LA Kings' Busy Offseason Has Yet to Secure Drew Doughty

Credit: Bridget Samuels via Creative Commons License

The Los Angeles Kings have been among the NHL’s most active teams this offseason, but they have yet to re-sign potential franchise defenseman Drew Doughty, a restricted free agent.

The Kings sent Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn to the Philadelphia Flyers to get Mike Richards. They signed two-time 40-goal scorer Simon Gagne.

Brad Richardson and Trevor Lewis both agreed to two-year contracts.

Minor leaguers Marc-Andre Cliche, Rich Clune, David Meckler, Andrew Campbell, Patrick Mullen and goaltender Jeff Zatkoff all signed a one-year deal with L.A.

The Kings honored Ryan Smyth’s trade request by sending him to the Edmonton Oilers, the progress of which has generated much controversy that has yet to be completely resolved.

But Doughty remains unsigned and it does not appear a deal is coming anytime soon. In fact, the two sides reportedly have not communicated since June 23. Plus, the Los Angeles Times’ Helene Elliott writes on Twitter that “there’s nothing new on the Doughty front…”

It is thought that a deal could be measured against those agreed upon by Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos and the Nashville Predators’ Shea Weber. (Stamkos and Doughty were the top two picks in the 2008 draft, and they share an agent; Weber is also a top defenseman.)

Stamkos recently re-signed with the Lightning for five years and $37.5 million. Weber is still unsigned.

Also from Elliott, on LATimes.com:

“It’s believed the Kings are offering up to nine years at more than $6.5 million per year.”

General Manager Dean Lombardi told the Times the Kings would match any offer sheet, should Doughty choose to sign one with another team.

Doughty grew up a Kings fan.

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