The Los Angeles Kings appear to have finally found their backup netminder, signing goaltender Jonas Enroth to a one-year, $1.25-million deal.
Kings get back-up goalie there were looking for. Jonas Enroth. 1.25 mil for 1 year.
#SigningSeason— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2015
Enroth, who played his entire career with Buffalo until last season’s trade deadline, posted a 13-21-3 record, and a 3.27 goals-against average in 37 games for an awful Sabres team last season, before being dealt to Dallas – part of Buffalo’s attempt to sell off assets in hopes of winning the draft lottery. With the Stars, he went 5-5-1 in 13 starts down the stretch.
The signing of Enroth caps a wild few days for the Kings involving goaltenders, who traded former backup Martin Jones to Boston in the Milan Lucic deal, before Jones ended up being traded back to California with the San Jose Sharks. Going to LA gives Enroth a fresh start on a team expected to contend again next season, after the Kings missed the playoffs by four points.
The 27-year-old, who will earn the same amount as last season, gives the Kings a reliable backup option behind Jonathan Quick, having played in at least 26 games in three of the last four seasons. Unlike former LA backups Jones and Jonathan Bernier, who both wanted a chance to be the starter, Enroth will know his role, and should be a great fit for the Kings between the pipes.
Follow all of Wednesday’s free agent signings with The Hockey Writers’ Free Agent Tracker.
RELATED: Milan Lucic Traded to Kings, Martin Jones to Bruins
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