You’re gonna get Drew Doughty!

Next season will be for Drew Doughty the last year on his current contract with the Los Angeles Kings. He currently is making 7 million dollars a year. It’s pretty reasonable for a guy like Doughty, and it’s fully expected he is going to get a substantial pay raise. Sure the Kings will have over 18 million dollars in cap space, if the cap ceiling doesn’t change in the slightest, and this has set up nicely for the Kings to throw plenty of money at Doughty to get him to stay.

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS HAVE 37.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN CAP SPACE THEN.

Sure, Toronto will also have to re-sign Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitchell Marner, and a plethora of other young players to high dollar deals given their roles on the team already-

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE IN CANADA AND THAT’S WHERE DREW DOUGHTY IS FROM.

Toronto will undoubtedly put together a strong pitch for the defenseman, and it’s undeniable they could throw a ton of money at Doughty, who would be foolish to not at least consider it. In sports, you truly are at the mercy of your dumbest opposition when it comes to free agent offers. Like, say, that contract David Clarkson got.

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND ARE CONTENDERS.

They have certainly improved after sucking shit for a decade. That usually works. It worked for the Kings after all. But, unlike the Leafs, the Kings already have a proven track record of being winners. A team where Doughty has grown familiar with his teammates, the franchise, the city, and the Kings can start lining up a new contract for him and seeing what it takes to keep Doughty starting this summer.

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE GOING TO SIGN DREW DOUGHTY BECAUSE HE’S DESTINED TO BE A LEAF.

Well, if the Kings can’t work out an extension with Doughty they could always try shopping him next year to get anything for him before he departs. A lot of teams will be up for a top flight defenseman who is still under 30.

BUT NO IT WILL BE THE MAPLE LEAFS.

Maybe, sure-

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS NEED HIM.

A lot of teams could use his service, and he would likely get a lot of offers, if he decides to leave Los Angeles if he wants to chase an insane contract.

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE GONNA GET HIM FOR A REASONABLE DEAL.

Maybe? Drew would likely take a small planet’s amount of money to sign because leaving a team where he’s had a ton of success would require a team with more success and a offer of cash that dwarfs whatever Los Angeles could give him. Which would likely be a lot.

BUT THE MAPLE LEAFS ARE HIS HOME TOWN TEAM.

And Doughty said he grew up being a Kings fan.

NO HE’S FROM ONTARIO.

Yes, but-

HE’S GONNA BE A LEAF.

Stop yelling.

LEAF. TORONTO DREW MAPLE DOUGHTY.

What?

DOUGHTY WILL BE IN TORONTO NEXT YEAR.

Hold on-

HE IS GONNA GET TRADED.

That would require a huge deal for Los Angeles to take-

FOR MATT MARTIN STRAIGHT UP.

No-

YES. AND THEN DOUGHTY SIGNS A CONTRACT FOR 6 MILLION A YEAR.

He’s making 7 million annually right now.

AND THEN TORONTO IS GONNA HAVE A CUP AND I WILL HAVE A CUP AND I WILL FUCK THE CUP AND I WILL FUCK A MAPLE TREE.

Okay there.

OH MY GOD I’M SO HARD THINKING ABOUT THIS.

I’m just gonna leave.

Prediction

Someone in Toronto will say this makes sense.