Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th year left wing Tanner Pearson(70) signs a lucrative, new 4-year deal after a breakout season playing a career high 80 NHL games, scoring a best 20 goals and 44 points.
The restricted free agent was coming to the end of his two-year contract, where the former high draft selection started to take his game to another level.
He started his time with the club in a full season for affiliate Manchester Monarchs, then split time between the two leagues as a sophomore skater before moving up 2014/2015.
At 24-years old he’s now an integral part of the future forward for the California club, who missed the playoffs and will be looking to get back on firm footing immediately.
Tanner Pearson(14) Manchester Monarchs
Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in this year’s draft (#30 overall: hello Stanley Cup Champs), left wing Tanner Pearson(14) leaves juniors after only two seasons (albeit a very successful one in 2011/2012 that saw him score 91 points in 60 games).
He starts his pro career with AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs due to the NHL lunch break and is getting it going with 4 goals and 8 assists and a +5 plus/minus in 23 games on a level that is much different than the one he just came from.
At 6′ 205 lbs. he’s already big enough to be a formidable power forward and at only 20-years old will develop as he continues to play. That shows no signs of slowing down in this his rookie season.
He signed a three-year entry level deal that will likely see him skating at least some games in the show before that time is up, but bets are he outright makes the team and this is only a short stop for him in the minors.