According to reports on Thursday night, the Los Angeles Kings have come to an agreement (verbal in the evening) with holdout restricted free agent defenseman Drew Doughty. The early reports are saying that the deal is for 8 years, worth $56 million, a $7 million cap hit per season. This deal makes Drew Doughty the largest cap hit on the team in the 2012 season, slightly eclipsing teammate Anze Kopitar, who signed his deal in 2008.
Doughty had a bit of an off-year in 2011, ranking only 25th in defensemen scoring with 11 goals and 29 assists in 76 games with the club. Doughty still has a very high fantasy value, despite his low season. If Doughty can make his way back to the top of the scoring heap, the holdout could act like a moot point this season. With a new deal of this magnitude, expectations will also be raised, which Doughty will have to be aware of.
So, with another $7 million tacked onto the Kings' projected salary cap number, I currently have them at $60.5 million for 21 players, which also leaves a little bit of room for another forward, if needed. The Kings were poised to become a top-spending team this year, but again, with high salaries come high expectations, so the Kings will be a team to watch this year.
Well, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that someone was going to take Drew Doughty in the draft this past week, as he was taken in the 5th round, 91st overall by Ryan M., which is likely much lower than where he would normally project, but with a holdout pending, he was bound to drop. With that being said, Doughty will now likely become one of the best bargains in the draft this year.
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