Looking ahead
Since this is a rather slow week -- although both Don and I are in the process of locking up some more interviews -- it's a good opportunity to look forward and see exactly where the Kings stand in terms of players and salary. With an assist to the folks at nhlscap.com, here's a look at all of the Kings' returning players and what they'll make (if they make the team, in some cases), in terms of salary-cap numbers.
The way I see it now, the Kings have players locked into 12 of their 20 spots. Those 12 players would make roughly $30.5 million. Add in Alyn McCauley's buyout, and that puts them at about $31.2 million. That does not include restricted free agents Patrick O'Sullivan, Erik Ersberg and Peter Harrold. Here's the whole breakdown, which doesn't include the prospects signed recently and is based, in part, on some educated guesses...
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RETURNING PLAYERS CERTAIN TO MAKE TEAM (12)
Lubomir Visnovsky -- $5.6 million
Michal Handzus -- $4 million
Michael Cammalleri -- $3.35 million
Dustin Brown -- $3.175 million
Alexander Frolov -- $2.9 million
Tom Preissing -- $2.75 million
Kyle Calder -- $2.7 million
Jack Johnson -- $2.15 million
Derek Armstrong -- $1.5 million
Anze Kopitar -- $956,000
Jason LaBarbera -- $825,000
Raitis Ivanans -- $600,000
(Alyn McCauley -- $667,000)
Total -- $31.2 million
RETURNING PLAYERS POSSIBLE TO MAKE TEAM (4)
Thomas Hickey -- $1.375 million
Teddy Purcell -- $1.35 million
Brian Boyle -- $835,000
Matt Ellis -- $475,000
Total -- $4.1 million
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS LIKELY/POSSIBLE TO MAKE TEAM (3)
Patrick O'Sullivan -- $851,000 last season
Erik Ersberg -- $750,000 last season
Peter Harrold -- $500,000 last season
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS LIKELY/POSSIBLE TO MAKE TEAM (1)
Rob Blake -- $6 million last season
OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS
Dan Cloutier -- $3.1 million
Brady Murray -- $943,000
Lauri Tukonen -- $886,000
Jonathan Bernier -- $872,000
Trevor Lewis -- $855,000
Marc-Andre Cliche -- $850,000
Wayne Simmonds -- $850,000
Kevin Westgarth -- $850,000
Jonathan Quick -- $770,000
Drew Bagnall -- $750,000
Scott Parse -- $750,000
John Zeiler -- $544,000
Patrik Hersley -- $535,000
Daniel Taylor -- $509,000
Ned Lukacevic -- $500,000
Vladimir Dravecky -- $498,000
OTHER RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS LIKELY TO RETURN
Gabe Gauthier -- $650,000 last season
Matt Moulson -- $478,000 last season
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
I'm somewhat confused.
Does the salary cap include all the players under contract or just the players on the NHL team roster.
If a player plays the entire season in the minors or juniors, does his salary factor into the salary cap.
What about Oscar Moeller, Bud Hollaway, Alec Martinez, Jeff Zatkoff.
Do their contracts figure in the salary cap.
If a player gets recalled from the minors, does he then receive his full NHL salary or does he still get his entry level salary.
Can one of you genius's clarify that for me.
Thanks
The cap is only for players on NHL rosters. Not guys in minors or juniors.
Thanks Rich,
What if a player gets called up from the minors at the half way mark of the season.
Does his salary factor into the salary cap.
wow, how did Teddy Purcell get such a fat contract?
i believe Purcell was a free agent so that's why his contract is higher than other rookies.
here's another site with cap numbers. i like the formating a little better because it separates forwards,defense and goalies. however, it doesn't show contracts for guys in the minors or juniors. it only shows cap #s for those who played on the kings last year.
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=LAK
Purcell's cap hit includes the bonus that he received. Jack Johnson is in the same situation.
Do we really have to worry about the cap number? Isn't the worry with the budget and not the cap?
@ Quattro
the real question should be "wow how did Handzus get such a fat contract?"
Anthony, I believe if a player is called up for part of the season he gets paid based on how many days he's up with the team. so if the season is over 240 days (guessing to lazy to do the actual math) than they receive their salary/240 every day they are up with the team including non-game days. So in Bernier's short stint with the kings he was paid $56,000 of his $850,000 contract which counts toward the cap
damn, Frolov and Handzus need to trade paychecks (and that's being kind to Handzus, I could have said he should switch with Labs or Ivanans)
I think it's 187 days, you were looking for Nick (from the link posted by Anonymous)
wow are we stealing kopi's talents! We are going to have to make up alot of pay with his next contract.
Hi Rich, Thanks for the continued great coverage. The blog is my homepage. I love it.
It would be interesting to see an overview of UR free agents available this summer. As Mr. Hextall said, the Kings will not be buying anyone 30 in their last year. And, clearly, they are looking for a proven NHL defensemen. Is there any way that you, or someone could do an overview of defensemen who are in that category and people the Kings are likely to look at in the UFA's? Also, another question I'd like to ask in future is how King's management feels about Russians. Would they consider spending a pick on a Russian? Thanks Go Kings