NHL Rumors: Los Agneles Kings Course Will Be Decided by Drew Doughty

It’s a large offseason for the Los Angeles Kings after the hiring of Hockey-reference.com/gamers/l/laviope01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Peter Laviolette as the subsequent head coach. There’s a whole lot of work to do for the Kings beneath Basic Supervisor Hockey-reference.com/gamers/h/hollake01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Ken Holland, at a minimal, one other top-six middle. They nonetheless have questions on the 3c. Scott Laughlin might come again, however they should fill that gap as nicely. Are they transferring some defenseman round to make room there, in addition to the goaltending place?

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Nonetheless, as “The Mayor” Jon Hoven mentioned on TFP Hotstove on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio on Saturday with Dennis Bernstein, Dave Pagnotta, and Ryan Paton, there’s a large query concerning the backend and the way forward for Hockey-reference.com/gamers/d/doughdr01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Drew Doughty.

Dave Pagnotta: “What’s precedence primary roster-wise? For this, is it a 1C  or a 2C?”

Jon Hoven: “Effectively, Dave, what I’d say is the primary problem is a subject that’s actually flying beneath the radar at a nationwide degree, and I’ve been saying this as loudly as I probably can over the past couple of weeks. It’s the scenario with Drew Doughty, as a result of what occurs with Drew Doughty has tentacles that affect your complete remainder of the selections which can be on the to-do listing.

Drew Doughty being in Los Angeles or not being Los Angeles impacts the wage hole considerably. He’s at $11 million subsequent yr. So, what occurs with that cash? It has to do with the captaincy of the staff heading into subsequent yr, clearly, with the retirement of Hockey-reference.com/gamers/okay/kopitan01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Anze Kopitar.

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The way you disperse the minutes? Hockey-reference.com/gamers/c/clarkbr02.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Brandt Clarke is right here. Brandt Clarke has arrived, and hopefully, if we had some type of bug within the room when Holland was speaking to Laviolette, hopefully a kind of conversations was about Brandt Clarke getting extra minutes. He’s right here, he’s arrived, he’s able to go once more. How does that affect Drew Doughty?

Doughty desires an extension and to proceed his profession in Los Angeles. He desires to play for an additional three to 4 years, which must be at a lowered position and at a lowered charge as nicely. And if that’s not one thing that sounds very interesting to Drew Doughty, I’d say going into coaching camp and not using a contract extension, you completely can not do. The LA Kings are ready the place they’re seeking to flip the web page, they’re seeking to transfer previous the Cup years, the Anze Kopitar years, and so forth.

Simply have a look at what they’ve accomplished with the hiring of Peter Laviolette. They’re transferring away from their defensive first identification. That is going to be a distinct staff. I’m not saying they’re going to be higher, however they’re going to be a distinct staff than they had been the final couple of years. Can’t let you know how they’re going to look till about 30 days from now, however the Drew Doughty determination impacts what they do, together with going out and getting that middle, due to the cap implications.

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In order that’s the 1st step, and one A, if you wish to name it 1b proper behind it will be what they’re going to do on the middle place, as a result of they’ve restricted property, a few first-round picks, a younger goaltending prospect, maybe with restricted property to have the ability to exit and swing a deal.

So Ken Holland goes to should be very, very artistic to fill the entire holes and make the entire roster strikes that he desires to make.”

NHLRumors.com Be aware: With the fashion of play Laviolette desires to make, does this enable the Kings to go get a man like Hockey-reference.com/gamers/t/trochvi01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Vincent Trocheck? Do they attempt to inquire about Hockey-reference.com/gamers/g/gavrivl01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-06-13_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Vladislav Gavrikov and get him again? They don’t have many property to provide. However it’s fascinating that gamers who meant a lot to groups throughout their Cup years might be on the transfer. It is a enterprise, and Drew Doughty isn’t the participant he as soon as was. So the choice they make on him impacts a whole lot of what they will do.

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