Earlier this week, former Vancouver Canucks forward Jack Studnicka agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth $775,000. The contract will see Studnicka earn $425,000 at the American Hockey League level, with $475,000 of the total value of the deal guaranteed.
Studnicka, 25, began the 2023-24 season in Vancouver, playing in five games with the NHL club, as well as nine with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks, the latter of who he had seven points with before being traded.
In December, the Canucks decided to deal him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenceman Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth round pick which they used to select Anthony Romani from the North Bay Battalion, who led the entire Ontario Hockey League in goals with 58.
The Windsor, Ontario native got into 17 games at the NHL level with San Jose, but failed to register any points, while adding six penalty minutes and was a minus-14. In 27 games in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda, he put up 14 points (six goals, eight assists), 12 penalty minutes and was a minus-five.
Studnicka will need to come into training camp in September and prove himself if he wants to begin the season on the NHL roster in Los Angeles. If he's unable to, he'll start out with the AHL's Ontario Reign, but it would be surprising to see him play in 20-25 games for Los Angeles throughout the year.
