This is the worst time of the year. College hockey fans are waiting to see if their favorite players return, or sign professional deals. It sounds like the full court press is on from the L.A. Kings. The Kings would like to get Paul LaDue signed to a professional deal. They must really want him signed if they came to Grand Forks to talk to him. John Hoven of the Mayor’s Manor has the details on this.
John Hoven, Mayors Manor — Assistant GM Rob Blake – along with Nelson Emerson (Director of Player Development), Mike O’Connell (a key member of the team’s Development Staff), and amateur scout Tony Gasparini – went to North Dakota to visit with LaDue and his father earlier this week. They also met with the UND coaching staff.
There is no denying the Kings are extremely interested in signing LaDue, who just completed his second season of college.
Ranked as the team’s third-best defensive prospect, behind Derek Forbort and Colin Miller, the 22-year-old blueliner has been tabbed as a player who is good at just about everything, and is seen as somebody who is capable of developing into a Willie Mitchell-type player at the pro level.
“He hasn’t made his mind up yet, but we wanted to lay out a game plan for either scenario,” said Blake, referring to the fact that LaDue has the option of turning pro and signing an entry level contract with the Kings or returning to UND for his junior season. “We rwviewed whether he wants to return to school and what we can do development wise with him, or if he wanted to turn pro, what we had to offer him.”
The pro route would include him going to AHL Ontario next season (remember they are moving their affiliate from Manchester to the West Coast). Despite projections that show a logjam of Kings defensive prospects in the AHL next season, Blake is confident there is room for LaDue.
Obviously, UND fans would like to see LaDue stay and play another year at UND. Ladue definitely, has options. As Brad Schlossman laid out earlier today, Paul can play two more year and then pretty much get the deal that he wants.
Entry-level deals are mandatory two-way contracts, which means you have different compensations based on whether you are playing in the NHL or AHL. As a 2012 draft pick, LaDue could make a maximum of $925,000 if in the NHL and $70,000 if in the AHL. The max signing bonus would be $92,500. Once he was through his entry-level deal, he would become a restricted free agent. (UND Hockey Blog)
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