Doughty Article

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fa...nzie-dissects-doughty-contract-variables/amp/

Per this guy, LA should just go to Doughty this summer with $12mil/year and max term.

I can't say that's a smart move on the Kings part, but who knows if that cap is going up.

 

[Kings4OT]

I think DD is the best all around Dman in the NHL. Unfortunately 1 player cant win the cup. While I would hate to lose DD from the Kings I doubt he stays at a reasonable rate. Its going to be a bumpy road without him and its highly unlikely the Kings are contenders once he is gone but I doubt they are contenders with him making that much either.....sucks

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Yeah I don't really have that answer. He is pretty irreplaceable (Especially with our current defensemen), but at the same time, you said it (What I believe), that that's a lot of dough wrapped up in one guy.

 

[lasportzphan]

You sign him for the max price and build up the youth. It's a no-brainer. You can't let him go.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

This was what I mentioned in another thread a few months back - that is the approach you have to take with him.

Go in with the best offer right off the bat because it could become a volatile situation if it drags on and knowing how much of an emotional player/person Doughty is, that mood of "I want to stay in LA" will change to "let's table this for summer 2019" and at that point LA has virtually no leverage.

I'm not saying go in with a 8 year/$96 million offer but go in with something well beyond the starting point of negotiations. This is not a player you dick around with.

 

[Psych3man]

I thought Doughty was going to be made captain when they pulled it from Brown, not thinking his emotionality would cost him the C. Most of the great captains I can think of who aren't Gretzky play(ed) with a lot of emotion and drive, and talk(ed) like crazy on the ice, leading through passion and example. I thought his emotion, energy and drive to win (plus the best in the league at his position), plus Sutter's weird understated non-emotional style made him a no-brainer. After what's transpired since he didn't get it, I still think his fire is exactly what the Kings needed.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

His fire is exactly what a locker room needs but as much as I like him, I think he did let it get out of control at times.

It's happened in years past (remember the jerk off gesture to Kesler in the 2012 POs? Hilarious as shit), the stick slamming, verbal tirades, etc. but this season I think he went a little over the top in all areas. He had a marvelous season but was in the news for negative things almost as much as the positives it seems so I think he drew some attention to himself that was unnecessary.

I didn't think he would be getting the C after Brown was stripped of it because of how he can go off sometimes. I honestly didn't expect a letter either on him, I was thinking it would be Carter and Martinez so I was surprised when Doughty was wearing one on opening night 2016. But he is a leader in that room, and his play shows it but he needs to be reigned in once in a while. That's what the Kopitars, Carters, Lewises, etc. of the teams are for.

I do believe the best captains are fiery captains (I was one myself but believe me, it took years to learn when and when not to use that emotion), although there are always exceptions - Sakic and Gretzky come to mind as two of the more silent types who effectively led, Lidstrom and Francis are two others who I admired who led quietly.

There is also a fine line when you don't want your captain acting like a complete jackass though. Getzlaf is a great example, while as talented a player and leader he is, he completely embarrasses himself and the letter when he loses his cool and crosses that point (look at this last series with SJ, his negativity permeated to the rest of the group and it showed. Perry is another one like that).

As a now close to 14 year veteran in the NHL, I would think Getzlaf would have it under control but the guy loses it big time about 1-2 times a year. You don't remember the game they trailed 4-1 and he single handedly brought them back to win, you remember the crybaby whining and being a bitchboy instead.

I think Doughty will be a captain at some point in his career; whether it is in LA remains to be the question because Kopitar is here long term (possibly Doughty too should he re-sign here) and while his first season was a mess with a C on his sweater, he showed this past season how good a captain he can be.

 

[LoCal Kings]

I remember how often Robitaille used to take offensive zone penalties early in his career when he/Kings turned over the puck. Usually a hook, very lazy. Seems he improved on every aspect of his game / leadership when the Kings made him captain during Gretzky's prolonged injury in either '92 or '93.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I remember how often Robitaille used to take offensive zone penalties early in his career when he/Kings turned over the puck. Usually a hook, very lazy. Seems he improved on every aspect of his game / leadership when the Kings made him captain during Gretzky's prolonged injury in either '92 or '93.

And that's probably what it would take for him to become one here in LA with Kopitar signed long term. Obviously this is not a good situation because that means Kopitar is out injured.

Personally I don't think having a C on his jersey (or even an A) is that big of a deal to Doughty. He wants to win and his play shows a lot of leadership, just needs to tone down the antics a little bit.

 

[Kings4OT]

Real leaders don't need a letter or permission to be that...they just are. They players know who they are and sometimes leadership comes from a lot of sources. I don't put that much into the letters, but I am sure in the minority.....

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I'm with you, it's apparent who leads and who doesn't when these guys play. There is no question in my mind a guy like Lewis is looked at as a veteran leader or Martinez but neither wear letters.

Then you have guys who sport As and Cs who couldn't lead a dying horse to water, that is apparent too. In some organizations it's more of a popularity contest it seems.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Question (Not sure where to ask this). Instagram had some posts about Columbus being frustrated as the only franchise never to win a Playoff series, and what needed to change? Their fans saying they needed another Top 4 defenseman (Like many teams I guess).

I was thinking Kings make a play of Cam Atkinson and most people commented that it would be crazy to trade Muzzin/Toffoli for Cam Atkinson. But Can Atkinson just resigned for $5.875mil/year for the next seven years, which is a very friendly number (in my opinion), so that has a lot of value in and of itself, on top of him being lightning fast and something this team really needs.

If Muzzin has that much value, and you can trade Muzzin straight up for Atkinson, I don't know why that wouldn't be a serious though. If it take Toffoli too, I would be up for that (and maybe get a pick back). Atkinson and a 2nd/3rd for Toffoli and Muzzin.

Summer thoughts...

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Done deal in my opinion but I would demand a 1st round pick, not a 2nd or 3rd- T4 defenders are a lot harder to find than forwards which is why teams pay premiums for them plus they are getting a forward back in return who has skill but needs a change of scenery. If they weren't, wouldn't the BJs have gotten one already? The answer is yes.

They are also getting a younger, bigger forward (5'8"/170/28 vs 6'0"/201/26) in return who has also scored 30+ goals once in his career (just like Atkinson) plus shoring up the back end so they need to pay a little more IMO. Atkinson's contract will take him to age 36, and we see what happens to forwards in their early 30s it seems where as defenders are still playing at high levels around 35. It's a bigger contract risk from LA's standpoint (see Gaborik, Marian).

Muffo is signed two more years and will be in his prime still (31) when this contract expires so he should be highly sought after based on his league rep. If he performs, and he should under a coach like Tortorella, he should have no problem being resigned to a big value close to retirement deal.

Apart from the fluke injury he got this season, he has shown to be quite durable too and had that Stanley Cup on his resume (Toffoli as well) so they are getting championship caliber, battle tested players which they need to push them over the hump. There is a price to pay for that pedigree as well.

I would have two hypothetical deals:

LA
Toffoli
Muzzin

CBJ
Atkinson
B6 Player or Mid Level Prospect
1st Round Pick


I like Atkinson too but Josh Anderson is another forward who is on an upward trend (RW, 23, 6'3"/221) that I have eyed. Not as fast or skilled but a big boy who gets to the net, has some hands (17 and 19 goals this year and last) and clips at about .50 PPG in the playoffs:

LA
Toffoli
Muzzin

CBJ
Anderson
B6 Player or Mid Level Prospect
1st Round Pick
3rd Round Pick

I think either deal would help both teams out, addressing needs.

 

[LoCal Kings]

The other obvious team is Toronto. Plenty of offense, needs more defense. What would it take to get either Marner or Nylander??? I guess the obvious problem for Toronto would be taking on more cap hit with a Muzzin/Toffoli combo.

 

[Kings4OT]

Atkinson was mostly a no-show in the playoffs so he will fit in perfectly.


I would do either of those deals Puck mentioned and be happy. Toronto is a weird one as their fan base thinks everyone is signing with them anyways so its difficult to talk to those guys. They have a few players I do like and always thought JVR would be a great fit in LA but I have kinda changed my mind on him recently.

 

[Kings4OT]

I also dont see the Leafs moving Marner or Nylander even for the Muffin prize

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I guess my thing with Atkinson is he is THE guy for Columbus, but wouldn't need to be in LA, which has worked wonders for numerous guys coming over to LA (*cough* Especially from Columbus *cough*).

I wasn't even factoring in Muzzin getting a pay bump in 2 years, which leaves me even more anxious. Although Blake has done well, so he'll handle it.

Columbus, let's make a deal....

Teams in need, looking for tweaks but not rebuilds, and different conferences so no chance of having to eat it in the Playoffs unless they're both in the finals, which would constitute a "Good problem".

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Yup, the Kings have good players in place where a guy doesn't need to be "the man" - Richards, Phaneuf, Gaborik come to mind immediately and were successful to certain degrees here.

Atkinson would probably fall into that role as well which I think would be beneficial to LA.