Kings sign Jamie McBain, designate Slava Voynov as non-roster player
The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Jamie McBain, the team announced Tuesday.
McBain's deal is for one year and the league minimum $550,000 salary. To clear a roster spot, the Kings designated suspended defenseman Slava Voynov, currently being investigated for an alleged domestic assault, as a non-roster player.
McBain, 26, was selected in the second round of the 2006 NHL draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. He signed a two-year contract extension with the team in 2012 but was traded to the Buffalo Sabres the following year and did not make any team's roster at the beginning of this season.
In 275 career games, McBain has 92 points. He began practicing with the Kings on Monday.
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“He hasn’t played on a good team. Big difference,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said, according to the team's website. “Good kid, good skill set. The next part is the game.”
“You know what? He’s had a really good college career, came out, and played a year in the American League…got off to a good start in Carolina, signed a big contract, and had trouble getting one. It happens.”
Voynov was suspended by the NHL indefinitely on Oct. 20 following his arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife. He hasn't yet been charged by the Los Angeles district attorney's office, which must make a decision in Voynov's case by Dec. 1.
Voynov has been banned from all team activities with the Kings but is allowed to skate on their home ice and work out with Kings coaches on his own. He skated with assistant coach John Stevens on Monday.
The 24-year-old joined the Kings in 2011 and played in all 82 games last season, helping the team win the Stanley Cup. In the team's first six games this season, Voynov recorded two assists and averaged 23:11 of ice time.
Before last season, Voynov signed a six-year, $25 million contract extension.
According to the Kings' website, teams can designate non-roster status to players not available to play "due to reasons other than injury, illness or disability.”
- Ben Estes