Doubting Doughty

  Temperatures have been rising in the city of Los Angelis over the summer, and the pot is about to boil over.

  After what seems to be an endless dispute between young star Drew Doughty and the Kings’ general manager Dean Lombardi over the dollar amount to Doughty’s new deal, the Kings organization is hitting back.

  It is believed that the 21 year-old restricted free agent and his agent, Don Meehan, are asking for a base minimum of $7 million per year. The duo declined an offer from Lombardi for $6.8 million per year, leaving the Kings’ staff, fans, and likely teammates fuming as a resolution has yet to be found. Now that training camp has begun, Lombardi has decided to reduce the offer on a daily basis rather than increase it to meet the ridiculous demands in front of him. Doughty’s offer will now drop $25,000 thousand per day he misses camp until an agreement is made.

"The problem we have, and we're going to have to see how this evolves, is that generally with a player, you establish his market value and he signs up for 275 days of work," Lombardi told LA Kings Insider. "That was the one thing that changed during the CBA, that players were paid during training camp. So, quite frankly, it's the way we have to approach this. Let alone missing a day or work, as well as getting behind your teammates in terms of preparation. It probably makes this a little more difficult, but you have to factor that in now. You're not getting a full year's work as of today."

  The debacle is hard for most people to understand as I know it is for me. It truly speaks for a player that truly thinks he is better and worth more than he is.

  The 2nd overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft was clearly the second best available player in the ‘draft of defensemen.’ Steven Stamkos went first overall, followed by four defensemen consecutively with Doughty at the top of the list. Doughty is well on his way to stardom as he has proved on the ice. He plays one of the best two-way games we’ve seen in some time with a solid defensively sound game, top notch skating, and pure ability to join the rush and effectively pass and score five-on-five or on special teams. Doughty has raw talent and potential, and he is a vital piece to the Kings’ future. Through 239 games with the Kings he has totaled 33 goals and 93 assists for 126 points with a +16 rating.

  But the 2010-11 season, Doughty’s last year on contract, was different. Doughty slumped a bit, posting 19 less points, -7 worse in plus/minus, 16 less powerplay points, and landing 20 less hits. He finished with 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points and a +13 in 76 games.

  Not only for this reason, but Doughty obviously needs to re-asses himself. The restricted free agent no doubt has talent and potential, but the $7 million dollar mark is just ridiculous. Not many players make that amount, and being just a kid three years through his career gives him no right to demand such a thing. He hasn’t proved anything yet.

  It might be a minor difference if the organization was putting it all on him; but they’re not. Doughty was drafted into a good situation, and the organization has made improvements and made great strides each and every year of his NHL experience. This off-season was no different, as Lombardi made a wealth of improvements, namely in the trade acquisition of star Mike Richards.

  The Los Angelis Kings actually stand a legitimate chance this coming season, and if they’re not there yet they will be within a few years. It is extremely hard to win Lord Stanley’s Cup, something that I think most of us would give up two the three hundred thousand dollars out of a $7 million dollar deal to do.

  I don’t blame any player for accepting a large contract, as I’m sure I would to, but to demand more not only takes away from the organization but the teammates as well. This is a common problem with greedy players. Not as much in the NHL, but it affects every aspect of a team and what it’s trying to accomplish collectively. The extra cash may be all they need to bring in a player at the deadline to seriously compete, but this isn’t the cut and dry issue at hand here. The truth is someone needs to settle, as the Kings are a much better team with this unfortunately arrogant kid right here and right now. Lombardi believes the offer given was fair. Truthfully, it was more than fair.

"There's no doubt in my mind we can look Drew in the eye and say this is a fair offer," Lombardi told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in an interview on ESPN.com. "It's out there in terms of where (the offer) would put in in the league as a defenseman and where he is on our team. That's our best offer. That's fair to say. What we put out there is out best offer."


"I don't want to get into the intricacies what we offered, in terms of the minute details," Lombardi told the website. "It's safe to say that, as far as the big picture within the league, we certainly made him an offer that puts him amongst the top defencemen in the league. Then you look at your team. It's no secret that he would be at the top of our team."

"The third thing that's critical to us is the allocation. Where we're at now, we certainly stretched the limit in terms of paying him amongst the top players in the league, paying him appropriately within the team's salary structure and, most importantly, being able to keep this group together."

  The current leader in terms of pay is center Anze Kopitar, at $6.8 million per year, and deservedly so. Through five years pro he has amassed 138 goals and 358 points in 393 games. This is obviously something Doughty is having trouble with respecting. Kopitar has deserved it.

  The Kings have $9,343,690 currently available according to CapGeek.com with a 22 man roster. This is enough space to meet Doughty’s demands, but it doesn’t mean Lombardi should. Lombardi has gone to great lengths to make this club better. The addition of Mike Richards ($5,750,000 million), Dustin Penner ($4,250,000 million), Simon Gagne ($3,500,000 million), and Ethan Moreau ($600,000 k) are reason enough for Doughty to accept less.

  Though talks have not yielded anything constructive, Lombardi remains confident a resolution will be found.

"There's no doubt this kid loves the game and loves this team," added Lombardi. "It's disappointing. It's not that I'm not encouraged that he's going to be here."

"Even before we made our trade (for Mike Richards) and went through free agency, this was our number-one priority. This is a home-grown boy and a key part of this franchise.”

  I do hope and believe a resolution will be found, no matter who ultimately gives in. His demands would lead me to predict he signs for $6.8 million for three years – giving him the option to re-negotiate when players such as Simon Gagner, Dustin Penner, and Jarret Stoll’s contracts come to an end. The Kings' management  group would much rather have a long-term deal in place, but this may be difficult. If this is what happens, the Kings would need to retain his RFA status, something that Kings’ fans could only dream for.

  My point is simple; earn it, Drew. You’re talented and gifted, just go out there and be a part of a good thing.

- Kendall Grubbs