Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar were in Toronto yesterday as part of a one-stop buffet for national NHL reporters – Doughty will also take part in today’s World Cup of Hockey promotional “roundtable” in front of a live audience at 10:00 (link here and at NHL.com) – and sounded off on several topics that have been on Kings fans’ minds since the end of last season. None of the sit-downs league-wide elicited the hottest of hot takes, but there were several worthwhile stories written about the club.
USA Today: Kings’ Anze Kopitar optimistic about contract talks: ‘I’d like to stay’
“We’re maybe not as close as we wanted to be at this point, but I’m also not worried,” Kopitar told USA TODAY Sports at NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour. “I’ve said it all along: If it happens before the actual season starts, it would be really nice. But if it doesn’t, no alarms will go off. There’s still plenty of time.”
ESPN.com: Kings players stay focused on game amid off-ice issues
Anze Kopitar says he hopes ideally to sign an extension before the season starts but understands it's a business… pic.twitter.com/EY3bYLq5LP
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) September 8, 2015
Elsewhere: Kings hire Brantt Myhres as the club’s “player assistance director” (LA Times) … “Re-energized” Kings (Daily News) … Jeff Carter’s evolution (Hockey Buzz) … Stamkos contract talks (NHL.com) … McDavid praised (NHL.com) … Kane news (Chicago Tribune) … The Cupcake System (Jewels from the Crown) … Can Calgary sustain its success this season? (Puck Daddy) … The Olympics matter (The Globe and Mail)
Day Two of NHL Media Tour underway. Drew in Rogers/CBC building to start w/ SNCaroline pic.twitter.com/1BlV61MgzZ
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) September 9, 2015