The Los Angeles Kings have re-upped head coach Darryl Sutter on a multi-year contract the team announced Friday. The deal is reported to be worth north of $3 million over three years, with the third year being a team option, according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun. Sutter gets some money no matter whether or not he’s kept on in the third year.
Sutter stalled a bit on signing the deal, which turned into a story of its own for a couple of days.
But, ultimately the two-time Stanley Cup champion chose to return. He has been the coach in L.A. for five seasons and four full seasons, hitting 100 wins faster than any coach in team history and coaching more than 1,200 games throughout his career.
Over that stretch, his teams have made the postseason in 14 of 16 seasons.
The Kings are entering a pivotal offseason. They’re still a strong organization, but were on the brink of being able to challenge for dynasty status that now seems a memory after they missed the playoffs last year and were readily handled by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the postseason this year.
Free agency and years of trading prospects with a “win now” mentality has put Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi in a difficult situation.
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