Kings sign defenseman Jordan Spence to two-year contract extension (AAV: $1,500,000)

The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Jordan Spence to a two-year contract extension, carrying an AAV of $1,500,000 at the NHL level. Spence’s contract keeps him signed with the Kings through the 2025-26 season and he will be a restricted free agent at the end of his deal.

With Spence’s restricted free agency this summer, I assumed that he would come in somewhere around where Sean Durzi’s bridge deal came in two summers ago. Ultimately, that proved to be pretty accurate. Spence signs for two seasons at $1.5 million against the salary cap. Durzi’s deal was also a two-year deal at a slightly higher AAV. Spence took a big step forward this season playing nearly the entire schedule with the Kings and he’ll be expected to not only do that again this coming season, but also exceed in his contributions while doing so. More on Spence below.

Instant Analysis –
Pretty fair deal here.

Using Durzi as a comparable made sense to me – they’re both right-shot, offensively-minded defenseman with one full season of NHL experience. They’re not the same player by any means, but similar bodies of work.

With Spence, the Kings certainly believe there is more to come. With Matt Roy’s decision to move on and sign with the Washington Capitals this summer as a free agent, the Kings are committing to youth on the right side of the blueline. The Kings are planning to use both Spence and Brandt Clarke as regulars on the right side at the NHL level, with veterans Vladislav Gavrikov and Joel Edmundson tagged to be their partners. Regardless of how those pairings shake out, Spence is a big piece to that equation.

All-in-all, Spence equated himself pretty well at the NHL level in his first full go around. Like many young defensemen he had a high-event season, though a lot more good than bad happened with Spence on the ice. Spence posted a CF% over 55 percent, leading all Kings defensemen and his on-ice scoring chances and inner-slot shot numbers were also the best among LA blueliners. Getting more chances from the slot is a point of emphasis for the Kings offensively this season and a player like Spence is someone who helps in that area. Throw in the team’s leader in assists per/60 among defensemen and you’ve got a decently solid season offensively.

Last season, Spence proved he could be an effective, third-pairing defenseman. He played on the second power-play unit, was a plug-in player on the penalty kill and showcased many of the tools that made him such an exciting prospect. Solid skater and a good puck mover. Last season was good. Last year won’t be enough, though, moving forward. Spence is one of several players the Kings are looking at to take steps forward this season.

Spence scored just two goals and didn’t find the back of the net until March. We’ve heard a lot about the caliber of his shot and if power-play time is in his future, he’ll need to contribute more offensively than he did this past season. He has the tools with which to do so. He’ll also be expected to take a step defensively, as both he and Clarke profile differently than Roy does but those are still some of the minutes he will be expected to fill. Spence’s goals against and high-danger chances against metrics were higher last season than you’d like them to be but he’s not weak defensively. Regardless of where he is deployed, expect to see Spence playing more minutes and more challenging minutes than he did last season. With an elevated role comes the need to continue moving forward in the development process. With Gavrikov or Edmundson as a partner, he should be suited to take that step forward and Spence is working this summer towards making that progress.

With Spence now locked in, the Kings have approximately $1,371,666 in salary cap space assuming a 23-player roster (13F, 8D, 2G). The team has two restricted free agents remaining – forward Arthur Kaliyev and goaltender Erik Portillo. Kaliyev’s situation has been detailed and we’ve got to see how a way forward plays out before projected where he fits into the picture. Plus, from a salary standpoint, a contract would need to be subtracted to make room for Kaliyev on the NHL roster, so there wouldn’t be a ton added in terms of a cap hit, if any at all. Portillo’s contract, while important, likely will not impact the Kings from a salary-cap perspective on the immediate front. So, the Kings have a bit more breathing room entering this season than they were projected to the season prior, both from the perspective of potentially upgrading the roster with another summer addition and in terms of maneuvering throughout the course of the season as injuries inevitably arise.

From the team’s official release –

Spence, 23, skated in 71 games for the Kings last season, setting career-highs in games played, assists (21) and points (2-21=23), and was one of four team defensemen to eclipse the 20-point mark. Spence’s 12 penalty minutes (PIM) were the lowest among any Kings skater (min. GP: 70) and he was one of five defensemen in the league to skate in at least 70 games and have 12 PIM or fewer. Spence skated in his 100th career NHL game on April 15 to become the sixth blueliner selected in the 2019 NHL Draft to reach such mark. The 5-11, 180-pound defenseman also suited up for five Stanley Cup Playoff contests, notching his first career playoff point (0-1=1) in Game 2 of Round One.

Originally selected by the Kings in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Spence made his NHL debut on March 10, 2022, becoming the first Australian-born player (Manly, Australia) to skate in an NHL game. Over parts of three seasons, Spence has recorded four goals and 33 points (4-29=33) in 101 career regular-season games and one helper in eight Stanley Cup Playoff outings. Prior to his Kings debut, Spence played in 103 games with the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he registered eight goals and 87 points (8-79=87). During the 2021-22 season, Spence was named to both the AHL All-Rookie Team and AHL First All-Star Team.

Raised in Charlottetown, PEI, Spence played three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Moncton Wildcats and Val-d’Or Foreurs. In 160 career regular-season games, Spence posted 141 points (25-116=141) and added 24 points (3-21=24) in 19 playoff contests. Spence was selected to the QMJHL First All-Star Team in consecutive seasons from 2019-21 and was awarded the Emile Bouchard Trophy as Defenseman of the Year at the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign. The season prior, Spence earned QMJHL Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (Raymond Lagace Trophy) and All-Rookie Team honors.

Spence, who is a dual citizen of Canada and Japan, represents Team Canada on the international stage. He has appeared in two IIHF tournaments, playing in the IIHF 2019 Under-18 Men’s World Championship and the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship where he helped bring home a silver medal alongside current teammate Quinton Byfield.