Drew Doughty Article

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Daunting Drew Doughty decision looms for Kings

Nothing really new, but the conversation will definitely start on resigning him or not after the 2018-2019 season.

I know he'll command a massive amount, but I wonder what the actual number would be?

 

[Kings4OT]

I am glad they have this season to make this decision. If this group disappoints then its probably (and unfortunately) the time to move DD and go back into stocking up prospects. Brown and Gabs are only going to get worse, while Kopitar should easily rebound from last season he isn't going to be much different then we expect and Carts will start to decline as his acceleration/stride wont get him away anymore. Its kind of fortunate we have this season to be a buffer from a few tough questions. I would like to see DD stay in LA for his career but do not see that as feasible. He will probably end up in Tor and I hope we get something good for him.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Hard to believe he has been here 10 years, it seriously feels like he was just drafted. It's been nice to see him progress and win a Norris, help bring two Cups to LA and really morph into the best defender in the NHL.

Dumbo dished out some shitty contracts during the years but Kopitar's first deal (7 years/$47.6 million, $6.8 million AAV) and Doughty's current deal (8 years/$56 million, $7 million AAV) were two absolute steals that paid off ten fold. Even this season, Doughty's actual salary is only $7.6 million, which is unreal considering what other top end defenders are making.

When this contract expires he will be 29 and still in his prime for at least another 5-6 years so he will easily command $10 million a season as a base point in my opinion. Too rich for LA considering there are some other high paid guys on long term deals. If they can somehow shed Brown or Gaborik I would feel more confident about him staying but I just dont see it right now.

I too would like to see him stay in LA for his career but unless Bowlby can make some financial magic happen he is most likely going to be lost. If that is the case, this is the year to do because he will command a massive ransom which can set the Kings up for the next 5 years to be contenders.

He will easily bring back several cheap, young, high end NHL ready talent, coveted prospects and high picks.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kings better be a contender if they want to keep him. He will not consider staying if not - Blake has a lot of work to do in a short period of time if he wants to keep Doughty.

Doughty on next contract: I want to win Cups - Article - TSN

I will say its refreshing to hear a UFA to be talking Cups with such passion and emotion instead of the usual vague responses which are essentially veiled "whoever pays me the most is where I will go".

 

[davnlaguna]

I was cynically reading
And when I reading between the lines to say "and my definition of who wants the win is whoever pays me the most wants to win the most"
I think he sees the Kings will be against the cap for a while and him getting a raise will be hard to do in LA

 

[Kings4OT]

and realistically, he will have a better chance at a cup taking a modest salary and insisting on others following suit....that made me chuckle a bit just typing it

 

[davnlaguna]

Why did Drew hold out?
To be the highest paid player on the team.
Then kopitar got paid more
Unless the cap goes up there is no chance of beating it.
If he takes a pay cut to help the team I will be greatly surprised

 

[Vegas]

Why did Drew hold out?
To be the highest paid player on the team.
Then kopitar got paid more
Unless the cap goes up there is no chance of beating it.
If he takes a pay cut to help the team I will be greatly surprised

If he takes a pay cut, I'm guessing it will be to go somewhere with a better shot at a cup.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Doughty wants to remain King for life

I didn't see it originally, but I guess Doughty talked a little about playing for other teams. He clarified in this article, but he's sort of just saying what has been speculated.

"I know people read it like that," he said. "That's not entirely how I meant it. At the same time, you never know what could happen. We might not come to an agreement on a contract. They might not want to sign me for what I want. Vice versa."

"It is one of the best organizations in sports," said Doughty, who won the Norris Trophy in 2016. "We still have some of our best players in their prime. We have these young guys coming up. We've got new coaches. Everything about being here in L.A. is very exciting and promising."

 

[Vegas]

Doughty wants to remain King for life

I didn't see it originally, but I guess Doughty talked a little about playing for other teams. He clarified in this article, but he's sort of just saying what has been speculated.

"I know people read it like that," he said. "That's not entirely how I meant it. At the same time, you never know what could happen. We might not come to an agreement on a contract. They might not want to sign me for what I want. Vice versa."

"It is one of the best organizations in sports," said Doughty, who won the Norris Trophy in 2016. "We still have some of our best players in their prime. We have these young guys coming up. We've got new coaches. Everything about being here in L.A. is very exciting and promising."

That's good news. The Kings have lost so many key guys the past couple years. I hope Drew means it when he says he sees a good situation.

 

[Kings4OT]

I think the disconnect will be "they might not want to sign me for what I want"....everything else is sort of meaningless to me. LA continues to trend downward but can somehow offer him a ton...ya he would stay, but I only see half of my statement as reality

 

[PuckinUgly57]

More stuff from NHL.com:

What's the likelihood Drew Doughty signs with another team when his contract is up, and who would have the best chance to land him? -- @bloodfury96

Doughty told NHL.com staff writer Lisa Dillman on Tuesday that he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Kings for his entire career and he only wants to win the Stanley Cup with the Kings. That should, at least for now, put to rest any speculation or fear about him wanting to leave when his contract expires after the 2018-19 season. He did tell The Hockey News he would leave the Kings when his contract expires if the team isn't heading in the right direction. On Tuesday, he said he is excited about the direction of the team. Regardless, it's too early to worry about Doughty's future. He still has two seasons left with the Kings and he truly does love playing in L.A. The Kings are under new management (general manager Rob Blake) and they have a new coach (John Stevens). A colleague told me Monday that the Kings should be a team to watch going into this season because Stevens' approach is vastly different from that of former coach Darryl Sutter, who is a hard-liner and hard driver. The change could be the breath of fresh air the Kings need to get back to playing winning hockey. A solid season complete with a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs might be enough to convince Doughty to sign a contract extension next summer. He'd be eligible to do so on July 1, 2018.

Mailbag: Where Pastrnak lands, Doughty's future with Kings

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

He's said stuff before about wanting to play for a team that finishes their checks, so who I would think that that limits other options as well. Doubly hoping LA can get back to some winning hockey this year. I'm very optimistic about this year, but who knows?

That article up there also quoted Doughty as saying that he was so mobbed for autographs at a Toronto Blue Jays game that he couldn't imagine playing in that city. That makes sense why guys wouldn't want to play there.

I guess the big question is that if they do sign Doughty, what would that contract look like? $12mil/year x 8 years?

Kopitar would be 32, Quick would be 33, Carter would be 34, and that would be Year 1 for Doughty likely on an 8 year deal. I would think the cap is going to go up, but with Kopitar and Doughty, that would severely limit LA's ability to sign young guys going forward (Ala Chicago not being able to retain any new players year after year). Just wondering if Doughty would sign with hopes of winning more cups, because based on those guy's ages, you wouldn't be able to tread water like Pittsburgh did, and just stock your farm system for 5-6 years for another window of runs.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Related but unrelated: LA has cap space for the first time in a long time. Do you think they'll just hang onto it for now (I think I would. It's sort of nice to have that in your pocket)? Probably use the cap at the trade deadline for rental players if anything, because those contracts will just fall off each summer.

Next summer Forbort is in for a bump, but not too many others until Doughty in two years (Unless we see an emergence of Kempe or someone else).

I've said it before, but those Pearson and Toffoli signings were very team friendly, and I would say that Blake is getting an A+ from me thus far based just on the offseason.

 

[Kings4OT]

I would still like to see a cheap signing of Iginla, not happening but I really think he would be an asset for this season. At this point they should hang onto the space and see where it is needed when the season gets rolling...injury or poor performance from someone...bam get a steal of a deal because you have even more cap