General manager Ken Holland covered a wide range of topics on Wednesday night before the NHL Draft on Friday. One of the players Holland gave an update on is restricted free agent Alex Laferriere which should have fans happy.
According to Zach Dooley, Holland said that they have reached out to Lafferiere's camp and that the former third-round pick "wants to be here". The Kings' general manager also said he was very confident a deal could get done this summer.
Laferriere is a restricted free agent, so there is certainly a chance that he could leave in free agency if he agreed to an offer sheet with another team. However, even in that scenario, the Kings could still match and keep him in Los Angeles.
However, if it is true that he wants to remain with the Los Angeles Kings it doesn't seem likely that he would be looking to sign an offer sheet with another team. That is not to say that there wouldn't be teams that would be interested in signing him.
This past season, Laferriere had 19 goals and 23 assists (both career-highs) with a +/- of +22. He was a consistent presence for the Kings as a Top 9 forward with an average of over 16:30 of ice time per game.
What type of contract might the Los Angeles Kings be looking for with Alex Laferriere?
In Dooley's tweet, he also mentioned that the Kings feel a short-term deal is more likely and that probably makes the most sense for both sides. While Laferriere did improve, it is hard to commit to a five or six year contract after only two seasons.
Meanwhile, a two- or three-year deal for Laferriere could end up being the best case scenario for him, especially with the salary cap increasing as much as it is over the next three years. My guess is that at this point, both sides realize Holland has more pressing needs with the NHL Draft and free agency. A deal will get done but neither side needs to rush to get something done.