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13	August 2018

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The Los Angeles Kings believe they are still Stanley Cup contenders Joe Thomas Browns Jersey , even after being swept by the upstart Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. How close they are to that goal might be reflected in how negotiations go with defenseman Drew Doughty this summer.

General manager Rob Blake said Friday that working out a contract extension with Doughty is the team�s top priority. The Kings and Doughty can begin holding talks on July 1, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 season.

�I always wanted to be an LA King and I want to stay an LA King,� Doughty said.

Doughty is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy presented to the league�s top defenseman after winning it in 2016. He had 10 goals and 50 assists in his most productive NHL season yet, but Doughty believes he can still improve his scoring output.

�I wasn�t too happy with my goal totals this year,� Doughty said. �I think I only maybe scored one or two one-timer goals, which in my career probably half of my goals are one-timer goals, so I was pretty disappointed about that this year. I can definitely improve on that and have an even better season and hopefully set some new career-highs.�

The Kings scored just three goals in four games against the Golden Knights. Developing a more reliable offense is the one glaring weakness that needs be addressed, and lifting the Stanley Cup for the third time is a reasonable goal provided it gets solved going into next season.

�Everybody is still here that was here in �14 and almost in �12 for that matter http://www.buffalobillsteamonline.com/jim-kelly-jersey , too, so we�re not that far off,� center Anze Kopitar said. �It�s going to take a lot of work, yes, but we�re not far off.�

CAREER YEARS

Kopitar set personal bests with 35 goals and 57 assists while averaging a career-high 22:05 of playing time. His 92 points represented a 40-point improvement over his lackluster 2016-17, leading Kopitar to joke he is �aging like wine.� Dustin Brown had 61 points to top his previous high of 60 set in 2007-08, his fourth season in the league. Doughty broke free with 60 points after reaching the 50-point plateau once in the previous seven seasons. Doughty�s usual defensive partner, Jake Muzzin Jim Kelly Bills Jersey , had 42 points. Even depth forward Trevor Lewis got into the act with 26 points and 14 goals in his most productive campaign.

FORWARD THINKING

Rookie Adrian Kempe was fourth on the team with 16 goals despite not finding the back of the net in the final 29 games of the regular season. Stepping in at center when Jeff Carter missed 55 games following surgery to repair a cut tendon in his ankle, Kempe showed a surprising toughness to go along with his natural quickness. If Kempe can continue to develop, he could decrease the reliance on Kopitar, who will be 31 when next season starts, and the 33-year-old Carter.

�I�m pretty sure he�ll be the first one to tell you he can offer more, and that�s a learning process,� Kopitar said. �That�s his first full year in the league. Speaking from experience, it takes a little bit of time to figure out your routines and what�s working for you and what�s not.�

LOOKING FOR DEPTH

Short of dealing in the offseason Odell Beckham Jr Jersey , the Kings should return essentially the same roster next season. Speedy forward Tobias Rieder is a restricted free agent, and Torrey Mitchell is an unrestricted free agent. The 25-year-old Rieder showed some chemistry with Carter, posting four goals and two assists in 20 games. Defensemen Christian Folin and Kevin Gravel are both unrestricted free agents.

HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDED

The Kings went 23-15-3 at home, the second-fewest wins by a playoff team. It seemed like they were getting better as the season went on, going 9-4-0 down the stretch, only to lose both home playoff games and fall to 0-5 at Staples Center in their last two postseasons. Their 118 goals at home in the regular season was tied for 21st in the NHL. The power play contributed 25 percent of that output, underscoring the need for 5-on-5 improvement.

COMING ATTRACTION

Clearly in need of more contributors on offense, center Gabriel Vilardi could be an option for the Kings next season. Selected No. 11 overall in the 2017 draft Joe Montana 49ers Jersey , Vilardi has been a force in the OHL playoffs with 11 goals and nine assists in his first 12 postseason games. Vilardi also has the size and 200-foot game that fit a Kings team that still emphasizes defense.

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The New England Patriots reportedly considered acquiring the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft had the Cleveland Browns not selected Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first pick.According to Andrew Brandt of The MMQB, Mayfield's agent, Jack Mills, said: "We knew that the [New York] Jets at [No.] 3 was the bottom line. We had another team that said, 'You may get a big surprise on draft day at No. 2 if he is available.' And that team was the Patriots."Cleveland nabbed Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick, while the New York Giants stayed at No. 2 and took Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.The MMQB's聽Albert Breer聽and Robert Klemko added that the Pats were denied a meeting with Mayfield until after they acquired the No. 23 overall pick as part of the trade that sent wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams.New England entered the draft owning selection Nos. 23 and 31, but it likely would have needed to offer much more to get to No. 2, including next year's first-round pick.On Monday Josh Gordon Jersey Youth , Patriots quarterback Tom Brady officially committed to聽play in 2018.Brady was the NFL MVP last season and turned in a dominant performance in New England's Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with 505 yards passing and three touchdowns, but he will be 41 by the time the 2018 season begins.New England's primary backup is veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer, although New England drafted LSU signal-caller Danny Etling in the seventh round.With their pair of first-round selections, the Pats took Georgia offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn and Georgia running back Sony Michel..