Kings Sign O'Donnell and Ersberg to Extensions

[chilly666]

The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Sean O'Donnell to a one-year contract extension and goaltender Erik Ersberg to a two-year contract extension, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Wednesday. Both players were scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on July 1.

"The idea of teams that were contenders calling Dean Lombardi for you is obviously flattering but the idea of staying with the Kings for a couple more years in the role that I have here as far as ice time and mentoring, it was something I have had a lot of fun with this year and something I would like to do another couple of years," O'Donnell said. "So I didn’t want to go anywhere."

O’Donnell, 37, has played in all 63 games with the Kings this season and has 10 points (all assists) and 56 penalty minutes. The 6-2, 232-pound native of Ottawa was acquired by the Kings from the Ducks on Sept. 30 for a conditional draft selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He had previously played for the Kings from 1995-2000, and he currently ranks eighth (444) on the Kings’ all-time list for games played by a defenseman and his 855 penalty minutes rank fifth all-time among defensemen. O’Donnell, who is expected to play in his 1,000th career NHL regular season game later this season, also leads all Kings in consecutive games played with a streak of 172.

In 995 career NHL games with the Kings, Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild, he has 187 points (27-160=187) and 1,614 penalty minutes. In 87 playoff games, O’Donnell – who was a Stanley Cup winner in 2007 – has 16 points (6-10=16) and 120 penalty minutes.

Ersberg, who turns 27 on Sunday, has played in 24 games with the Kings this season and has an 8-9-4 record, a 2.49 goals-against-average and a .901 save percentage. The 6-0, 168-pound native of Sala, Sweden, was originally signed by the Kings as a free agent on May 31, 2007. He was selected to play in this year’s NHL YoungStars event in Montreal during All-Star weekend but did not participate due to injury.

"It feels very good. I really enjoy it here, so it nice to get it done and have a little stability," Ersberg said. "The last five or six years, I have always have one-year deals, so this is pretty nice to not have to worry about that next year and this summer too.

"I really like it here, I like being around the guys on the team. We have a really young, promising team here and I would like to be around to see what happens."

In 38 career NHL games, all with the Kings, he has a 14-14-7 record, two shutouts, a 2.48 goals-against-average and a .913 save percentage.

[LAKINGSNUT]

luvit!

[Thrillhouse]

Damn, wanted Calgary to get him. Great signing LA. He'll be a mentor for all those kids on the blueline.

[blackngold]

damn

[Isles4life]

Great move by the Kings. They keep around a gritty veteran to help lead that blueline full of emerging young defensemen.

[chilly666]

per Jim Fox on NHL Live

[LAKINGSNUT]

he will make Quick and Bernier, along with the other goalie prospects, compete for the starting job next year! good signing, he will either be the #1, or a rock solid back-up!

[NickDoh]

odonnel has been saying for a few weeks now he enjoys being a king, im glad to see they signed him. and like lakingsnut said, signing ersberg will keep quick and bernier competing come the start of next year. i like it.

[lakingsfan19]

I like the odonnell deal a lot. Odonnell says he wants to stay in LA for the rest of his career. I am not too sure about the ersberg deal. I would have liked to move him and get something back. I know there were a few teams looking for a backup goalie. I just don't think Ersberg is a number 1 goalie in the nhl and I think quick is maybe another year out. That being said, I think the Kings are a playoff team next year. So I would have like to seen Ersberg moved and Bernier brought up to backup quick the rest of the season. Then go out and get number one proven goalie in the offseason via trade/ufa and sign him for 2 years. Have quick and Bernier fight over the #2 spot and get better.

But then again, what do I know?? Thats why I am not a GM