL’s First All-Star Team, along with defenseman Jordan Spence, with Tynan’s regular linemate, Martin Frk, named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team. At the NHL level, Tynan has appeared in 21 career games with the Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, tallying one assist with Colorado on November 30, 2019.

Tynan originally signed a one-year contract with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent on July 28, 2021, a deal which carried a cap hit of $750,000 at the NHL level.

Ontario Reign Assistant Coach Chris Hajt on Tynan after he was named MVP
He’s a terrific leader and such a competitor. He takes such pride in his craft, and how he plays and wants to win. He’s a great teammate. We’re all really happy for him. He’s been a tremendous part of our team, coming in new, fitting in, leading, I can’t say enough about what he’s done. When there are key moments and plays that need to be made, he makes them and we’re thankful he’s on our team. He holds himself to a high standard and he expects that out of his teammates and he shows it by how he plays. He wants to be the best player on the ice every night and he plays with intensity and a passion and that comes through and rubs off on his teammates and everybody in the organization.

2-TYme MVP! pic.twitter.com/m4WOCBywl1

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) May 11, 2022

From the team’s official release –

This past season, Tynan became just the fifth player in AHL league history to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards and the first to do so since Paul Gardner in 1985-86. In 62 games for the Ontario Reign, Tynan registered 98 points (14-84=98) and posted an average of 1.58 points-per-game, which is the highest of any skater over a full AHL season in the last 15 seasons. His 84 assists also tied for third-most in a single AHL season.

The 5-8, 165-pound forward went scoreless in two appearances with the Kings this season. Originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round (66th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the 29-year-old forward has played in 21 career NHL contests with the Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Blue Jackets.

Since making his professional debut in 2013-14, Tynan has been the AHL’s leading scorer after amassing 446 points (85-361=446) in 498 AHL games with the Reign, Colorado Eagles, Chicago Wolves, Cleveland/Lake Erie Monsters, and Springfield Falcons. Twice, he has led the AHL in assists after compiling 84 assists this year and a league-leading 59 assists in 2018-19. The three-time AHL All-Star won a Calder Cup with the Monsters in 2016, contributing six points (1-5=6) in 17 games during the team’s playoff run.

Internationally, the Orland Park, Ill. native has represented the United States twice, most recently at the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Championship where he ranked second on Team USA with five assists in six appearances. He also skated for the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, tallying four points (1-3=4) in six outings.

A product of the University of Notre Dame, Tynan posted 161 points (54-107) in 164 appearances through four seasons for the Fighting Irish. In that span, he was named the NCAA Tim Taylor Award (top collegiate rookie), CCHA Rookie of the Year, CCHA First All-Star Team, and in 2012-13 he helped the program capture the CCHA Championship while earning Tournament MVP honors.