LA Kings, Brendan Lemieux agree on one-year extension

The LA Kings are bringing back some much-needed physicality in forward Brendan Lemieux. The two sides agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract extension on Wednesday as the NHL’s free agency frenzy period opened.

#GoKingsGo have signed forward Brendan Lemieux to a one-year, $1.35M contract extension.

Pepe is back!@Hockey_Royalty

— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) July 13, 2022

After deciding not to tender him a qualifying offer, the Kings brought the 26-year-old back for approximately $300K than his estimated qualifying offer value.

Lemieux was acquired in from the New York Rangers at the tail end of the 2020-21 season. He carved out a role for himself last season on the Kings’ fourth line, developing great chemistry with Blake Lizotte and Arthur Kaliyev in what was dubbed “The Energy Line.”

He played in 50 games, tallying 8 goals and 5 assists for 13 points with 97 PIM.

Lemieux is the latest player to re-sign with the Kings after Los Angeles reached agreements with Adrian Kempe and Alex Edler. He will look to continue playing a meaningful role on the bottom-six forwards in the 2022-23 campaign.