Drew Doughty sure seems to be the hot topic as of late. The former Norris candidate remains unsigned for the upcoming NHL season, and it doesn't seem like the contract talks have been improving too much either. After being draft 2nd overall, behind Stamkos, and being a Norris candidate in just his 2nd year after putting up 59pts with the LA Kings you'd imagine the young 6'1 210+lbs 21 year old would be due for a rather sizable contract extension. All the talks from the media and fans make it seem like he's the bad guy, making it sound like perhaps money is all it's about. He said though it is not about the money and he wish the talks would come off publicly so he doesn't sound like the bad guy anymore. He may say it's not about the money, but that's no doubt a large part of it. It can also be the length of the contract and GM Dean Lombardi is taking this all into account. Lombardi wants to lock up his young superstar to a long-term contract, believed to be for 7+ years. Doughty on the other hand doesn't want to commit that long it seems, and may be looking for something along the lines of 5 years. The proposed yearly salary is assumed to be between 6.5-7.0 mil per year roughly. If Doughty signs the longer deal it may mean more money (annually), and shorter years may mean slightly less money. We're currently in the middle of training camp and the preseason has already commenced. With the new season fast approaching it seems like either Lombardi and/or Doughty will have agree on something, and fast. Would the Kings actually think of trading their young superstar and a key part of their future? Well of course they "can", but that is highly unlikely as Lombardi has already said that he will not trade him. Another GM could always send an offer sheet, he is a RFA after all, but that would be bad for business as well as committing not just a lot of money in one player, but you would also have to sacrifice many top draft picks due to the rules of offer-sheeting a RFA. So that as well seems highly unlikely. At this point its just him and the LA Kings. Is he loyal enough to the Kings that he'll sign a more Lombardi-favored deal? Or will Lombardi be pressured to sign him to whatever he wants if he continues to holdout? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. We should hear more on this subject matter in the coming weeks. The Kings open up their season on October 7th against the NY Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden.
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