Lewis is not known for offense, but he provided some for the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. His two goals in that game against the New Jersey Devils helped Los Angeles clinch its first championship and were one fewer than he had during the 2011-12 regular season.
A Salt Lake City native, Lewis was a first-round pick (No. 17) of the Kings in the 2006 NHL Draft. The versatile center/wing usually is a defense-first presence on the ice. Hardly intimidating at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, the speedy Lewis will still run through opponents if given the chance.
Lewis is not known for offense, but he provided some for the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. His two goals in that game against the New Jersey Devils helped Los Angeles clinch its first championship and were one fewer than he had during the 2011-12 regular season.
A Salt Lake City native, Lewis was a first-round pick (No. 17) of the Kings in the 2006 NHL Draft. The versatile center/wing usually is a defense-first presence on the ice. Hardly intimidating at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, the speedy Lewis will still run through opponents if given the chance.
Something of a late bloomer who was not drafted until after his 19-year-old season with Des Moines of the United States Hockey League, Lewis made his NHL debut on Dec. 19, 2008, against the Buffalo Sabres. He scored his first NHL goal the next night against the Detroit Red Wings and finished the 2008-09 season with a goal and three points in six NHL games.
Officially a rookie in 2010-11 after playing five NHL games the previous season, Lewis had two assists against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 20, 2010, for his first multipoint game in the NHL. Lewis, who finished the season tied for 10th among NHL rookies with 102 hits, appeared in all six games for Los Angeles in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His average ice time in the playoffs (16:39) jumped more than five minutes per game from the regular season (11:29).
Lewis' first NHL playoff goal forced overtime in Game 6 of the first round that season against the San Jose Sharks. He tied for second on the Kings with three assists in the playoffs.
Lewis was fourth on the Kings with 77 hits during the 2014 playoffs as Los Angeles won its second title in three seasons. A pending unrestricted free agent, he signed a four-year contract with the Kings on June 25, 2016.
Lewis helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championship. That came after a 2005-06 season with Des Moines where he had 35 goals and 75 points in 56 games. He was named USHL Player of the Year and Forward of the Year and won the Curt Hammer Award for combining character and skill.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- USHL Player of the Year (2006)
