Kings sign Taylor Ward, Logan Brown, Samuel Bolduc to 1-year, 2-way contracts (AAV: $775,000) + Cole Guttman to 2-year, 2-way contract (AAV: $775,000)

The LA Kings have signed four players to two-way NHL contracts, including forward Taylor Ward, who made his NHL debut with the Kings in April of last season. The full list of signings is below –

– Defenseman Samuel Bolduc, one-year, two-way contract (AAV: $775,000)
– Forward Logan Brown, one-year, two-way contract (AAV: $775,000)
– Forward Cole Guttman, two-year, two-way contract (AAV: $775,000)
– Forward Taylor Ward, one-year, two-way contract w(AAV: $775,000)

Ward is naturally a returning player for the Kings, while the other three join the Kings organization with NHL experience to their name, with time in the AHL as well. Ward has been a fixture in the AHL with the Ontario Reign over the past three seasons and was rewarded with an NHL opportunity in Game 82, as the Kings rested some of their veterans in advance of the playoffs. Ward made the most of his opportunity as he scored the only Kings goal in a 5-1 defeat against Calgary, though the result was not relevant to the Kings. The moment, however, was as Ward got to experience a really special night for he and his family.

Bolduc has 52 games of NHL experience with the New York Islanders, including 34 games played during the 2023-24 season, in addition to two games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bolduc, a second-round selection by the Islanders in 2019, spent most of last season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. Brown was the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and has played NHL games with both Ottawa and St. Louis over the span of six different seasons. He has 99 NHL games in total, most recently played 30 games during the 2022-23 season with the Blues. He spent last year with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and scored at nearly a point-per-game pace with 29 points from 33 games played. Guttman has 41 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, collecting 14 points (8-6-14) in that time. Guttman has been a productive AHL player with Rockford as well, as he led the IceHogs last season in goals (23), assists (34) and points (57).

These are an interesting collection of depth signings. Typically, you see one guy maybe stand out from this group of signings but all three who are coming in externally bring NHL experience with them. Not necessarily expecting these players to crack the roster from this same group of people last year, forward Jeff Malott ultimately did play NHL games at the end of the season and should be in contention to make the team in camp this year as well. Bolduc is a big defenseman with NHL size and NHL experience and could be a first in line kind of guy for an NHL callup if there are injuries. Brown had hip surgery that cost him the entire 2023-24 season but was productive in the AHL last season and has serious size (six-foot seven!) and first-round pedigree. Guttman earned a two-year contract, which can mean that the Kings see a little bit more in him. He’s played NHL games in Chicago, was productive at the University of Denver before turning pro and he’s from California. The Blackhawks have so many younger players coming in that perhaps Guttman could be a sneaky find on Day 2 of free agency, who was pushed out in favor of younger prospects.

At the very least, it’s three productive additions in Ontario in addition to Ward, who the Kings know very well as a reliable top-nine option with the Reign.

From the team’s official release –

Bolduc, 24, spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL), skating in 69 games with nine goals and 35 points (9-26=35) to pace team defensemen and rank fourth among all Bridgeport skaters. The 6-4, 220-pound blueliner also suited up in one game for the New York Islanders.

Selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Bolduc has eight points (4-4=8) in 52 career NHL contests with the Islanders and has appeared in two Stanley Cup Playoff games. In 211 career AHL games, Bolduc has registered 28 goals and 92 points (28-64=92) with 65 penalty minutes (PIM) across parts of five seasons with Bridgeport. In the 2022-23 campaign, Bolduc put up a career-best 10 goals and 35 points (10-25=35) in 56 games to earn an AHL All-Star nod.

Prior to turning pro, the Laval, Quebec native recorded 94 points (22-72=94) in 189 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in four seasons split between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2016-20) and Sherbrooke Phoenix (2019-20).

Brown, 27, recorded 11 goals and 29 points (11-18=29) in 33 games for the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) last season, while adding one assist (0-1=1) in three Calder Cup Playoff outings.

Originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators 11th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Brown has seven goals and 26 points (7-19=26) with 22 PIM in 99 NHL contests between the Senators (2017-21) and St. Louis Blues (2021-23). In 148 career AHL games, Brown has registered 40 goals and 127 points (40-87=127) with the Crunch (2024-25), Springfield Thunderbirds (2021-23) and Belleville Senators (2018-21), including a career-best 42-point campaign (14-28=42) with Belleville in 2018-19.

Prior to his professional career, Brown collected 205 points (74-131=205) in 182 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) games over four seasons between the Windsor Spitfires (2014-18) and Kitchener Rangers (2017-18). In the 2016-17 campaign, Brown helped guide the Spitfires to their third Memorial Cup Championship in team history. Internationally, the Raleigh, N.C. native has represented the United States at the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Junior Championship and 2016 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Junior Championship, winning a bronze medal in both tournaments.

Guttman, 26, skated in 70 games with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) in 2024-25, establishing professional career-highs in goals (23), assists (34), points (57), power-play goals (8) and shots (177), all of which led all Rockford skaters. The 5-10, 180-pound forward made his Calder Cup Playoffs debut, adding five assists (0-5=5) in seven postseason contests.

Picked in the sixth round (180th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Draft, Guttman has eight goals and 14 points (8-6=14) in 41 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 148 career AHL games, all with Rockford, he has registered 55 goals and 127 points (55-72=127). Before his first professional campaign in 2022-23, Guttman played four seasons (2018-22) of Division I collegiate hockey at the University of Denver (NCHC), where he accumulated 121 points (55-66=121) in 140 career NCAA games. In his senior year in 2021-22, Guttman posted 45 points (19-26=41), tied for second-most on the team, to help captain the Pioneers to an NCHC Regular Season Championship and their then-ninth National Championship in program history.

A native of Northridge, Calif., Guttman suited up in 75 United States Hockey League (USHL) games between the Dubuque Fighting Saints and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, tallying 66 points (33-33=66).

Ward, 27, played his third full season with the Ontario Reign (AHL) last season, collecting a professional career-best 12 goals with 15 assists for 27 points (12-15=27). He also appeared in two Calder Cup Playoff contests. Ward skated in one game for the Kings, scoring in his NHL debut in April 17 vs. Calgary, to mark the first occasion a father-son duo (Dixon Ward) has scored a goal for the Kings in team history.

The 6-2, 195-pound forward made his professional hockey debut with the Reign on March 20, 2022, against the Abbotsford Canucks following his senior season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) and has accumulated 95 points (35-60=95) in 224 career AHL outings with the Reign. Ward has added eight points (2-6=8) in 16 career Calder Cup Playoff games. His 224 career games played with Ontario rank fourth-most in franchise.

Prior to turning pro, Ward spent four years with the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC), appearing in 131 NCAA games and amassing 115 points (57-58=115), including a team-leading 19 goals and 39 points (19-20=39) in 38 games as a senior in 2021-22. Ward ranks sixth in program history in goals, 10th in points and tied for eighth in points-per-game (0.88, min. 50 games).

A native of Kelowna, B.C., he skated in parts of four seasons with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), earning 77 points (36-41=77) in 162 games while helping the Vees capture the 2016-17 Fred Page Cup as BCHL Champions.