Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports

Kings re-sign former first-rounder to two-year contract

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 7/7/23

The Los Angeles Kings signed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot to a two-year, one-way contract extension, PuckPedia reported Friday afternoon.

Bjornfot, 22, picked up an assist while averaging 14:17 of ice time in 10 games with the Kings during the 2022–23 regular season. He did not appear for the team during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.

According to PuckPedia, Bjornfot’s new deal with the Kings carries a $775,000 cap hit for both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. The Upplands Vasby, Sweden product will be eligible to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in 2025, at which point he’ll be 24 years old.

Bjornfot spent most of the 2022–23 season with the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign, collecting 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 50 games. He did not score a point in two 2023 Calder Cup playoff contests.

The #GoKingsGo signed 22 y/o RFA LD Tobias Bjornfot to 2 year $775K Cap Hit deal.

Year 1 $775K 1-way
Year 2 $775K 1-way

On expiry will be RFA with arb rights & $814K QO

1P in 10 NHL GP, 12P in 50 AHL GP

Rep'd by Claude Lemieux @4sportshockey https://t.co/U5PhjjU06R
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 7, 2023

The Kings originally selected Bjornfot in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 6-foot defenseman, who shoots left, made the jump from the Djurgardens system in Sweden to the North American professional ranks in the 2019–20 season.

Bjornfot appeared in three NHL games with the Kings in his draft-plus-one year. He went on to play in 33 more games in 2020–21 before skating in 70 of 82 games with the club in 2021–22.

This past season, Bjornfot failed to make the Kings out of camp with the team employing a deep defensive group of Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson, Sean Durzi, Matt Roy, Sean Walker, Alex Edler and Vladislav Gavrikov. Durzi and Walker have both since been traded, while Edler has yet to sign anywhere as an unrestricted free agent.

Bjornfot is one of seven Kings defenders signed to a one-way contract for the 2023–24 season, alongside Doughty, Anderson, Roy, Gavrikov, Andreas Englund, and Jacob Moverare. Top prospects Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence, who are still on their entry-level deals, could also factor in to the equation in L.A. next season.

Through 116 career NHL games over parts of four seasons with the Kings, Bjornfot has collected 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) while averaging 16:28 per night.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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