Lombardi, on contracts

Here’s what Lombardi had to say in response to a question about whether the trade would make it easier to resign players such as Kopitar and Johnson…

“That’s a huge part of it. There’s two things that have to happen here. The business plan has to match the hockey plan. It has to match where we’re going to be this year. If we’re going to do it right, whether it’s keeping the pick and getting Doughty or whatever, what sense does it make if we can’t keep them here for the long haul? It’s looking at next year and the year after. This is a function of young guys getting enormous (contracts) early. We have to have this cash base, from a business plan, and a business plan that matches the hockey plan.”

Lombardi, on whether he had permission, in advance, to negotiate a contract extension with Jarret Stoll, who is a restricted free agent this summer…

“We didn’t get to that point. Obviously that is an issue, that we’re going to have to sign these two players. I think it’s reasonable that we’ll have a good opportunity. Sometimes the mechanics of the deal don’t always allow for (prior negotiation).”

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