Today, it was announced that the Kings have reached a deal with sophomore Alec Martinez. In his rookie season, Martinez put up five goals and 11 assists in 60 games. His impressive play earned him a regular spot in the lineup while competing against players like Viatcheslav Voynov and Colten Teubert.
Martinez's solid defensive play really garnered attention from fans of the Los Angeles Kings. He allows players like Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson to take offensive chances while providing solid two-way play.
It's nice to see Dean Lombardi lock up one of his key pieces. Martinez has the potential to be a real star in the National Hockey League. With a little more development, Martinez will turn into a solid top-four defender. In a couple seasons, I wouldn't be surprised to see him challenge Jack Johnson for the No. 2 spot.
Avoiding arbitration was key for the Kings as they didn't want to have to over-pay a player prior to having to sign Drew Doughty to what will surely be a monstrous contract.
As a Kings fan, I'm excited to see Martinez re-signed. He really established himself as one of the better defensemen in the Kings organization. I hope that he gets the attention he deserves as he establishes himself as a great defender.
Let's look forward to the season!
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
