Kings Sign Marc-Andre Cliche to Three-Year Contract

[VodkaFish]

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed center Marc-Andre Cliche to a three-year entry level contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Cliche, 20, played in 52 games this season for Lewiston of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and had 54 points (24-30=54), a plus-27 rating and 42 penalty minutes. He also had five power-play goals, four short-handed goals and four game-winning goals for Lewiston, where he was a teammate of goaltender Jonathan Bernier, one of the Kings’ two first-round selections in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Cliche, who also recently earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden, has played for Lewiston the past four seasons and has compiled 162 points (73-89=162) in 189 regular season games with the MAINEiacs while in 13 playoff games he has seven points (3-4=7). In 2005-06, he had 82 points (37-45=82) as he ranked second on the team in goals, assists and points. Cliche also that season led Lewiston in game-winning goals with eight and he tied for the team lead in power play goals with 22.

Acquired by the Kings with right wing Jason Ward and center Jan Marek from the New York Rangers on February 5 in exchange for forward Sean Avery and left wing John Seymour, Cliche, a 6-1, 189-pound native of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, was originally selected by the Rangers in the second-round (56th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

[Purely_Purinton]

Should be interesting to see how the whole deal shakes out, Avery is one of the biggest reasons we're in the playoffs but Cliche seems to have some potential. Time will tell..

[LAKINGSNUT]

NY fans should deffinitely feel good about the deal at this point. Avery injected the team with some much needed energy and character. the only thing time will tell is if Avery will just play hockey the way he can and has been instead of bringing unwanted attention to himself and the team. hopefuly thei Cliche kid works out for LA, he is not the biggest guy, but at 6ft1 he aint the smallest either! next to Cammalleri this guy is a giant!

[Maine Mariner]

I work for his Junior team in Lewiston and he is definately ready for the AHL at least. He is at least one year away from the NHL, but he shows incredible character on the ice for his age.

Penalty Kill specialist and 3rd or 4th line NHL potential center.

Good size and pro speed. Marc-Andre will never hurt you when he is on the ice.

He is the captain of the Lewiston who has won 17 in a row as of last night. He won the gold medal for team Canada at the World Juniors who took every key faceoff and all penalty kills.

I think you will like him.

[Maine Mariner]

Just named CHL player of the week.

http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=1

[LAKINGSNUT]

thanks for the info!

[lakingsfan19]

being a kings fan.... I wish we still had avery... good trade for the rangers, you see what he brings every night....

Now I wonder if the rangers can re-sign him for next season??????