• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings’ 3 Worst Contracts for 2020-21

By Quinn McLellan November 14th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The LA Kings have $13.6 million in salary-cap space heading into 2021, which is the second-most in the entire NHL. However, they have a number of atrocious contracts heading into the season ahead. Here are the three worst contracts that LA Kings currently have for 2021.

3: Drew Doughty

Drew Doughty’s contract will prove to be the worst for LA in the future, but it’s only the third-worst deal right now. His deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $11 million per year, tying him for the fifth-highest cap number in the league with John Tavares. The only players who make more than Doughty are Connor McDavid, Artemi Panarin, Auston Matthews and Erik Karlsson. Both McDavid and Matthews will be stars in the NHL for years to come. Panarin is a current star who finished third in Hart Trophy voting this season and was named the top winger in the NHL. Conversely, Doughty is a player whose play is on the decline.

The 🍞 man tops our list AND your list! #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/1T9TOo5mfY

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) November 9, 2020

Following his second-place finish in Norris Trophy voting in 2017-18, Doughty’s play both offensively and defensively has deteriorated drastically. In his 2017-18 campaign, Doughty scored 10 goals and added 50 assists. He had a plus/minus of plus-23 and a takeaway-to-giveaway ratio of 17-79.

In 2018-19, he scored eight goals and added 37 assists, a significant drop from his prior season. He had a takeaway-to-giveaway ratio of 23-105, which was a step down from the previous season. Although he had five more takeaways than the season before, he also had 26 more giveaways, which is is a negative trend. His minus-34 was a career-low.

Drew Doughty Los Angeles Kings
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

In the 2019-20 season, Doughty’s offensive totals were once again lower than before, as he only put up a total of 35 points. For perspective, he had 37 assists alone in 2018-19. Defensively, he was better with a minus-16 and a takeaway-to-giveaway ratio of 15-82.

Doughty is still a top-pairing defenseman who can log tons of minutes, while throwing over a hit per game and blocking over a shot per game. However, he’s not the fifth-best player in the league, and he shouldn’t be paid as such. This contract is especially bad for the future, as it lasts until 2027, and Doughty will be 37 years old by then.

2: Dion Phaneuf

Dion Phaneuf’s contract was bought out by the Kings on June 15, 2019. Despite being bought out, LA will pay him $4.06 million during the 2020-21 season. The amount LA owes him will drop to $1.06 million during both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. I’ve previously written about how LA could use the cap relief they’ll get from his deal. However, no matter how you look at it, paying a player $4.06 million to not even play is a very bad deal.

Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Los Angeles Kings
Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Los Angeles Kings (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

Although Doughty is making way more money then Phaneuf, at least he’s still a top-pairing defenseman, and is still playing. Meanwhile, Phaneuf is the team’s sixth highest-paid player for next season and could end up playing for another franchise while taking money from LA.

1: Ilya Kovalchuk

We finish this list off with another player who isn’t even playing for LA. Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract was terminated by the Kings last December, as he struggled to fit in with the team.

Ilya Kovalchuk, CSKA Moscow
Before his KHL stint, Kovalchuk was an NHL sniper. ( Александр Головко via Wikimedia Commons)

Kovalchuk took a hiatus from the NHL, playing in the KHL for St. Petersburg SKA from 2013 until 2018. In that time, he won a gold medal in the 2018 Pyongyang Olympics, along with leading St. Petersburg to two Gagarin Cup championships in 2015 and 2017. In the 2018 off-season, LA inked him to a three-year deal worth $18.75 million.

Ilya Kovalchuk's first game back didn't disappoint 😍😍😍@EASPORTSNHL #NHL19 pic.twitter.com/9sBbhSbU9E

— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 23, 2018

Kovalchuk only played in 64 games in his first season in LA, posting 34 points, which ranked fourth on the team. In 2019-20, he played in LA’s first 17 games, posting just nine points. Following this, he was benched for 18 games in a row before his contract was terminated.

Ilya Kovalchuk Montreal Canadiens
Ilya Kovalchuk, former Montreal Canadien (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Kovalchuk followed his termination by signing with Montreal, where he rejuvenated his career. At the trade deadline, he ended up being dealt to Washington, where he continued his career revival. Kovalchuk has yet to sign with an NHL team for 2021, however he will count for $6.25 million against the Kings’ cap space next year, which is the third-biggest cap hit on the team behind Doughty and Anze Kopitar.

How it Looks for the Future

Two out of the three players who are on this list don’t play for LA anymore. LA will no longer have to pay Kovalchuk following the 2020-21 season. Although they will still be paying Phaneuf after 2021, his $1.06 million cap hit will be much more manageable. These contracts are both atrocious right now, but will quickly get better. On the other hand, the Kings will be stuck paying Doughty $11 million until 2027, which will probably become an albatross contract.


Sign up for our regular 'Kings Newsletter' for all the latest.

  • Tags
  • Dion Phaneuf
  • Drew Doughty
  • Ilya Kovalchuk
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Jan 23rd 1:30 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Green Says Canucks Have Looked ‘a Little Immature at Times’ [Video]

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information