Justin Williams talks Game 7s, contract with Sportsnet

Justin Williams spoke with the Hockey Central radio panel from the Riviera Country Club parking lot earlier today, though he noted that “I would much rather be on the ice.”

“My head is killing myself watching these hockey games right now,” he later added.

In addition to the studio panel, Sportsnet reporter and fellow Cobourg, Ont. native Chris Johnston also discussed a variety of topics with Williams that included the New York Rangers’ experience playing in Game 7s and the confidence players find when they look across the room and find teammates they’ve appeared in successful Game 7s with before.

As for his contract status, Williams shared these bits of information with the panel, as transcribed by Sportsnet NHL writer and editor Luke Fox.

-“The problem with the system we have is that teams don’t know what the salary cap is going to be yet, and they won’t know for a little bit. They don’t know what they can spend, what they can do.”

-“At this point, I love L.A. If I re-sign here, great. I’ll be part of a great team moving forward.”

-“But if not, I’m going to try to restart my career somewhere else, turn the page and try to win as many hockey games as I can. I’m at a point in my career where it’s not all about money, it’s about winning for me.”

As noted in his evaluation (and many other posts), the Kings have $64.15M allotted to 17 players ($59.98M / 16 players if Slava Voynov’s contract is removed) for the 2015-16 season, and the salary cap is expected to be in the range of 70-71 million. Unless a current player under contract for next season is traded or bought out, the Kings simply won’t have the money to retain the three-time Stanley Cup winner, given that Andrej Sekera (UFA) and Tyler Toffoli (RFA) also require new contracts.