led Michigan back to the Frozen Four. The Wolverines again lost the national semifinal, this time to the University of Minnesota. Los Angeles Kings Cammalleri chose to forgo his senior year of eligibility, signing a contract with the Kings ahead of the 2002–03 NHL season. He attended the Kings' training camp, but failed to make the roster and was assigned to their then-minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL). He scored 14 points in 9 games and earned his first recall to Los Angeles on November 7, 2002. He made his NHL debut the following night against the Ottawa Senators and earned his first point, an assist, in a 3–2 victory. His first goal came one week later, on November 16, against Tommy Salo of the Edmonton Oilers. He was demoted and recalled by the Kings twice more during the season, and appeared in a total of 28 NHL games, scoring 8 points in addition to 20 points in 13 games in the AHL before his season was ended on January 28, 2003, when he suffered a concussion in a game against the San Jose Sharks. Cammalleri again bounced between the Kings and the Monarchs throughout the 2003–04 season, while a labour dispute in the NHL resulted in his spending the entire 2004–05 season in Manchester. Cammalleri opened the season with 20 goals in his first 22 games en route to a league leading and franchise record setting total of 46. His total of 109 points, also a Monarchs record, was second in the AHL behind Jason Spezza's 117. He was voted a starter in the 2005 AHL All-Star Game, was named to the second All-Star team and received the Willie Marshall Award for leading the league in goals. Returning to Los Angeles in 2005–06, Cammalleri established himself as an NHL regular, appearing in 80 games with the Kings and leading the team with 26 goals. He improved to 34 goals and 80 points in 2006–07 and was voted the recipient of the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings' most valuable player by the local media. He and the Kings were unable to agree on a new contract following the season. Cammalleri was asking for $6 million per season, while the team offered $2.6 million. The two sides proceeded to salary arbitration, after which Cammalleri was awarded a two-year contract that paid him $3.1