A major decision facing general manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings this offseason involves the potential contract extension deal talks with defenseman Drew Doughty.
The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported this week that the "expectation" is that the Kings will work out a contract extension deal with Doughty in the near future this offseason. The veteran defenseman Doughty is going into the final year of the massive eight-year contract extension deal worth around $88 million in total value that he signed back in 2018 with the Kings.
Drew Doughty has repeatedly expressed his desire to retire with the Los Angeles Kings
It's noteworthy that Doughty has repeatedly expressed his desire to retire as a member of the Kings.
Something else that is interesting that's mentioned in this report is the fact that there is an expectation that Doughty's contract value and playing time on the ice will "drop soon".
It would make sense that the Kings and Doughty could come to an agreement for a short-term contract extension deal for another two years that would keep him in Los Angeles for the rest of his career.
Doughty is a franchise icon for the Kings. He's faced challenges due to injuries in this past couple of years, but he remeains a staple for the Kings' franchise.
If the Kings do decide to rebuild this offseason and make a push for the postseason, signing Doughty to a team-friendly deal would be smart for all parties involved.
There is a practical side to an extension for Doughty and the Kings. The Kings would be able to maintain a proven veteran leader and a top-four defenseman in the roster lineup, while Doughty would get to finish his career with the only franchise he's ever known.
Now that Anze Kopitar is retired, Doughty is really the last remaining member of that Stanley Cup-winning core for the Kings from the early-to-mid 2010s decade. At this stage of his career in the league, Doughty is one of the most important leaders and veteran voices in the locker room for the Kings.
I expect the Kings and Doughty to continue to work to get closer to a contract extension deal in the near future. Doughty wants to be a King for his entire career as he's spent nearly two decades with the franchise and won two Stanley Cups in Los Angeles. Following Kopitar's retirement, keeping Doughty in the locker room could help provide more proven veteran leadership and stability for the franchise.
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