Drew Doughty Won't Be Offered Contract Extension From Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are going to look much different this season with Anze Kopitar retiring, and it turns out, Drew Doughty is also eventually on his way out. General manager Ken Holland confirmed, Doughty won't be offered a contract extension from the team.
“We did meet with Drew [over the past few weeks],” Holland said. “We’ve agreed that we’re not going to sign him to an extension. He loves it here. He wants to be here. I told him, and we both agreed, let’s see where he’s at, let’s see where the team is at a year from now.”
“His desire is to finish as an L.A. King and only put on one team’s jersey. Certainly, that’s something that I’d like to have happen. But let’s see where he’s at and let’s see where we’re at.”
Holland spoke to the media on Friday night following the first-round of the NHL Draft and discussed the team's plan with Doughty. Holland confirmed he has spoken with Doughty to give him the news and even though the future hall-of-fame defenceman is eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1, it won't be coming from the Kings.
The 36-year-old Doughty is heading into his final season of an eight-year deal, one he signed back in July 2018. Brandt Clarke is going to transition into the Kings number-one defenceman, especially from the right side. Doughty wants to stay in LA but will have to be patient through this process.
Doughty carries an $11 million cap hit, and should the Kings take a step back this season and want to move Doughty before the trade deadline, they'll have to retain some of his remaining salary to facilitate the deal. Doughty submits a seven-team trade list on July 1, and gives Holland some options for making moves, should the crossroads come to a potential trade from the Kings.
