Kings Sign Defenseman Scuderi to Four-Year Contract, Re-Sign Kevin Westgarth

The Los Angeles Kings announced on Thursday evening that they have signed defenseman Rob Scuderi to a four-year contract worth $13.6 million. The deal averages out to $3.4 million per season. The Kings also re-signed center Kevin Westgarth to a three-year contract. Terms of his contract were not disclosed. In 81 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Scuderi scored one goal and 15 assists for 16 points. In 300 career games, all with the Penguins, he has three goals and 36 assists for 39 points. He helped the Penguins win their third Stanley Cup last month. In nine games last season for the Kings, Westgarth had no points. He spent most of the season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester. In 65 games, he scored four goals and six assists for 10 points and 165 penalty minutes. These are decent signings for the Kings, as Scuderi is a very mobile defenseman, whose excellent playoff performance this past year really increased his value. He will provide plenty of defensive depth for the Kings next season as a top-four defenseman. Westgarth is a very tough and physical forward who will likely spend much of next season in the minors. If he is recalled by the Kings at any time next season, Westgarth will likely play on the fourth line.