Kings add 'Poni' not 'Kovi'

After nearly four weeks of the open period to sign free agent players, the Los Angeles Kings can finally announce a player signing. He's an unrestricted free agent who hails from Russia and plays the left wing position.

Sorry, Kings fans, Ilya Kovalchuk it ain't. But he ain't that bad either.

The Kings announced Tuesday that they have signed Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed by the club, but CapGeek.com reports the deal is worth $3.2 million, leaving the Kings with $13.443 million in cap space.

Ponikarovsky made his debut in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2000, and played with the club until he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 2010 trade-deadline deal. His best season statistically was in 2008-09, when he established career highs scoring 23 goals and adding 38 assists for a personal-best 61 points.

Ponikarovsky has developed a reputation for his ability on penalty killing units. He scored four short-handed goals during the 2005-06 season, tying for the league lead. He has scored 20 or more goals in four of the last five seasons.

Meanwhile, as the Kings add one free agent of Russian heritage, they officially lose another. Alexander Frolov has signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers. The Los Angeles Times reported that the amount of the deal is $3 million for the upcoming season.

Frolov was the 20th selection overall in the first round by the Kings in 2000, and played seven full seasons with the club. This past season saw Frolov score a career-low 19 goals, and his 51 points were the third-fewest of his Kings career. He also was benched for one game by head coach Terry Murray in October for a lack of effort.

As for Kovalchuk, the NHLPA officially filed a grievance over the NHL's voiding of Kovalchuk's new contract with New Jersey last week. It's expected to take up to another two weeks before a decision will be rendered, but it could come as early as Monday. If the contract-voiding is upheld and Kovalchuk becomes an unrestricted free agent again, Kings general manager Dean Lombardi has indicated there would be renewed interest in pursuing him.

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There's still time to sign up for the 2010 Kings Camp for children. It runs August 8 through 14 at the Toyota Sports Center. Sign-up fee is $575, and includes 2-1/2 hours per day of on-ice instruction and play, two tickets to a game during the 2010-11 Kings season, a personalized jersey and camp DVD, off-ice training and instruction, camper report card and skills evaluation, and a photo with a current member of the Kings roster. Instructors are scheduled to include: Daryl Evans, Nelson Emerson, Ian Turnbull, Jamie Storr, and current players Dustin Brown and Jarret Stoll. 

To sign up, click here or call Hillary Hodding right now at (310) 535-4462. All proceeds will benefit the Kings Care Foundation.

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