Quinn Leaves Kings for Ottawa With Two-Year Free-Agent Deal

The Kings lost forward Dan Quinn, their third-leading scorer last season, to the Ottawa Senators when the unrestricted free agent signed a two-year contract Thursday.

The Kings tried to re-sign Quinn, 30, but Dave Taylor, assistant to General Manager Sam McMaster, said the team was unwilling to give Quinn more than a one-year deal and that the acquisition of Dimitri Khristich from the Washington Capitals in a draft-day trade made him expendable.

Only Wayne Gretzky and Rick Tocchet had more points for the Kings last season than Quinn, who resurrected his NHL career with 14 goals and 17 assists in 44 games. Quinn had five more points than Khristich did in four fewer games, but Taylor emphasized the difference in the players’ ages. Khristich turns 26 Sunday.

“Khristich has the bigger contract, but he’s younger and is under contract for three more years,” Taylor said.

Khristich is scheduled to make $1 million next season.

Taylor also said the Kings wanted more ice time for young players, among them Kevin Brown, Jeff Shevalier and Daniel Rydmark.

Quinn’s salary last season was $400,000, and his deal with the Senators is believed to be worth about $1 million over two years. An Ottawa native, Quinn suggested that the instability of the King franchise affected his decision.

“L.A. is a weird situation now with the ownership. And having no coach. And the financial situation there is up in the air,” he told the Ottawa Citizen.