Kings sign forward Martin Chromiak to a one-year two-way deal

The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Martin Chromiak to a one-year contract, according to Yahoo Sports. The agreement is described as a two-way deal with an average annual value of $850,000, a structure that typically keeps a player close to the NHL roster while allowing the team to use him in the AHL when there is no spot available.

Chromiak is 23 years old and has been building a reputation as a steady offensive contributor in the American Hockey League. Yahoo Sports reported that his best season came with the Ontario Reign, where he totaled 28 goals and 28 assists. The same report frames his development as upward each year, suggesting the Kings do not view the most recent production as an isolated spike but rather the latest step in a progression that could translate to higher competition.

For the Kings, the signing fits a common roster-building approach in modern NHL teams. Two-way contracts let organizations evaluate a player’s readiness in practice and in limited NHL appearances without committing a long-term salary number that could block other roster moves. If Chromiak can adapt to the smaller margins in the NHL, a two-way deal also gives the Kings an internal call-up option that does not require a trade.

Chromiak’s AHL scoring line matters because it points to more than finishing. A total of 56 points in a season that includes both goals and assists is often read as an indication of two-way engagement in offensive play, particularly if the player is consistently producing across roles rather than relying on one narrow skill. While Yahoo Sports does not provide additional breakdowns such as power-play production or line deployment, the headline-level totals still give the Kings a tangible performance anchor when considering how he might fit into the organization’s future forward depth.

The Kings’ decision also has timing implications. The NHL offseason roster work is partly about immediate needs, but it is equally about creating a ladder of prospects who are ready to move up at different moments. Chromiak, in his low-to-mid 20s, sits in that useful window where a team can simultaneously benefit from AHL production and potentially get a mid-term evaluation for NHL readiness without waiting years for development. That is the basic rationale behind many two-way signings, and it appears to be the Kings’ motive here as described by Yahoo Sports.

What to watch next is whether the Kings’ internal plan for the forward group creates an opening for Chromiak to earn NHL minutes. During the preseason and early season, teams typically test whether a player’s game speed, puck management, and decision-making hold up against NHL forechecking and tighter space. If he starts the year in the AHL, the most important indicator will be whether his role and point production remain stable, or if adjustments are required as opponents scout his strengths more specifically.