Based on Hoven’s report, Spence’s deal will have a $1.5M cap hit this season and next.
Before the signing, the Kings had $2.91M in projected cap space for 2024-25, according to PuckPedia. At 23, Spence became a regular on the Kings’ blue line this season after spending most of the last two years with their AHL team in Ontario. This was during the final year of his entry-level contract, making him an RFA at season’s end without arbitration rights.
Spence’s Impressive Journey:
Drafted in 2019 as a fourth-round pick, Spence has shined offensively since going pro. Despite being just 5-foot-10 and weighing 181 pounds, he is one of the best puck-handlers in the organization. Over the past few years, he scored 87 points in 103 AHL games—impressive for someone so young! Last season, he shattered his previous NHL appearance record with 71 games and finished third among Kings’ defensemen in scoring with 24 points (two goals and 22 assists). He managed all this while playing limited minutes and only fringe power-play time, averaging just over 14 minutes per game.
Next season looks promising for Spence as Matt Roy has left for the Capitals via free agency. With Brandt Clarke also vying for a spot next to Vladislav Gavrikov on the second pairing during training camp, competition will be fierce.
Fans might think it’s exciting to see such young talent stepping up!
With Spence signed at $1.5M per year, PuckPedia indicates that the Kings are now cap-compliant with a full roster of 23 players. The only remaining RFA is Arthur Kaliyev; however, he’s not expected to sign a new contract since he still has an active trade request. If everything goes as planned by opening night, L.A. will have $1.41M in cap space.
What do you think about these changes?
