Kris Versteeg has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for for Valentin Zykov and a Conditional 5th round pick.
Have heard it is Zykov and a conditional fifth for Versteeg. Not confirmed at this moment.
— LA Kings Insider (@lakingsinsider) February 29, 2016
Versteeg, an NHL veteran of seven years, will come as a welcome addition to his new team, as they will be adding both NHL experience and a talented forward to their ranks. Versteeg has played 63 games this season, in which he has been able to add 33 points in the form of 11 goals, and 22 assists. These aren’t necessarily seen as all star numbers, but will surely be welcomed in the Kings team sheet and locker room.
Despite Versteeg only scoring a fairly low amount of goals this season, and never truly being a prolific goalscorer, the goals come in the fashion of highlight reel plays and, more often than not, at very important points in games and seasons. Another aspect that should be pointed out is that he is very effective on the power play. He will add some much needed and welcomed depth to the special teams in Los Angeles.
Versteeg, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, is in the last season of a 4-year/$17.6 million contract, originally given to him by the Florida Panthers before the 2012-13 season. With a salary this year of only $4.4 million, and Chicago already retaining a significant portion of that salary and cap hit, he should be easy to fit under the cap for his new club. At 29 years old he could be worth retaining beyond this year if he plays well in his new environment.
Versteeg was drafted in the 5th round, 134th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. In his seven plus years of NHL service, the journeyman has played for no less than five different teams before the Kings, and there is no guarantee he won’t be adding another one come this offseason.
We will have more details on this trade as it develops. Follow @lastwordonpuck on Twitter and stay tuned to www.LastWordonSports.com for all of your NHL trade deadline news and analysis.
