HockeyKopitar takes high road in Doughty scenario

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Anze Kopitar, who saw his season prematurely end in 2010-11, is happy to see Drew Doughty signed for the long-term in Los Angeles. (Terry Gilliam/Associated Press)

Anze Kopitar was home Thursday night when news broke that Drew Doughty's summer stalemate finally ended.

"In the back of our minds, [Doughty's teammates] always thought this was going to get done," Kopitar said Friday. "We weren't too stressed. Most of us thought he was going to sign."
 
Kings fans probably weren't as calm. Doughty agreed to an eight-year, $56 million US contract that came together quickly. After two weeks of inactivity, the two sides resumed conversations several hours prior to the deal's completion. The player (and his agents) bent on term, while the Kings raised the average annual value above Kopitar's $6.8 million.
 
It was a difficult position for Kopitar, the 24-year-old forward. I've always believed that anyone in any profession deserves whatever they can negotiate. But, this is the downside: hearing your name used as a roadblock in another's situation.

After putting in the request to speak to Kopitar, I expected to hear that he and/or the Kings wanted no part of it. But, he called back following a morning skate.

"I wanted to stay out of it; that's none of my business," Kopitar said of Doughty's dispute. "That's the business side of the sport and now that Drew is signed it's time to forget about it."

Kopitar acknowledged hearing his name around these negotiations was "uncomfortable. But Drew is a good friend and nothing is going to change that."

Kopitar said he spoke to several people - including agent Pat Brisson, Kings captain Dustin Brown and president of business operations Luc Robitaille - about how to handle things. He preferred to keep those discussions private.

He did text Doughty a couple of times over the summer and followed with a congratulatory note immediately upon hearing of the new deal.

That's important for a Kings team with huge expectations for this season. Doughty is a critical piece, a potential franchise player. In conversations with several current and former NHLers over the past couple of weeks, there was no absolute consensus on whether this could hurt a team.

For example, one current captain said, "I don't think players care."

Marty Turco disagreed in a blog in this space two weeks ago, saying dressing-room leaders must prevent any negative blowback over these disputes.

Whatever the case, it sounds like it won't be a problem in LA, which means the team can focus on hockey. The Kings play the Ducks tonight and the Avalanche in Las Vegas tomorrow before going overseas for the start of the NHL season.

And that's what Kopitar wants, to focus on the ice. A broken ankle forced him out of the team's playoff defeat to San Jose, and he's eager to make an impact immediately.

"We know what Drew does for us on and off the ice," he said. "It's a relief this is over. Now, we're ready to get going."

And a lot of that is because Kopitar won't create any issues.

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