Kings re-sign forward Alex Iafallo to a four-year contract

The Kings re-signed winger Alex Iafallo to a four-year extension that has an average annual value of $4 million, a move that secures a valuable forward and keeps him off the free-agent market.

Iafallo, 27, has earned top-line minutes with his scoring abilities. He has 11 goals and 25 points in 34 games this season, after having hit career-best marks last season of 17 goals and 43 points in 70 games.

Iafallo’s age and productivity make him ideal to help the Kings continue their rebuilding process. The Kings late Sunday traded forward Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh for two conditional draft picks, a third-rounder in 2022 and a fourth-rounder in 2023.

The NHL trade deadline is today at noon Pacific time.

Kings coach Todd McLellan, speaking after the team’s morning skate, called Monday a bittersweet day because of the sadness surrounding the departure of Carter — a member of their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championship teams — and the happiness of keeping Iafallo on the team.

“Start with the sweet part and having Iafallo re-signed is really important to our organization. He’s, in my opinion, a Swiss Army knife, and I feel good about putting him on the ice in every situation,” McLellan said. “We’ve talked a lot about him. It’s amazing how many teammates came by me and said, ‘Hey, what’s going on with him, we’ve got to get him signed,’ and that type of stuff, so they really want him to be here and he wants to be here.

Hockey

Kings trade Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh Penguins for conditional draft picks

Jeff Carter, who played a key role in helping the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014, is being sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade.

April 11, 2021

“The other side of the coin with Carts, obviously a real, real important player for this organization and a long, long time a big part of championships and great memories. Nobody wanted to lose him, but the organization has to manage its assets with expansion coming up. The opportunity to get pieces back for somebody we had a real good chance of losing in the summer, I think that decision had to be made.

“It doesn’t make it easier for the players. I think the younger ones appreciated him, his leadership, his ability to carry himself professionally around the rink. He cared a lot about those younger players. But for them it’s an opportunity and opens up ice more. It’s the older players that probably it stings a little more. There were some tears in some eyes today, but he’s going to get a real good opportunity. Everybody’s happy for him. We’d like to see him make good on it and enjoy another championship out east.”