The Kings have signed defenseman Thomas Hickey, forward Stefan Legein, forward David Meckler and defenseman Jake Muzzin on one-year deals. All players were playing with the Manchester Monarchs, the LA Kings Affiliate. You can read more about the Monarchs here.
All of the signed players are restricted free agents. The only other Kings restricted free agent, Justin Azevedo, has agreed to play in Europe next season. (You can read our Q & A here on the definitions and examples of restricted and unrestricted free agents). The signing for one year is a good one for us as we like to keep those forwards ready when needed. The Kings are full of talented defenseman so its harder for Hickey and Muzzin to make the team. But again, it’s the right move for now because we need to see after this season if we solidify our roster or trade and move the prospects up. Exciting times!
Hickey, 23, had 26 points (3-23=26), 36 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating in 76 regular season games with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) this past season.
| Height : | 5’11” |
| Weight : | 190 |
| Shoots/Catches : | Left |
| Hometown : | Calgary, AB |
| Date of Birth : | 02/08/1989 |
| Age : | 23 |
| D | |
Legein, 23, recorded 14 goals, 25 points (14-11=25) and 44 penalty minutes in 63 regular season games with the Monarchs this past season.
| Height : | 5’10” |
| Weight : | 185 |
| Shoots/Catches : | Right |
| Hometown : | Oakville, ON |
| Date of Birth : | 11/24/1988 |
| Age : | 23 |
| RW | |
Meckler, 25 (turned 25 on July 9), recorded 10 goals, 17 points (10-7=17), 13 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating in 44 regular season games with the Monarchs this past season, his fifth season in Manchester.
| Height : | 6’0” |
| Weight : | 213 |
| Shoots/Catches : | Right |
| Hometown : | Highland Park, IL |
| Date of Birth : | 07/09/1987 |
| Age : | 25 |
| LW | |
Muzzin, 23, established new career highs in goals (7), assists (24), points (31), penalty minutes (40) and games played (71) while skating with the Monarchs this past season.
| Height : | 6’3” |
| Weight : | 217 |
| Shoots/Catches : | Left |
| Hometown : | Woodstock, ON |
| Date of Birth : | 02/21/1989 |
| Age : | 23 |
| D | |
Good Luck guys! Hope to see you soon on the team.
Go Kings!
Bev
July 17, 2012
DL’s been having himself a real busy summer and it’s nice that he hasn’t had to be out there desperately trying to find a right fit for this team. Past summers have never been this set with what this Org. has both in L.A. and in Manchester. Nice to see that he’s content to just re-sign players. Nice job Deano.
tracykingslover
July 17, 2012
Agree. Its been such a different summer than ever before. I’m not used to this contentment. I like the signings, I kinda thought that some of the D would be moved but I”m happy with the extra year for security.
Next season should be interesting with contracts going out, etc. Wonder who we will see coming up for a try out. No one this year I bet!
The Recipe Seeker
July 17, 2012
Listen up ladies, I am stuck here on the Central Coast (beautiful place by the way) and so I’m depending on you, Tracy, Hockeyjockey, Bev, and Mary to keep me informed of all the exciting events to come. Hell, I’m so remote I can’t even get the L.A. Times delivered to my door. But I do have the NFL Channel to get me through the summer, so take pity on me and keep those pics and announcements coming. Love you all.
GO KINGS!!! WWTC
Bev
July 18, 2012
Hi Recipe Seeker. Don’t feel too bad where you are. I’m over 200 miles no. of L.A. myself.
Grew up in So. Cal. but not been down there in many,many years. I’m up in Bishop,Ca. but, luckily do get all of the L.A.TV channels besides CI. Been many years since I attended a Kings game. Was clear back in the days of the old Forum in Inglewood. Did get to watch tv coverage of the building of this Staples Center though. In this entire town of abt. 4k, I don’t know of a single person here who follows hockey, so the internet is my only connection to talk about it. I know how cut off from things you feel there.
tracykingslover
July 18, 2012
There is that one guy who is a fireman up there that likes the Kings. lol, remember when you went “missing” for a few days and he said he hadn’t heard any accidents, etc and said he would tell us if he heard anything bad? lol
Bev
July 18, 2012
Oh, I didn’t know that. haha, well nice to know I’m not the Lone Ranger up in these parts.