As noted earlier, among the Kings’ NHL veterans, the only player missing at Hockey Fest today was Drew Doughty. How do some of the other players feel about that? Team captain Dustin Brown and alternate captain Anze Kopitar were asked today about Doughty’s contract statues. (Incidentally, there will be an item later on Kopitar’s summer recovery. In short, he’s doing just fine.)
BROWN: “From the players’ perspective, he’s a big part of our team. From a personal level, you miss him being around. Whether you’re making fun of him or he’s making fun of you, it’s that camaraderie. The contract issue, players don’t really worry about that. It’s more about getting him here around the guys, and being a part of a group, that we’re worried about. I have confidence that they’ll figure it out. He’s not going to not play for us. At least that’s what I think. When it comes to contracts and players, you just kind of stay out of it. It’s none of my business. I just look at it from the team standpoint. We want to get him here as soon as possible. They will get it done. … He’s our teammate and he will be here when he can be here.”
KOPITAR: “I actually haven’t talked to Drew. I’ve sent a few text messages here and there, but nothing major. It is what it is. It’s none of my business. I’m sure they’re going to work out it.”
Im gonna cry. Simon was gonna sign my jersey and my pen died ):
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Kingsfanone Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
@Subby,
Dude.
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@Subby,
You could have jabbed yourself with the pen and had him sign in blood. (Just kidding)
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hahahahaha
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Are the players really going to say anything but it’s none of my business?
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InTheCrease Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@Kings x, That’s really none of your business…
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Goon Squad Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
@InTheCrease,
“Gee, Eddie… don’t give him the business.” – Wally Cleaver
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Caleb C Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@Kings x,
I dont think they want to get in trouble for anything
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AZ King Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
@Kings x,
Probably not, considering it really is none of their business.
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red49er Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
@Kings x, “15 yard penalty – he was under the pile givin’ him the business”. NFL referee (identity unknown to me)
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news flash – Heidi hosting the Kids. Q&A
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He Shoots He Scores Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
@DesertKing,
Saddened to hear Heidi will not be back full time with the Kings. Sounds like she’ll still be around, but she is even more beautiful in person and a truly delightful, warm, and refined woman. Makes me wonder why there’s no ring on that finger.
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Crown Royal Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@He Shoots He Scores,
She’s waiting for Juraj Mikus to come back.
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is it streaming now? where do i find it?
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@danglebagel, sure would be nice to find a link if it is.
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I’d not risk messing with the locker room chemistry by giving any player the opportunity to stick his foot in his mouth. Kopi & Brownie responses were wise, but sanitized.
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AZ King Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@Gustavo,
At least that’s what you want to believe because it goes with you Doughty against the Kings philosophy. Any professional athlete would say the same thing. They don’t get involved in this sort of stuff. That’s why they have agents how make enormous amounts of money. It’s more Meehan screwing with the Kings than it is Doughty.
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
@AZ King, He won’t listen.
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danglebagel Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
@AZ King, I agree, same thing happened in San Jose with the same agent. Bobby Ryan was also represented by Meehan and if I remember, Ryan didn’t sign until right before training camp.
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Well there you have it…He’s not the cancer that some people
are speculating he is.. His Player’s want him and are confident he will be a king..
Patience is a virtue..
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Belexes Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
@SLIM,
+1
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AZ King Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
@SLIM,
+2
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@SLIM,
+3
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At least we know they will step up the process this week.AK&DB good PR moves.
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Doughty’s days as a King are numbered.
Where ever he ends up they should be smart enough to move him to RW as he sucks on D
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lafan13 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@jimrad,
Huh?!?! are u a ducks fan?
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@lafan13, I was wondering that myself. It’s one thing to not like that he isn’t signed, it’s another thing entirely to say that he sucks, and should be moved to right wing. That’s either fan ignorance, or that person just knows nothing about hockey.
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jimrad Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
@Dominick, 25 year season ticket holder of the LA Kings.
I love the Kings – I know a lot about hockey. I make my comments out of watching Doughty develop. He is a great player, that I believe would be much better suited as a power forward. I make my comments because the Kings will deal with this as a business, and Doughty will make his decisions based on $$$ which most of the time will have a player moving in the near future. History repeats itself in these situations – don’t get too emotionally involved with Drew, I don’t see a long term commitment here.
jimrad Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
@Dominick, my comment was he sucks on D. He is a great player in the wrong position.
Deke'r Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Dominick, If he is a “dunks” fan that would qualify the other two questions.
Gary Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
@jimrad, 1ts off if he were moved to forward, he would not be a power forward, as he has neither the size nor the strength to play that way. 2nd, that would be a waste of his skill. That’s like moving a great fielding shortstop to first base.
Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
@jimrad, I guess everybody who see’s him as an incredible talent on defense is absolutely wrong. Only 10 defenseman in the whole NHL last season had double digit GVT ratings. Even though DD was one of them, he really sucks on D because jimrad doesn’t like hes contract status and attributes it to DD really sucking.
Sorry, I don’t buy it.
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danglebagel Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@jimrad, did you not watch the olympics?
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Kingsation8 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@danglebagel, Why are people responding to this guy? 25 seasons? Hahahahahha
Duckbasher Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:11 am
@Dominick – I agree with jimrad. I think Doughty is only “OK” on D. His play making and scoring capability is what keeps him from being a very average defenseman. To be honest, I’m 50/50 on whether I’d rather have him or move him and save the cash.
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Simmerfan11 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@jimrad, Don’t feed the Troll.
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CB14 Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 12:17 am
@jimrad, If you think DD sucks on defense, you should ask Puck73 about Jack Johnson’s defensive play. LOL. Drew might have a former d-man on his LW.
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garry Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 11:49 am
@jimrad, I for one don’t want him back.
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In the hockey world and as a professional, someone else’s bizness that is hockey related is no ones else’s to speak of, code of silence. It shall be dealt with accordingly
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At this point, the question is: Will Dewey misplay a large adoring fan base into a hostile crowd?
Or perhaps it might be asked how much the size of his ego exceeds his talent. Both are clearly huge; although it is his ego (and perhaps his agent) that seems to be getting in the way of real success for DD.
It is still to be hoped that he will pull his head out of his rectum and sign in the next 96 hours.
If he has not signed by the time camp opens, he will have blown it.
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Yeah, Bummer, no Drew. I like Jack Johnsons attitude toward fitting into the team spirit and cohesiveness unlike Drew Doughty’s. Being 61, I remember when players talked of playing because they loved the game and the money was an added benefit. I know players deserve to be paid what they are worth but (in my opinion), a team player takes a good, fair contract, puts that behind him and gets involved with the team and fans. I would say that the big ego (not money) forces you to hold out for the largest contract on the team. Sorry, that’s not a team player in my humble opinion. Funny thing, he hasn’t even proven himself over the long haul. The short term good and, hey donuts, pass the donuts, over weight.
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ksy57 Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
@BlueStang, excellent post!
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Duckbasher Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@BlueStang – I agree. I’m 50/50 on whether I’d rather have him or move him and save the cash.
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Kopitar is smart to say it is none of his business and if he means it he is smart to stay out of it. It is having an effect on the team as Brown said you need to be around each other especially with the new guys to build the bond. Doughty is a jack ass, he is only 21 how much money does he need. You had a mediocre season. Sign for the next few years at a reasonable price and show you can play to the potential you supposedly have. In the meantime, this team needs to move forward with or without him and get ready for the upcoming season.
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Jumblehead Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
@Cathy, Perhaps a “contract for the next few years at a reasonable price” has not been offered to him to sign?
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two words Voynov and Hickey
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LAPD Line Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@jeff devereaux, Muzzin over Hickey…
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Duckbasher Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:16 am
@LAPD Line – Hickey is a bust. We need to get over the fact that we wasted our top pick on him and move on.
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http://watch.tsn.ca/featured/clip529738#clip529738
Yikes!
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danglebagel Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
@kevin from toronto, I wonder if the fans will start calling him Boo Doughty.
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KC23 Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@danglebagel, best line I’ve heard so far is “Dru Blood”. If Doughty isn’t signed in the next week I’ll be running with that title for him.
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Rich, I doubt any of us are surprised by this and in fact I think most of us knew what we were about to read before we even started… Why even waste the players time asking this IMO…
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SDGolfer Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@rotorhead, Because it shows players are rational, the fans, not so much
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If it’s a no trade issue I can see it. But what’s the difference between $6.8 million and $7.2 million? 6%. In his case, 1/2 of that goes to the government. Would you hold out on a job you like working with people you like in an area you like to get from $20 an hour to $21.20 an hour? Doesn’t make any sense. If he poisons the water, he’ll lose a lot more than that in endorsements. If it was he wanted $8 million and the Kings offer $4 million, than yeah, you’ve got to hold the line. I just don’t get it.
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@Donald_S, Agreed. 400k isn’t that big a difference. That’s less then what they pay Fraser to not play.
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Silence Dogood Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@Donald_S, Well said.
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BlueStang Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
@Donald_S, In a market like L.A. endorsements are huge. He loves it here and a lot of the fans are getting to the point where they would almost rather have someone else in his place. Doesn’t bode well for endorsements. Drew, fire your rep., sign a long term contract w/ the Kings and Reebok, hug your team mates and lets get this show on the road!!! We love you and want a Stanley Cup and so do you.
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Jumblehead Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Donald_S, Comparing $1.20 an hour, which @ 2000 hours a year is $2,400 before taxes to $400,000 a year is ludicrous and playing the numbers into a % to make a point is weak. It seems that money isin’t the issue here, but length of contract. If DL is asking DD to give up four years of UFA status, DL is on record as saying he is prepared to make him the highest paid King. If DD wants a shorter term deal, DL obviously has a good argument to offer lower salary per year, as a three to five year deal would have to be based on current player performance rather than ” player potential”. My opinion is that Mehan is trying to force DL into a three to five year deal at the same per year as a long term deal and DL isin’t going to go there. The next week will answer all the questions one way or the other, but don’t paint the player as “greedy” before the real numbers and length of term are announced, and not your hypothetical 6%
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Jumblehead Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
@Jumblehead, BTW, $400,000 over a 9 year deal is 3.6 million dollars. Not quite the chump change you make out to be.
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Silence Dogood Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
@Jumblehead, The difference in his endorsement income would likely eclipse the salary difference. He is in jeopardy of making a major financial mistake.
Jumblehead Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@Jumblehead, You don’t negotiate a contract of this magnitude based on hypothetical “alternative income”
JDBiGC Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@Donald_S,
I agree and I think you can take it a step further. In your first example of a $1.20 per hour raise, that would equate out to about $2,500.00 per year. For a person making $20.00 per hour, that’s significant. Maybe that gets you a new car, a better apartment. Maybe that qualifies you for a mortgage you’ve been trying to get. Yet people would turn down that significant increase to be in a place that they want to be.
In Doughty’s case the increase in cash isn’t as significant. Is there something that Doughty can buy with $7M per season that he couldn’t buy with $6M? Sure, you take every dollar you can get, but at some point it’s not really about the money, it’s more about the ego.
I’m still not convinced that this isn’t a big game of chicken, and Doughty will sign before training camp. If his demands are really that outrageous, I think the Kings should start fielding offers.
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Is Brown more articulate than Kopi?
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UglyinLA Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
@Steve S.,
People are typically more articulate in their native languages.
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A fundamental problem with a lot of your guys reasoning is you think that Doughty honestly cares what anyone thinks of him. Trust me all you guys threatening to throw away his jersey and not like him anymore really means nothing.
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UglyinLA Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@AZ King,
I totally agree with your assessment that Drew does not care what anyone thinks of him…including his fans. He is in it for the money. Maybe money is the most important thing, more important that winning a cup.
This whole ordeal reminds me of the Gretzky trade. In the documentary King’s Ransom, Gretz says “I wanted to be the highest-paid player in the game.” “I felt like I deserved it,” he said.
After he was traded and became the highest paid player, he never won another championship. The only difference between Gretz and DD is that Gretz earned the right to be paid the most. Gretz was the King of Hockey at that time. Not sure what DD has accomplished to think he deserves to be paid at a high level.
The problem now is that both sides have dug in their heels. If DD accepts anything equal to or less that what’s been offered, he and his agent look like schumcks. If DL gives him the Kings ransom, then DL looks weak.
I still think DD will sign a one year $7.5M contract. DL will trade him to Nashville for Shea Weber. Weber will promptly accept the 9yr @ $6.5/y contract. DD will accept Nashiville’s $7.5 5yr contract and Nashville will promptly ship DD to Ottawa for four first round picks.
I know, call me crazy, but IMHO, holding out this long generates bad feeling from the fan base and makes it less riskier for DL to trade him.
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Not interested in chit chat regarding the DD signing until either its done or he is officially a hold out. Until one of the other happens it’s just so much lip service.
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UglyinLA Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@KC23,
Good for you. Now if the rest of the people here would stop lipping their opinions, then maybe these silly blogs will go away.
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Duckbasher Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:22 am
@UglyinLA, Isn’t that what these silly blogs are all about? People lipping their opinions?
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JDBiGC Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
@Duckbasher,
And are the silly people on these silly blogs the consumers that drive the NHL? Aren’t they the consumers who buy things like tickets and jerseys.
If I were a GM, I would love to have a venue to get the pulse of the fans and gauge the risk of trading Doughty.
Gustavo Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@KC23,
DD is already an unofficial holdout. He was the only player NOT to show up at Hockey Fest this weekend. Read what you want into it.
My tune towards DD has not changed since the very first time I ragged on his sub par performance last season performance.
I wish I had been wrong all along. I really do.
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Dominick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@Gustavo,
You have been all along, you just don’t know it.
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Gustavo Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
@Dominick,
The proof is in the pudding. What will it take for you take off your blindfold. We can all wish and fantasize all we want that Meehan and DL will reach an agreement at the last minute and that DD will show up in great shape to play his heart out for the team.
But that’s all it is. Wishful thinking.
In the meantime, the acrimony and distrust builds towards DD. Regardless of who is manipulating his strings. This not how professionals negotiate in good faith with their employers.
His team loves him knows they need him. Are fans here really gonna say “No, Brown and Kopi, you’ve got it all wrong”?
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Thank Kevin Lowe for eliminating the second contract…this is exactly what Burke said would happen when the Oilers signed penner an offer sheet.
In my opinion you do not pay a player for potential, you pay a player for what they have done. In other words you earn your contract like Shea Weber or Steven Stamkos. I have a feeling this is going to get ugly. I hope to have DD in camp but I am getting less and less confident this will happen.
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All the folks on here spouting that the Kings should or will trade Doughty need to get over it. The organization thinks this 21 year old is worth a 9 year $60 million investment. That is a “prized” asset, and they are not going to move it unless there is absolutely no other choice. Even if it comes down to a very short term contract, they are going to get it done and deal with the issue in the near future. If Doughty then plays great, he will have set himself up for a huge payday. If he doesn’t, he will have no one to blame but himself. If the kid and his agent want to roll the dice on what he can do on the ice over a short term contract, that is his right.
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UglyinLA Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@rick,
What do you mean by “they are not going to move it unless there is absolutely no other choice?” What is this situation or scenario that would give DL no other choice?
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Jumblehead Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
@UglyinLA, If DD does in fact hold out until Dec. First he can’t play the rest of the year. No way DL tolerates that.
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jet Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Jumblehead, dd is not going to give a year away. 2 years for 3M per signed on Thanksgiving day
Jumblehead Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@Jumblehead, I didn’t say I think it would happen, I just answered the question posted above about which scenario could move DL trade DD. for the record, I think he will be signed and in camp day one. See Bobby Ryan. Represented by the same agent, signed last minute, wins MVP. I agree that DD won’t give up a year of service time.
rick Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
@UglyinLA, The only situation I see where they would even consider trading Doughty is a long, bitter holdout that left such bad feelings that the organization felt that bringing him back would do more harm than good I don’t see that happening, by the way.
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luc20rules Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 12:28 am
@rick, Ah, the Cammi Crisis.
Is it true the Kopi fired Meehan? I would like to know what that situation was about. Did AK’s dad have some input for his son at that point?
Rich, that would be an interesting question for AK. What happened that made Kopi feel he needed different player representation?
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:18 am
@Stuart, Good question! I think Anze’s dad is a very influential person in his life and even though Kopi is a grown man and makes his own decisions you have to think he gets his fathers input on situations and im sure it carries wieght. Again, good question
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First, I like that the Kings’ players are staying out of this, but when they say that it’s “none of their business”, that’s completely untrue. I realize that it’s probably a canned response that either Kings’ management and/or their agents told them to throw out when asked.
Doughty’s contract affects them in two different ways. First, when it’s their turn to sign their new deal, they will absolutely use Doughty’s or any other players contract as leverage. Second, the NHL lives in a salary-capped environment. Doughty’s next contract could result in one of the existing roster players being moved or not re-signed. When there is a fixed and limited amount of a resource (salary) to go around, it’s everybody’s business on the team.
As for Doughty, I predict that he will sign a one year deal with the Kings. They’ll continue to work it out during the season. If they really can’t work out a long term deal then Doughty can be shopped at the draft. I personally think this team is a contender even without Doughty, and if we’re pushed in a corner, we can metaphorically stock our cupboards for years to come with the return that Doughty fetches.
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DD sucks! Hope he blows his all his money like he blows his agent. Same with all you DD supports. Funny if he holds out and ruins the chem of the team. We will see how many people love this kid after he distracts the team from the cup. Training camp starts THIS SATURDAY!!! go DD suppports go. Your Blake fans.
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jet Reply:
September 12th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
@Ducksuck, Look at the positive, Voy or 6 gets 15 games under their belts and 8 only has to play 90 games. this could be a win-win.
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I like the idea of DD for Weber! Unlikely as it seems…
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6.8 million a year not enough…… What A Joke!!
As far as his play averaged out over the last 3 years goes, Doughty does not even deserve 6 million a year.
When did reality stop determining what people actually got paid???????????
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Stuart Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 8:42 am
@King Cobra, That would be sometime around 1970…
Sincerely,
Curtis Flood
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Drew you are about 4 days away from losing me as a fan, not that you seem to care……
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If you were in Doughty’s shoes right now wouldn’t you want to be paid the maximum amount of dollars that you can be paid? Doughty has the skill that is worth 6.8 million and more. I’m not saying that refusing that offer was a smart move or a respectable decision but as long as he gets signed and helps lead the kings to the cup, it shouldn’t matter what his salary is.
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King Cobra Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
@KIngsFan8, It does matter. It effects our budget and our locker room. The guy is simply not worthy of being the highest paid player on the team.
If the guy was a team player he would take a little less and leave some money in the pot that we could spend on other players to build our cup winning team. I guess 6.8 million a year is an insult to the guy. GAG!!!!
Drew you are losing more and more fans by the minute. Your head is getting bigger than your play has been!
Be humble, be a team player don’t be the big distraction…….
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