Justin Williams was instrumental in the Los Angeles Kings’ march to the Stanley Cup last season. The 33-year old winger finished finished second to Anze Kopitar, tied with Jeff Carter, for the team lead in scoring with 25 points.
Williams is playing out the final season of a four-year, $14.6 million deal with the Kings. The player the analytics community affectionately refers to as “Corsi Jesus” is set for a big pay day and it appears he would like to get something done sooner than later. Much sooner.
According to Elliotte Friedman in this week’s “Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Williams has set a deadline close to New Year’s Day to reach an agreement on an extension with the Kings. Friedman noted that Williams will wait until after the season to pick up negotiations if nothing gets done near that January 1(ish) deadline. The Kings have reportedly asked for an extension.
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Williams’ value goes far beyond simply counting statistics like goals and assists. He routinely finishes at or near the top of the league in possession-based metrics like Corsi for percentage. Dean Lombardi and the Kings certainly realize this, which may explain why they are seeking more time to come to an agreement.
The Kings’ ability to extend Williams is compounded by their sensitive salary cap situation, which is hampered by the position they find themselves in while Slava Voynov sits on long-term injury reserve with four-plus years remaining on a six-year, $25 million deal. Voynov, of course, is currently set to stand trial on domestic violence charges.
Friedman said he believes both sides are confident that a deal will get done. Williams seemingly would like to finish the season without the distraction of negotiations, so the puck’s been passed to the Kings.
