NHLHS Los Angeles Kings Correspondent Mike Murangi discusses the acquisition of Alexei Ponikarovski.
The Los Angeles Kings and GM Dean Lombardi, recently stung by the loss of free agent Ilya Kovalchuk, signed veteran winger Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one year deal worth $3.2 million.
The Kings lost veteran winger Alexander Frolov the same day to the New York Rangers. Though he does not have Frolov’s skills on offense, Ponikarovsky brings a solid 2-way presence, has scored as many as 23 goals in a season, and has topped 20 goals and 50 points 2 times in his career.
One thing he brings to the Kings is size, something you can not teach. At 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 220 lbs., he will likely skate on the third line with large center Michal Handzus, and form one of the biggest shut-down lines in the league.
After a tough end of the season in Pittsburgh after a midseason trade from the Leafs, Ponikarovsky believes he has something to prove; that he belongs in the NHL. This is a ...
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