The Los Angeles Kings aren’t shopping Drew Doughty, and the message from GM Ken Holland is pretty clear: this is a relationship they expect to keep moving forward.
Doughty, who is soon to turn 37, has already made it known he wants to stay in Los Angeles. Holland said on SiriusXM NHL Network on Saturday that the Kings have no intention of trading him and that extension talks will come later.
“Drew and I met at the end of the year (last season), and I knew Drew was going into the last year contract, and I said, ‘Drew, let’s get into next year.’ Drew told me he doesn’t wanna leave, and I said, ‘I’m not trading ya, forget about whatever clauses you got.’ If he wants to leave, that’s another story, but he doesn’t wanna leave, and he’s obviously come out public in the last couple weeks he wants to play entire career in L.A., wants to sign another contract.”
Holland also said he told Doughty they’d wait to see where both sides stand once the season gets going, then revisit the extension conversation when the timing is right.
Elsewhere, the Washington Capitals appear to be seeking futures if they move Ivan Miroshnichenko. According to David Pagnotta on Kraken Weekly, the fit just isn’t there right now, and Washington is believed to be targeting either high picks or prospects who are one or two years away because the team doesn’t have room.
The Utah Mammoth, meanwhile, could be a team to watch in the goalie market. Ryan O’Hare said it wouldn’t be a surprise if they checked in on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, noting that he could be a starter and that goaltending has been an area of concern at times for Utah.
Karel Vejmelka has struggled, Sebastian Cossa is still young, and Wedgewood is a pending UFA. Even so, it seems unlikely the Avalanche would want to send him to Utah.
In Calgary, the Flames may also be looking to shore up the blue line after losing Kevin Bahl to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Bahl will have surgery and is out for the season. Darren Dreger said Flames GM Craig Conroy could consider adding either a young defenseman or a short-term option, but Calgary won’t make a move just to plug the hole.
In Other News...
Devin Cooley Is Giving Flames Fans A New Subplot To Watch
Devin Cooley has found himself with an unexpected little spotlight beyond the Flames crease, and its creating a fresh subplot for Calgary fans to follow. After his motivational comments about the unique pressures goalies face started making the rounds, the Calgary netminder saw the reaction extend well past his own locker room, with Pittsburgh rookie Sergei Murashov publicly thanking him for the perspective.
Cooley said he appreciated the shoutout and noted that the response has not stopped there, with other goalies also reaching out since the remarks went viral. He has backed up the attention with solid play this season, and now there is at least a chance the story gets another chapter if he and Murashov cross paths when the Flames and Penguins meet again. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Blue Line Loss Leaves Craig Conroy Facing A Tough Choice
Kevin Bahls absence has left the Flames with a hole on the blue line that is hard to ignore, and it has put Craig Conroy in a spot every general manager knows well: address the need now, or trust the group already in the room. Bahl had become a meaningful part of Calgarys defensive mix, so losing him for the rest of the season changes the shape of the back end and forces the club to weigh its options with a little more urgency than it would have liked.
What makes this decision tricky is the kind of move Calgary is likely to consider. The market does not always hand out clean fixes, and the Flames have to think about more than just plugging a gap for a few weeks. A young defender or a shorter-term addition could make more sense than a pure rental, but whichever direction Conroy chooses, the loss of Bahl has turned a manageable situation into one that now demands a careful answer. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Showing More Fight Still Leaves One Problem For Flames Fans
Vancouvers latest showing against Edmonton had plenty of the kind of pace and push that can make a team look far more dangerous than its record suggests. The Canucks were active early, forced Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to work for their space, and got useful contributions from Brendan Gallagher, Paul Cotter, Linus Karlsson and Drew OConnor as they tried to keep the game on their terms.
For Flames fans, the frustration is familiar because the Canucks did not look like a team going quietly. Brock Boeser helped keep the pressure on with a key finish, and coach Manny Malhotra pointed to the positives from the opening two periods even as the result slipped away late. The effort was there, the pace was there, and for Calgary supporters watching the standings, the lingering issue is whether Vancouvers better nights are becoming a trend rather than a one-off. [Read more 🡒]