Kings GM not ready to broach topic of Lucic extension

With Anze Kopitar officially locked up for eight more years, one might expect the Los Angeles Kings to immediately turn their attention to a contract extension for Milan Lucic.

Not so, says general manager Dean Lombardi.

Or, rather, he won't say it out loud, at least.

"I don’t want to focus on anything like that right now," Lombardi told Craig Custance of ESPN. "This team has good chemistry again."

Lombardi's rationale, it seems, would be to remove any possible distractions from the locker room with the Kings sitting comfortably atop the Pacific Division standings, and having the look of a Stanley Cup contender once again.

Lucic has fit in nicely with the club, and is on pace for a 20-goal, 50-point season in his first year with the Kings.

His style of game meshes with the plan instituted by head coach Darryl Sutter, and, according to Custance, Lombardi would love to keep Lucic around long term.

Lucic's current deal, signed in 2013 with the Boston Bruins, carries a $6.5 million cap hit.