We’ve got some Saturday morning extensions for you, Insiders!
The LA Kings have officially announced contract extensions for restricted free agent forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Jaret Anderson-Dolan, their top two picks in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Both offers are for one year. Vilardi’s is a one-way deal with an AAV of $825,000, while Anderson-Dolan’s is a two-way deal with an AAV of $750,000.
Instant Analysis – The Kings definitely intended to keep these two players and after issuing a qualifying offer for each before the July 11 deadline, it was just a matter of agreeing on a number. Vilardi’s contract carries a slightly higher value, as he appeared in 89 NHL games over three seasons, while Anderson-Dolan, who only played seven games for the Kings after 34 in 2020-21, was a staple. with AHL-Ontario for the majority of the 2021-22 campaign. While both have shown they can play at the NHL level, neither has had a standout offensive year in a Kings sweater. That will be the challenge for everyone heading to training camp in September, trying to secure a spot on the roster forever among a group full of forwards.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 26: Gabriel Vilardi of the Los Angeles Kings puck skates during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Crypto.com Arena on March 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
Vilardi season summary – At the start of the 2021-22 year, Vilardi seemed poised to build on his previous season in which he appeared in 54 games at the NHL level, filling a center position. But while he did show some progress, he was sent to AHL-Ontario in November for a long stint with the Reign. Vilardi was then called up in March, following a series of NHL injuries, and spent the rest of the season in the NHL, appearing in an additional 18 games, as well as two in the postseason.
He returned to the Kings a much more effective player, earning his spot in a couple of playoff games down the stretch. After going down to work on his defense and playing a wide role rather than through the middle, Vilardi’s 200-foot game improved, with better play on the wall and in the backcourt, for which he was praised by the body. technical. . His offensive numbers with Ontario were excellent, scoring 38 points in 39 games (15-23 = 38), now his challenge will be to generate more offense at the highest level while he continues to show progress on the defensive side of the puck.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 18: Jaret Anderson-Dolan #28 of the Los Angeles Kings looks on before a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers on January 18, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
Anderson-Dolan Season Recap – While playing most of his year in the AHL, Anderson-Dolan was a top 6 forward for the Reign when he wasn’t jumping into a replacement role with the Kings. Extra time on the ice in Ontario allowed him to work on his offensive game and he became one of the team’s leading scorers, finishing with the third-most points on the club (47) and ranking third in goal scoring. (24). His final regular season offensive numbers were all career highs for him.
Anderson-Dolan set out to become a more consistent offensive player and his hard work paid off, posting around a point per game for much of the year. Primarily as a middle-six center, his third full pro season saw him become a key factor in Reign’s record-setting power play unit. Some of his biggest contributions came in the man advantage, where he scored 12 goals and was a mainstay in Reign’s top unit.
With a new deal on the books, Anderson-Dolan should once again be in a position to compete for a spot on the NHL roster. His season of total success at the AHL level proved that he has what it takes to be a pro, but the next step for him is to prove to the Kings that he can consistently produce against the biggest competition in the world. In 50 NHL games in his career, he has only 12 points (7-5 = 12).
What they say –
Todd McLellan on Gabriel Vilardi –
I think Gabe has been much better defensively than he was last year, so he’s learned a new position and he’s responsible. Point production hasn’t been where we’d hoped, but that’s okay, he’s been much stronger defensively. Maybe that’s because he has wing responsibilities, or he’s paid more attention to it, he’s worked on it, there’s a lot of reasons why he’s improved and it’s good for him. He was assigned that task and has done a good job.
Chris Hajt on Jaret Anderson-Dolan –
JAD is a true professional. He comes to the court every day with an idea in mind of what he wants to do and how he wants to play and improve. He’s always in the gym, he takes care of his body and his conditioning and he eats well and does all the little things that allow him to be consistent. He’s been able to improve his game and he’s been consistent with him and that’s half the battle to play at a high level for a long period of time. That makes you realize that he draws the attention of the Kings and you never know where that takes you.
From the official team statement:
Vilardi, 22, played in 25 regular-season games for the Kings last season, recording seven points (5-2=7) before making his NHL postseason debut in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also spent time this season with the Ontario Reign (AHL), where he posted 38 points (15-23=38) in 39 appearances.
Since making his pro debut with the Kings in 2020, the 6-4, 215-pound forward has amassed 37 points (18-19=37) in 89 NHL regular-season games. Additionally, he has skated in 75 AHL regular season games, amassing 64 points (24-40 = 64) and a plus-4 rating.
Anderson-Dolan, 22, made seven appearances for the Kings this season. He also played 54 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL), where he recorded 47 points (24-23 = 47) and 24 goals, which ranked third among all Reign skaters.
A second-round pick (41st overall) by the Kings in the 2017 NHL Draft, Anderson-Dolan has played parts of four seasons with the Kings, scoring 12 points (7-5=12) in 50 contests. of the NHL. He has also skated in 112 games with Reign, posting 77 points (32-45=77) in that span. In eight Calder AHL Cup playoff appearances, he has scored one assist.
That locks out two of the four players who received qualifying offers earlier this month and leaves two who still need new contracts, defensemen Mikey Anderson and Sean Durzi. We look forward to hearing more about each other’s status as the offseason continues and we inch toward September training camp. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Insiders!