On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dan Greenspan of NHL.com: LA Kings GM Rob Blake has spoken with defenseman Drew Doughty about the time of contract negotiations and he expects them to reach an extension this offseason.
“We’re under the understanding we’re going to do what it takes to get Drew signed,” Blake said. “That’s our understanding here.”
Blake has been focusing on the draft, and then afterwards they will get extension talks going. An extension for Doughty won’t get in way of any offseason moves they want to make.
“I think a lot of teams would be excited about the opportunity to entertain John Tavares for sure,” Blake said. “There’s still time before that period would even come, and then whether you’re one of the teams in on it, but it definitely would be something you would have to look at. I don’t think players of that caliber come around very often and especially at that age.”
The Kings are interested in adding/improving their offense. They are still deciding on whether to qualify Tobias Rieder or not.
Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: Notes from GM Rob Blakes conference call on Tuesday.
A Tobias Rieder qualifying offer would cost the Kings $2.45 million. They could look to re-sign him at a lower cost.
Blake was asked if the Kings are interested in bringing defenseman Slava Voynov back if the NHL clears his return.
“That’s, I think, a little premature,” he said. “I think what we’re reading in the papers and the steps that he has taken with the league and the appropriate action after that – right now he’s a suspended player, and until anything changes there, I don’t think we’re in a position to comment any further. A lot of this has to take place between him, his agent and the National Hockey League.”
Blake was asked about trade talks and ways to improve the Kings.
“You look at all different ways to improve your team, and that’s what all teams are doing. There are lots of discussions between teams the last couple of weeks. I think now, those discussions become narrowed down and they kind of sort through the teams that are most interested in the types of players, and you’re starting to see a few of the deals. But, yeah. We’re going to explore all different options, and I think pretty much everyone will say, ‘whatever we think can improve or help our team, we’re going to look at those options.’”