On the Kings …
- The Fourth Period: The Kings and pending UFA Anze Kopitar have agreed that an eight-year contract would work, but they are apart on the dollar amount.Multiple well placed sources have said that Kopitar is looking for a contract similar to Jonathan Toews’ and Patrick Kane’s eight-year, $84 million deal – a $10.5 million salary cap hit.
The Kings are thought to be looking at something in the $9 million per season range.
Talks between agent Pat Brisson and the Kings are ongoing, but haven’t been frequent. If the Kings don’t move from their position, Kopitar could shut down contract talks until after the season.
- Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: Kings coach Darryl Sutter on Milan Lucic fitting in with Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli over Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik.
I don’t know where he fits. We’re trying to win games, so I’m not too caught up in – you base it on a game-to-game approach. Maybe he plays with Kopi against San Jose. What was the question? I mean, I was told that he fits with Kopitar and Gaborik. I mean, that’s what everybody that knew everything about hockey in North America told me. You know what? I don’t know where he fits. Yeah, I’ve really liked it. But you’ve got to win games, and you try and make it work as a coach.
On the Sharks …
- Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: (mailbag) What are the chances of the Sharks trading backup goalie Alex Stalock this season? Kurz doesn’t see them trading him. If he plays well, they’ll want to keep him. If he struggles, he won’t have any trade value. Stalock will need to play better or Troy Grosenick could take over the backup role. Stalock is a pending UFA, Grosenick is on a one-way deal next year.
On Team Canada …
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Team Canada’s 2016 World Cup management team plan on announcing their head coach sometime next month. The two leading candidates are Joel Quenneville and Mike Babcock.