Kings ink defenseman Mikey Anderson to eight-year extension
The Los Angeles Kings announced on Wednesday that they have extended defenseman Mikey Anderson to an eight-year contract.
Anderson, a 23-year-old playing in his fourth NHL season, was a fourth-round pick by the Kings in the 2017 NHL draft. Since that time, he has suited up for 172 games, recording six goals and 27 assists for 33 points to go with a plus-20 rating.
The 2022-2023 campaign has been a career-best for Anderson offensively. In 55 games he has scored two goals and 11 assists for 13 points, all of which tie or exceed his previous career highs.
His plus-10 rating leads all Los Angeles skaters, and he plays 21:49 per game, which is second behind only Drew Doughty.
The Kings have even more consistency with Anderson locked up.
Mikey Anderson has been an impactful player for the Kings this season, and he has emerged as a great complement to Doughty, as the former is a left-handed shot and the latter is a right-handed shot.
As noted by CapFriendly, the extension will kick in next season and pay the blueliner $4.125 million per season through the 2030-2031 campaign. A no-move clause will come into effect in the 2026-2027 season, allowing him to submit a ten-team no-trade list.
My favorite thing about this Kings team is its mix of young talent and veteran champions. Of course, the veterans are reaching a point where their futures are uncertain, but LA seems well-prepared for life after players like Doughty, Jonathan Quick, and Anze Kopitar.
This extension further solidifies the Kings’ plan moving forward, which has already been pretty well cemented in place. With Anderson no longer approaching free agency, Los Angeles has only six players at the NHL level that are on expiring contracts.
The Kings are 30-18-7 this season, and they have occupied a playoff spot in the Pacific Division all season long. Their -1 goal differential is a slight cause for concern, but overall, LA should be happy with the way its team has performed this year.
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Extending Mikey Anderson shows confidence in this group this year and in the years to come. Now, it’s time to see if the Kings make any moves to further enhance their short-term and long-term outlook at this year’s trade deadline.