Sutter wants to stay with Kings, new deal will get 'worked out'

Darryl Sutter plans to be back behind the bench in the City of Angels next year.

While a deal has yet to be worked out, the Los Angeles Kings head coach told Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that his intentions are to return to the team.

"I’m under contract until July 1," Sutter said. "I have no desire to go anywhere else or do any of that. We’ll get it worked out. That’s my plan."

General manager Dean Lombardi noted recently he offered Sutter a deal, but it has yet to be signed. Sutter added he wants to get a better feel of what the roster will look like next year before putting pen to paper.

"We have a lot of players that are free agents and a lot of young players that are close to playing here," Sutter said. "As coaches, you’re trying to get through where you could be next year with your roster. That was more important to me the last two or three weeks than any of my stuff."

Sutter has become accustomed to winning in Los Angeles, but things haven't gone as smoothly in recent years. After winning a pair of Stanley Cups in a three-year stretch, the Kings missed the playoffs last year and bowed out in the first round this spring.

An Alberta native, many feel Sutter would be a natural fit to fill the head coaching vacancy with the Calgary Flames if he ultimately doesn't get something worked out in Los Angeles. Sutter coached the Flames from 2002-2006, leading them to an appearance in the Stanley Cup final.