Terry Murray feigned surprise when he picked up the phone. “Why are you calling?” Yes, he knew, to talk about Drew Doughty’s new contract and the impact on his team. The big question, going forward, is when Doughty will be able to play a game. The Kings will hold a Saturday-afternoon practice in Las Vegas for guys not in the lineup that night, then they will practice in Europe on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in advance of Friday’s season opener. Murray said he’s planning on having Doughty in the lineup for that game, and Murray talked about having Doughty back in the fold…
MURRAY: “I’m real happy for Drew Doughty and I’m real happy for the team, all the players in the locker room. There’s no question that with him coming back in, there’s just going to be a real good feeling in the locker room.”
Question: What he brings on the ice is clearly unquestioned, but just to have this whole issue resolved, is that almost as important to the team?
MURRAY: “That is a part of the business that I think everyone in it today understands, and realizes that this is part of the process sometimes. It’s been out there now for quite a few years and other players have gone through it. You go through it and you come out the other side and hopefully it works out for both sides and everybody can shake hands at the end of the day and can move by it and just start to play hockey again. That’s the way it is for me. I’ve been through this with other players. With Drew, I’m real happy. I’ll give him a big hug and say, `Let’s get back to playing the game that you love to play.”’
Question: I know you haven’t even seen him yet, but do you have any thoughts about what the next week might look like for him, when he might be able to play?
MURRAY: “I’ve given it just a little bit of thought. The plan is to get him in here and get him through his physical. I’m hoping that he’s able to fly over to Vegas with us. We have some ice time at 2 o’clock in Vegas (on Saturday) and we’ll get him on the ice with the guys who are not in the lineup that afternoon. Then off we go to Europe. So, we’ll have some time. We’ll get lots of practice work in. I’m planning on that first game of the season. I know he’s been skating up in London with Dale Hunter and the London Knights, so he’s certainly been getting ready to play. I’m sure he’s feeling good, really excited, a lot of adrenaline flowing. So there won’t be any hesitation on my part. As I said, I have gone through this, with players coming in the day before the season, and I put that player in the lineup, because you talk to them and they feel good. They feel that they’ve been skating and their conditioning is, not necessarily in top shape but they feel confident that they can play and contribute. So, with the week in front of us, I feel really good about Drew being ready to go.”
Rich, thanks for working so hard this evening. It’s been the best news of my week.
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I’m guessing Drew will be picking up the tab for the players dinners while in Europe.
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penguin76 Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 9:33 am
@CB14,
i had that same thought! that’s how players try to make amends for some issues like this. its extending a hand to teammates to let by-gone’s be by-gone’s.
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red49er Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 9:56 am
@CB14, you really think DD is that type of guy? I don’t know but I hope he is able to get right back in the fold. This whole thing was so painful because for the first time in forever the Kings actually have a very good team. In years gone by it would have been much less controversial.
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Oh yeh
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So now what happens on the blueline??? Not that I’m worried… If anything, now it’s more of a luxury for the Kings to ponder. More depth and a multitude of possibilities:
Doughty – Mitchell
Johnson – Scuderi
Martinez/Voynov – Greene
Hickey/Muzzin behind Martinez/Voynov as a 7th defenseman…
Not a bad situation to have for a coach, eh?
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CB14 Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
@mash-ola, I think Martinez keeps his spot, and DD2 keeps his too. They both have 1 way contracts so I doubt guys like Voynov and Hickey, who both have 2 way contracts, will take their spots. That plus I don’t think DL wants either AM, VV, or TH sitting in the press box. That’s DD2′s spot.
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Perro Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@CB14, I was kind of looking froawrd to seeing what Voynov could do in regualr season games. I think DL and the kings should have waited till voynov had a chance to wow. If he did then could have given the kings great barganing power.
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looks like tm is stoked too………..
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TM has yet to see him, so I guess we will all see what kind of shape he really is in come game time…glad this waiting game is over. Time for Dewey to prove himself and the Kings to win some cups, GO KINGS GO!
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RobSD Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
@Adam,
Let’s start with one
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Why are you calling? Happy Day!
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thelexsters Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@Serenity Now, why are u calling
Happy Rosh Hashanah Lol
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stacy Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
@thelexsters, great way to start 5772 . . .
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McCheese Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 5:40 am
@thelexsters, OIE VEY!
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Good news! Thanks, Rich
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He needs to play at least 3 shifts at Frozen Fury. After all, we just paid $7 mil for him this year
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jmsalsa Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 12:49 am
@DesertKing, i’ll second that.
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Time to walk the walk Doughty. I know you’re good… but now prove that you are better than Weber. I hope you do to get all fair-weather fans I heard complain all summer off your back.
Go Kings Go!
Best in the Pac-5 is now complete.
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KC23 Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 3:32 am
@Scott, You do know that is he making less than Weber? (Weber 7.5 mil)
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Damn so highly unlikely he will play in the game in Vegas, he will just practice. Oh well.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
@Marbles, well he only have two preseason games left after the Ducks game.
against the real NHL team AVs in Vegas than some team in Europe
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PRMan Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 3:03 am
TM should get him in against the European team…
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stacy Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@Marbles, can we see the practice at MGM?
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GkingsG99 Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@stacy, I’m wondering the same.
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kingsalltheway Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
@stacy, yes we can and he just gave us the time 2pm so let’s be there!
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JGSmall Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Marbles, For all the Kings fans, he should skate the warm ups.
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Torn hammy first game. Out for the season. Wouldn’t that suck. KIDDING!!!!!
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Kyle Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
@kingszzz, That is not funny. Please move to Toronto.
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RobSD Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
@kingszzz,
Not even funny… more like kingsbuzzzkill
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redlight Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@kingszzz, Dude, seriously, whats wrong with you?? That doesn’t even qualify as dark humor.Its just lame. Childish. Very unbecoming for a hockey fan, let alone a Kings fan, if you are one. Wise up.
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I’ve been waiting for this news all summer…to see Twitter and all the media outlets explode with the news. Great stuff, now let’s go make a run.
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I just can’t imagine Terry Murray hugging anyone…
Including his children..With his outward [inward] demeanor..
I need a photo of that for actual proof…
Unlike others I think he is worth every penny he got…
In 3 short years he ranks high in defensive ability in a
team that has been around 40 odd years…C’mon..
Facts and reality are hard evidence..
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rontheking Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@SLIM,
All is forgiven! Fulfil your destiny son! A cup! Cheerio~!
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Ditto @Brent – thanks Rich.
Perhaps Dewey decided it was his Rosh Hashana wish for a happy new year for all?
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KingOfHockey Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
@Forum to Staples Fan,
Hahahaha! Shana Tova!
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Seattle757 Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@KingOfHockey,
What a way to start the New Year! Shana Tovah! Go Kings Go!
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Now who’s the odd man out Voynov or Drewiske? Great to have Doughty back!
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I thought it would get resolved for same money (6.8 mil/yr) with less yrs as the compromise. Instead it is more $$ more yrs. I am totally okay with that.
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MmmmYummy Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@alicia, I think the deal taken is one from the perspective of the less self confident to deliver the goods they are really capable of. If DD knew he could deliver the goods he would have been OK with the shorter period and would have known he would get paid more later. Instead, he took the long contract where his potential sub-performance is paid for without performing. But to go along with this he is young and really doesn’t know what self confidence is yet [he just imitates it at this point] so that is his handicap that can be preyed upon [by agents and management alike].
Though we do not know the details, it is unlikely DD will get all 8 years up front. The cap [or NHL earnings] have been going up [on average] about 8% per year. This is in line with what REAL inflation is – not that fake CPI crap that we base raises on Social Security on. $7 mil at year 8 at 8% is only worth 3.9 million in today’s money. Notably at 8% and $7 mil per year over 8 years the total deal in today’s money [present value] is worth $74.5 million [if I've don't my math right]. But 8% ain’t what DD will see at the bank if he’s thinking to get his load up front. And then let’s not forget about agent and attorney fees + 50% taxes he will pay [go California!!].
According to MB on Hockeybuzz [who *should* know everything about agents] DD agent gets like 3-4%?? And then attorneys get like 5% maybe?
Then – 50% taxes. OK so total payout to DD in today’s $ is like $34 mil in today’s money.
So without all the numbers magic, my hypothesis is that had DD really believed he could deliver, he would have signed a shorter contract. A shorter contract would have given him the opportunity to realize the growth of NHL revenues and not some sloppy finance geeks estimation of inflation. But instead he took the long term deal which is really not in his best interest if he thinks he is all that and a bag of chips. Likely, he will have to rely on his backup skills of diving and chirping.
Everything now [in today's world] is pay for play – if people are not incentiveized they do not perform. Long term contracts without commission / bonus run totally contrary to current organizational / management practices.
Unless more details come out on what DD has to deliver on, this is a big win for DD who seemingly now has little incentive to produce.
As for future leadership a known diver, incessant chipper and occasional embarrassment is not what a team can be based on. So I’m not really sure what got paid for in this deal.
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See if you can get another sweaty wad of money out of his hand.
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Rich,
Do you know if there are NO MOVE or NO TRADE clauses to DD’s deal? The last thing the kings deserve is getting stuck with another Phaneuf type deal.
Other than that, it seems like both sides got what they wanted. Moola for DD, 8 yrs for the team.
Thank you!
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This is awesome news and believe it or not i think the Kings are mature enough for them to have a strong a regular season and make a legitimate run in the playoff. Would be something for the Kings to win the cup this year, that would be FREAKEN AWESOME!!!!
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This makes kopi sound like a bargain…just sayin’
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ScarredSince93 Reply:
September 30th, 2011 at 12:00 am
@kingsalltheway,
Time for DD to turn that money into results.
Shhh don’t let Kopi know
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Doughty has a lot to prove before I can bring myself to be excited about him finally signing this contract. Start with showing up ready to play. And then perhaps finding a way to explain that it wasn’t just greed that has kept him from camp with the rest of the team. Finally, playing like he’s worth the salary he is now getting. No excuses.
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Leaving for Vegas in an hour and I’m wondering if Drew will be there too
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10 bucks says Drew dragged out the negotiations so he wouldn’t have to go through the conditioning part of training camp! Who’s with me?!
YOU’D BETTER BE WITH ME
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Celebration. #8 is alive
.
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