(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
After day two of the National Hockey League’s annual feeding frenzy, otherwise known as the first couple of days when teams can sign unrestricted free agents, the Los Angeles Kings have filled a need on their blue line.
On July 2, they agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi, 30, who just won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, to a four-year deal that is reported to be worth $13.6 million, an average of $3.4 million per season—a nice raise from the $725,000 he earned last season.
The 6-0, 218-pound defenseman scored a goal and added fifteen assists for sixteen points with a +23 plus/minus rating and eighteen penalty minutes in a career-high 81 regular season games last season.
In the playoffs, Scuderi scored a goal and tallied four assists for five points with six penalty minutes in 24 games, averaging 20:29 of ice time.
Scuderi played parts of five seasons with the Penguins, scoring three goals and contributing 36 assists for 39 points with 112 penalty minutes in 300 regular season games. In 49 playoff games, all with the Penguins, he has a goal and seven assists for eight points with ten penalty minutes. He played in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 and 2009.
The native of Syosset, New York was selected by the Penguins in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was recently invited to attend the 2009 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp, August 17 - 19 in Woodbridge, Illinois.
Scuderi was hoping to remain with the Stanley Cup champs, but the Kings made him an offer that the Pens could not match.
“After I just won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins I was hoping to stay with Pittsburgh,” Scuderi told LAKings.com. “But after taking a look at the Kings roster and some of the young talent they have, Los Angeles was one of my top choices. And I’m very confident in my choice that we can move ahead and become a better team.”
The Kings, who were looking for a veteran defenseman, were interested in Scuderi from the start of the free agent period.
“[The Kings] were interested from the start and stayed with it and I enjoyed them because they felt I would fit well into their system and what they’re trying to do,” he said. “Like I said, I’m happy with my decision.”
“Right before I agreed to the deal I was talking with [Kings President/General Manager] Dean Lombardi and [Assistant General Manager] Ron Hextall, they asked me about the roster and where I thought the Kings were headed,” he added. “They said they had some of the best young prospects in the league and if you’re looking for a team that’s up-and-coming, which happens quick, then LA would be the place. Once I knew that they seemed like they really knew that they were doing I was on board.”
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