[sureLoss]

http://mayorsmanor.com/2015/12/anze-...with-la-kings/

Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, MayorsManor has recently confirmed via multiple sources close to the negotiations, the two sides are very close to wrapping up a new eight-year contract for the team’s 2005 first round draft pick and the man who has essentially led the team in scoring since making his NHL debut a little more than a year later.

Of note is the fact that Kopitar cannot get more than seven years from any other NHL team on the open market next summer as an Unrestricted Free Agent. Per the CBA agreed upon in January 2013, NHL teams can offer their own impending UFAs eight-year extensions, while the other 29 clubs can offer a maximum term of seven years.

Many outlets, including MayorsManor, have reported Kopitar and his agent, Pat Brisson, are believed to be asking in the $10-11 million per year range. Brisson was able to secure new contracts for the Blackhawks Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane during the summer of 2014, both averaging $10.5 million per season. While those were among the richest contracts in league history, they were still below the maximum allowable payout, 20% of the salary cap (roughly $14M now with a $71M cap).

If you assume Kopitar could find a team to pay him $11M on the open market, that equates to $77M over seven years. Even if you want to argue he could easily get $10M per season, that equates to $70M total. Hence, if he takes 9.75M per season from the Kings for eight years, the annual cap hit might be lower, yet the total value of the deal would sit at $78M.

From what we have been able to gather, Kopitar isn’t interested in going below the $9.75M number, feeling that equates to a hometown discount, considering all market variables. On the flip side, in every radio interview we’ve given on the subject over the past year, we’ve argued the Kings shouldn’t be looking to go above $9M per season. Apparently, GM Dean Lombardi agrees with that ballpark and has been trying to close the deal in the $9-9.25M range. Just like the Drew Doughty contract talks in 2011 drug out for an extended period, so to have the Koptiar talks. And just like the Doughty camp was able to get close to their number in the end, it looks like Kopitar’s new contract will likely land more in line with his wishes than what Lombardi had hoped for.