Re-signing Doughty Kings’ top priority
Team to focus on improving offence after playoff sweep by Golden Knights
EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. The Los Angeles Kings believe they are still Stanley Cup contenders, even after being swept by the upstart Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. How close they are to that goal might be reflected in how negotiations go with defenceman Drew Doughty this summer.
General manager Rob Blake said Friday a contract extension with Doughty is the team’s top priority. The Kings and Doughty can begin talks on July 1, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 season.
“I always wanted to be an L.A. King and I want to stay an L.A. King,” Doughty said.
Doughty is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy presented to the league’s top defenceman after winning it in 2016. He had 10 goals and 50 assists in his most productive NHL season yet, but Doughty believes he can still improve his scoring output.
The Kings scored just three goals in four games against the Golden Knights. Developing a more reliable offence is the one glaring weakness that needs be addressed, and lifting the Stanley Cup for the third time is a reasonable goal provided it gets solved going into next season.
“Everybody is still here that was here in ’14 and almost in ’12 for that matter, too, so we’re not that far off,” centre Anze Kopitar said.
CAREER YEARS
Kopitar set personal bests with 35 goals and 57 assists while averaging a career-high 22:05 of playing time. His 92 points represented a 40-point improvement over his lacklustre 2016-17, leading Kopitar to joke he is “aging like wine.” Dustin Brown had 61 points to top his previous high of 60 set in 2007-08, his fourth season in the league. Doughty had 60 points after reaching the 50-point plateau once in the previous seven seasons. Doughty ’s usual defensive partner, Jake Muzzin, had 42 points. Even depth forward Trevor Lewis got into the act with 26 points and 14 goals in his most productive campaign.
FORWARD THINKING
Rookie Adrian Kempe was fourth on the team with 16 goals despite not finding the back of the net in the final 29 games of the regular season. Stepping in at centre when Jeff Carter missed 55 games following surgery to repair a cut tendon in his ankle, Kempe showed a surprising toughness to go along with his natural quickness. If Kempe can continue to develop, he could decrease the reliance on Kopitar, who will be 31 when next season starts, and the 33-year-old Carter. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be the first one to tell you he can offer more, and that’s a learning process,” Kopitar said.
LOOKING FOR DEPTH
Short of dealing in the off-season, the Kings should return essentially the same roster next season. Speedy forward Tobias Rieder is a restricted free agent, and Torrey Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent. The 25-year-old Rieder showed some chemistry with Carter, posting four goals and two assists in 20 games. Defencemen Christian Folin and Kevin Gravel are both unrestricted free agents.
HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDED
The Kings went 23-15-3 at home, the second-fewest wins by a playoff team. It seemed like they were getting better as the season went on, going 9-4-0 down the stretch, only to lose both home playoff games and fall to 0-5 at Staples Center in their last two post-seasons. Their 118 goals at home in the regular season was tied for 21st in the NHL. The power play contributed 25 per cent of that output, underscoring the need for 5-on-5 improvement.
COMING ATTRACTION
Clearly in need of more contributors on offence, centre Gabriel Vilardi could be an option for the Kings next season. Selected No. 11 overall in the 2017 draft, Vilardi has been a force in the OHL playoffs with 11 goals and nine assists in his first 12 post-season games. Vilardi also has the size and 200foot game that fit a Kings team that still emphasizes defence.