Kings re-sign Jordan Spence to two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract

A young blueliner is sticking around Hollywood for a couple more years.

On Thursday, the Los Angeles Kings announced they have signed defenseman Jordan Spence to a two-year contract. The deal carries an AAV of $1.5 million through the 2025-26 season.

Spence is coming off his three-year, entry-level contract, which had a $919,167 AAV and an annual signing bonus of $92,500. The Kings originally took him in the fourth round, 95th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft.

The 2023-24 campaign saw Spence spend the most time in the NHL than ever before. After playing just six games in Los Angeles during the 2022-23 season, the Australian-born player appeared in 71 games, scoring two goals and 22 assists for 24 points, a career-high. Spence also registered a plus/minus of +5. He played in all five of the Kings’ playoff games in their round-one loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

In his three years with the team, Spence has been back and forth between the Kings and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He only played one game in the AHL this past season. During the 2021-22 season, Spence was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and was a first-team league all-star. That year, he scored four goals and 38 assists with a +18 rating.

Spence has appeared in 101 NHL games, notching four goals and 29 assists with a +14 rating. He has played in eight playoff games, registering an assist. The former Val-d’Or Foreur has played in 103 AHL contests, scoring eight goals and 79 assists, appearing in two Calder Cup Playoff games.

Spence has represented his country on the international stage. Along with playing for the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League in the 2019 CHL/Russia Super Series, he played for Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship, and took home a silver with the Canadians at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.