It's going to get done. Maybe. Probably.
After reporting Tuesday evening that a contract extension between the Los Angeles Kings and center Anze Kopitar was "far from done," TSN's Darren Dreger chimed in Wednesday morning with a more positive outlook on the situation:
Good news for Kings fans. An early morning source says progress made on Kopitar contract last night. Not done, but inching closer...
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 13, 2016
"Something changed (Tuesday) night," Dreger adds, while also noting the mood surrounding negotiations Tuesday afternoon had soured a bit. Reports have been flying around that a potential impasse had been reached in talks.
Kopitar is arguably the biggest-ticket free agent on the market heading into the summer. Reports suggesting he's close to a deal to keep him in L.A. have been floating for months now.
The big center will turn 29 in August, and has spent his entire nine-year NHL career with the Kings. He has 645 points in 725 regular-season games, and 60 points in 70 playoff games. And two Stanley Cup rings.
Kopitar's in the final season of a contract paying him $7.7 million, at a salary cap hit of $6.8 million. And he's playing like a man who wants to get paid, his 35 points in 42 games leading the Kings in scoring.
