With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Joel Edmundson!

Joel Edmundson

Birthdate: June 28, 1993

Birthplace: Brandon, Manitoba

Height: 6’5

Weight: 220 lbs

Position: Defense

Shoots: Left

Draft: 2nd round, 46th overall, 2011 NHL Entry Draft

2024-25 season

Joel Edmundson’s first season with the Kings came with mixed reviews. His contract (both term and money) wasn’t exactly met with much positivity from people — including myself — and given how his previous three seasons went, you can see why.

Joel Edmundson, signed 4x$3.8M by LA, is a physical defensive depth defenceman and cross-checking aficionado. Doesn’t do anything with the puck and while he Clears the Crease he does give up lots of scoring chances very close to it. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/EU2raBGYpQ

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2024

We’ve signed the following players:

▪️(F) Warren Foegele (3 years, $3.5M AAV)
▪️(D) Joel Edmundson (4 years, $3.85M AAV)

More Info 📲 https://t.co/yT5XzUVkFI@Enterprise | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lnRfkkLkoK

— LA Kings (@LAKings) July 1, 2024

His size, denying zone entries, and cross-checking ability intrigued the Kings. It’s why they envisioned him being paired with Brandt Clarke upon his signing. Given how the Kings’ system is designed to benefit heavy, defensive defensemen, not fleet-footed like Edmundson, the 6-foot-5 southpaw had solid basic numbers that ended up on the positive side. He set a career best in games played in a season (73), assists (14), and penalty minutes (22). He also had six goals and a plus-25 rating.

Joel Edmundson SITS DOWN David Pastrnak 👀 pic.twitter.com/j5wUASWCJ2

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 5, 2024

The basic numbers show the good year Edmundson had in LA’s system. If you dig a little deeper to see his underlying numbers, some were good and some weren’t — particularly paired with and without certain defensemen. According to Natural Stat Trick, his xGoals Against were the highest of any Kings defensemen who played 10 or more games. When paired with Clarke, the two had respectable numbers. However, when Clarke was away from Edmundson, the former’s CF% (Corsi For %), FF% (Fenwick For %), GF% (Goals For %), xGA (Expected Goals Against), xGF% (Expected Goals For %), and HDCF% (High-Danger Chances For %) were better when not on the ice with the latter, according to Natural Stat Trick.

When Edmundson was paired with Doughty, it didn’t work. Although everyone points to Edmundson’s plus-minus stat and cross-checking parade, it wasn’t a home run signing.

Joel Edmundson (1) puts home the loose puck and scores his first goal as a King.

Assists:
Anže Kopitar (6)
Quinton Byfield (4)#GoKingsGo #UtahHC #LAKvsUTA pic.twitter.com/WRNf1N66zQ

— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) October 27, 2024

Joel Edmundson (4) ties the game with a one-timer from the point.

Assists:
Kyle Burroughs (2)
Anže Kopitar (22)#GoKingsGo #TexasHockey #LAKvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Ed1INmdRMG

— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) December 5, 2024

2025-26 outlook

Entering the second year of his four-year deal, Edmundson is expected to play on the second or third pairing with Clarke or newcomer Cody Ceci. I don’t think Edmundson should be in the top four and should be slotted in on the third pairing. But would the duo of Edmundson and Ceci prove to be a reliable third pair? Nevertheless, I expect Jim Hiller to trust him, use him on the penalty kill, and have him on the ice when protecting a lead.

Featured image credit: Andrew Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

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