LA Kings prospect Jimmy Lombardi celebrated Christmas early by signing his entry-level contract on Monday.

We’ve signed forward Jimmy Lombardi to a three-year entry-level contract! ✍️

📲 https://t.co/ImT6vg3qXj@Enterprise | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/aWWdydJaN2

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 22, 2025

LET’S GO JIMMY!!! Jimmy Lombardi has been signed to an NHL entry-level contract by the @LAKings! pic.twitter.com/d0l6ywdNaB

— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) December 22, 2025

Lombardi, 19, became the second Kings draft pick from the 2025 class to ink his ELC (Vojtěch Čihař the other one). A fourth-round pick this past summer, Lombardi’s offensive production has soared with 41 points (21 G, 20 A) in 33 games in the OHL for the Flint Firebirds. He’s primarily been the team’s first-line center.

Look at Lombardi go🤩

A nifty move and finish from Jimmy Lombardi gave the @FlintFirebirds a lead and earned the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night!@FloHockey | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/QaPr8o0q4P

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 21, 2025

Here are some notes on Lombardi signing his ELC:

Win for the Firebirds & Kings, loss for Michigan

With this signing comes good news for the Flint Firebirds and the Kings. Flint gets to keep Lombardi for another year to aid in his development, and the Kings have secured their fourth-round pick from this draft, eliminating the need for a wait to sign him.

Meanwhile, this is a loss for Michigan (NCAA). Lombardi was committed to playing at the University of Michigan for the upcoming season, but signing his ELC, he won’t be making his way to the NCAA next year.

Matthew – a scout with us at @RecScouting – has CONFIRMED that Jimmy Lombardi will be DECOMMITTING from the University of Michigan

Lombardi signed his ELC today after a hot start in the OHL. This is huge Big Ten news. https://t.co/yNCVU06syq

— Foley (@NHLFoley) December 22, 2025

Slide eligible

Lombardi’s ELC won’t count against the 50-contract limit for the Kings. By signing his entry-level contract at age 18, Lombardi’s contract will be slide eligible for this season and the next.

AHL eligibility

The new CHL/NHL transfer agreement rule under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) goes into effect next season. As a memory refresher, every NHL team is allowed to place one 19-year-old CHL prospect in the AHL.

Sources say a new provision in the CBA will allow each #NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the #AHL per season.

One per organization per season and 18-year-olds are ineligible.

Begins in 2026-27 season.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 10, 2025

Insert Lombardi.

Lombardi turns 19 on February 16, 2026. That makes him eligible for the AHL next year under the new rule. However, the Kings will have the choice between him and their 2025 first-round pick, Henry Brzustewicz.

Personally, with Lombardi being a fourth-round pick, I think that if the Kings were to place one of those two in the AHL, I would guess the nod would go to Brzustewicz, given his draft status (hasn’t signed his entry-level contract yet).

Featured image credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Continue Reading