On the Los Angeles Kings …
Dennis Bernstein: (answer question) Dan Hamhuis and Jacob Trouba could be at the top of the Los Angeles Kings list of potential additions for this offseason.
Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period: A contract extension for pending UFA winger Milan Lucic is inevitable. The re-signing of Lucic would likely mean that GM Dean Lombardi might have to trade at least one of Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown.
Due to his production the past two years (18 and 20 goals) and his statements about wanting to remain in LA led some to think he might be in the $5 million per season range, but one league executive thinks that Lucic will get $6 million.
“When people suggest that Lucic is willing to take a hometown discount, the discount is $6 million a season,” the rival team executive told TFP. “Remember that while his cap hit was $6 million this season, his cash salary was $6.5 million. There’s only one of him in the NHL and this is a League where Jeff Petry got $5.5 million a year for six years.
“Unrestricted free agency makes teams do weird things. Gritty wingers like David Clarkson and Brown usually get inflated contracts, but Lucic is an anomaly. July 1 is unpredictable; it only takes one team to overpay badly and a team like Florida can say ‘we need Lucic as the final piece’ or a team or Arizona can say ‘we want to win’ and open up the checkbook and he could conceivably get $7 million for seven-years if he wanted to hit UFA status.”
Sources saying the Kings and Lucic are getting close on a deal, with multiple sources saying the Kings have offered Lucic a deal in the $5.5 million range. Lucic’s camp aren’t wanting to go below $6 million on a five-year deal.
“That difference can be bridged,” the source assessed. “L.A. will have to also do some signing bonuses so there’s lockout protection like with all big deals that now happen. They could meet in the middle at $5.75 million; not a bad payday for Lucic, but I think the NHLPA wants a 6 (million dollars) in front of that contract.”