Los Angeles Kings

Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel could be on the move this offseason, and TSN's Darren Dreger has identified three teams that are "in the mix" to land the 24-year-old.

In an appearance Friday on WGR 550, Dreger said the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings are among potential landing spots for the forward. The Sabres captain said last month that "there's been a bit of a disconnect" between him and the organization that drafted him at No. 2 overall in 2015. 

Eichel appeared in 21 games in 2021, scoring two goals and logging 16 assists before a herniated disk in his neck ended his season prematurely. 

According to Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post, Eichel wanted to have surgery to repair his neck injury—which he suffered on the ice on March 7—but the Sabres did not support that decision. 

"I have a lot of thinking to do in this offseason," he said in May. "I think that there’s a lot that I have to consider. But for now, obviously, I’m here." 

The center has five years and $50 million remaining on his current contract, with a no-trade clause in effect in 2022. 

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Monday that the Sabres were having conversations with other teams and those negotiations were "getting more intense and serious."

In addition to Los Angeles, Anaheim and Columbus, LeBrun tabbed the Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers as possible destinations, noting that he thinks general manager Kevyn Adams is hoping to land a first-round pick in this year's draft in exchange for Eichel. 

With the draft coming up on July 23, that puts any interested team on the clock, something that was reflected when WGR 550's Jeremy White said Thursday that he expected a move to be made within "days."

After missing the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, the Los Angeles Kings are looking to make significant roster changes this offseason. 

According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Kings are looking to add "two top-six forwards" either via trades or free agency. 

The Kings currently project to have $18.9 million in cap space to upgrade their roster, per Spotrac. 

It's not a surprise that the Kings would be targeting players who can help them score goals. They finished 27th in goals scored in 2020-21, their highest ranking in that category in four seasons. 

Dustin Brown was the Kings' leading goal-scorer last season with 17, but he's 36 years old and only has one year remaining on his current contract. 

There could be a robust market of free-agent forwards for teams this summer. Alex Ovechkin, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall are some of the notable names set to hit the market. 

Since winning the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, the Kings have won just one playoff game in two postseason appearances. They haven't finished higher than fourth in the division standings since the 2015-16 season. 

The Los Angeles Kings selected Quinton Byfield with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Alexis Lafreniere is widely viewed as the top player in this year's draft class, with Byfield and Tim Stutzle vying for the title of second-best.

The 17-year-old center had a strong 2018-19 season with the Sudbury Wolves, scoring 29 goals and racking up 32 assists. He was on his way to a massive 2019-20 campaign before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of the season. He had 32 goals and 50 assists through 45 games.

Byfield also helped Canada claim its second world junior title in January, finishing with one assist in seven games. Lafreniere was the tournament's MVP after collecting 10 points in five appearances.

Byfield's production was somewhat underwhelming but shouldn't obscure his obvious potential. The Athletic's Corey Pronman offered his evaluation of the Canadian teenager in April and found he hits all the necessary player traits:

"Byfield is a player who is easy to get excited about. He checks off all the boxes you want in a top NHL prospect. Excellent skater? Check. Elite skill? Check. Great vision? Check. Can score goals? Check. A physically imposing player who competes? Check. A very impressive statistical track record? Check.

"You are talking about a 6-foot-4 center who projects to be above, if not well above NHL average in terms of speed, skill and playmaking."

In October, The Hockey Writers' Bryan Mills compared Byfield to Eric Lindros, which is high praise given how great Lindros was before concussions derailed his career. The Hall of Famer had size (6'4", 240 lbs) and the speed to match, making him a terror for opposing teams.

When Mills drew the parallel, Byfield was still early into his second year with the Wolves. His performance over the course of the season only strengthened the notion he could be on a path that mimics that of Lindros.

In his final mock draft for B/R, Lyle Richardson projected Byfield to land with the Kings: "With Anze Kopitar having turned 33 on Aug. 24 and Jeff Carter in the twilight of his career, the Kings must find eventual replacements for their top two centers. Byfield has the skills to become the successor."

Kings fans didn't have a lot to get excited about as the team collected the second-fewest points in the Western Conference. Landing Byfield at least makes all of that losing somewhat worth it.

Tim Smith, the actor who performed as the Los Angeles Kings' mascot, Bailey, has been fired from his role amid a sexual harassment lawsuit, per Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register.

"Today, the L.A. Kings terminated the employment of Tim Smith," a Kings statement read, per Teaford. "We are not in a position to provide further details or comments on this matter due to pending litigation."

In August, TMZ Sports reported that Smith was allegedly sexually harassing a woman who worked as an Ice Crew staff member at fan events for the Kings. 

TMZ Sports provided details of the allegations:

"But, things went south, according to the lawsuit, when Tim Smith—the man who plays 'Bailey' the mascot—began routinely hurling sexually charged comments in her direction.

"... But, Doe says Smith created a terrible environment for female employees—constantly cracking lewd jokes, making inappropriate sexual comments and would leer at her 'breasts and buttocks' ...making her feel super uncomfortable."

According to the report, the woman said Smith managed the Ice Crew and fired her in retaliation after she made it clear his behavior and comments were unwelcome.

The woman said she returned at the behest of a team official who acknowledged Smith's poor behavior. That official said she would be protected from Smith, but he reportedly continued to harass her.

Per TMZ Sports, Smith "allegedly put his crotch in her face in the mascot locker room while making lewd comments and thrusting his hips."

In mid-August, TMZ Sports reported that the Kings suspended Smith, who is being sued alongside the Kings and ownership group AEG for more than $1 million in damages.

Smith has been sued before. Per Teaford, a dishwasher named Maso Griffin sued Smith, the Kings, AEG and two local food service companies "after the mascot allegedly groped the plaintiff's buttocks in a Staples Center elevator" in 2017.       

The Los Angeles Kings announced Saturday that they have suspended Tim Smith, who plays their Bailey the lion mascot, after a former member of the Kings Ice Crew said that he sexually harassed her in a lawsuit filed against Smith and the team.

According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the Kings released the following statement on the matter:

"We are aware of the recently-filed lawsuit alleging misconduct by one of our employees. The LA Kings take these allegations very seriously and, as an organization, we believe that everyone has the right to work in an environment free from any form of harassment or discrimination.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter. The employee in question has been suspended, effective immediately, pending the conclusion of that investigation. We are withholding any further comment at this time."

TMZ Sports reported Thursday that the woman, who is being referred to as Jane Doe, said in the lawsuit that Smith harassed her both verbally and physically.

She is seeking more than $1 million in damages from Smith, the Kings and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which owns the Kings.

Smith, who has worked for the Kings since 2007, is also their senior manager of game presentation and events. As part of his job, Smith oversees the Kings Ice Crew and is able to hire and fire crew members.

The woman said Smith made "lewd jokes" and "inappropriate sexual comments." She also said that Smith once put his crotch in her face and thrust his hips while making lewd jokes.

The woman said Smith fired her when she protested his behavior, but she returned when a team official promised to protect her from Smith's actions. The woman said she quit when Smith continued to act inappropriately.

Per Wyshynski, a man sued Smith for sexual harassment in 2017 after he said Smith grabbed his buttocks during an elevator ride, but the parties settled the case in 2018.

Bailey the lion is among the NHL's most popular mascots due in part to its Twitter account, which has 54,000 followers.

The Kings were among the NHL's most successful teams from 2009 through 2018 with seven playoff appearances in nine seasons and two Stanley Cup wins, but they have missed the postseason in each of the past two campaigns.

L.A. had the second-fewest points in the Western Conference this season with 64.

A woman using the alias Jane Doe is reportedly suing the Los Angeles Kings, AEG (which owns the team) and Tim Smith, who plays "Bailey" the mascot, for more than $1 million in damages because she said Smith sexually harassed her a number of times.

TMZ Sports reported the news, noting Doe worked on the Ice Crew for the Kings and Ontario Reign of the AHL.

Doe said Smith, who also managed the Ice Crew and could hire and fire employees, "created a terrible environment for female employees—constantly cracking lewd jokes, making inappropriate sexual comments and would leer at her 'breasts and buttocks.'"

Doe also said Smith fired her when she said she did not appreciate the advances and comments, and she only came back to the team when a Kings official asked her to and promised she would be kept away from Smith.

Instead, Doe said Smith continued to harass her and "put his crotch in her face in the mascot locker room while making lewd comments and thrusting his hips."

She said she quit the team after the behavior did not stop when she returned.

Los Angeles Kings star Drew Doughty expressed skepticism about the fate of the 2019-20 NHL season, which is currently on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Doughty provided his thoughts on the situation during a conference call Monday with reporters, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski:

"I don't see how this season is going to return. I really don't. We have no idea when this virus is going to be over. We're all kind of just sitting at home, just hoping to return to the season or hoping to watch the playoffs return. But we're just sitting here, waiting, working out, being ready to return at any point.

"I think the NHL would have to make some kind of decision on that soon, and it seems like it's pretty tough to resume the season or the playoffs."

Commissioner Gary Bettman suspended play March 12 with the goal of resuming action and crowning a champion in the Stanley Cup Final.

Because their seasons overlap and the two leagues share some venues, the NBA has served as a barometer of sorts for the NHL in terms of when the pandemic has slowed enough to get games going again.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported April 3 that some inside the NBA had been discouraged by the Chinese government's decision to indefinitely suspend the return of the Chinese Basketball Association for health reasons:

Bettman acknowledged last week on Lunch Talk Live with Mike Tirico (h/t Pro Hockey Talk's Sean Leahy) the league was looking at things from every angle.

"We're looking at all options," he said. "Nothing's been ruled in, nothing's been ruled out. And it's largely going to be determined what we do by how much time there is because we have next season to focus on as well."

At the very least, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended eight-week halt to events with 50 or more people would preclude the NHL from coming back before mid-May.

The Los Angeles Kings and Todd McLellan reached a "multiyear" contract to make him the 29th head coach in franchise history, the team announced Tuesday. 

McLellan, 51, will be taking over for interim coach Willie Desjardins. The Kings fired former coach John Stevens last November.

McLellan has coached the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers, compiling a 434-282-90 record. The Oilers fired him 20 games into the 2018-19 season. 

The Kings have made the playoffs only twice since winning the 2014 Stanley Cup and were eliminated in the first round on both occasions. They went 31-42-9 this past season, good for last place in the Pacific Division and a Western Conference-low 71 points.

The Kings will pick fifth in the 2019 NHL draft after dropping three spots in the lottery.

While the franchise enjoyed an extended run of success, odds are this is the beginning of a full-scale rebuild rather than a reload. The Kings are in need of an influx of young talent after going for broke to win a pair of Stanley Cups, and their fans have already moved on to looking at who might be available at No. 5.

McLellan made the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as an NHL coach but has missed the postseason four of his past five years. 

Thursday’s game between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks was kind of a big deal.

Will Ferrell was in attendance in the broadcast booth at Staples Center as his Anchorman character, Ron Burgundy, and brought his memorable style to the call. He urged the Kings to shoot when they didn’t have the puck, told the viewers the game was stopped at times because feral cats ran onto the ice and brought out a sizable burrito.

He even got on the kiss cam with said burrito.

Ferrell is a notable sports fan and partial owner of Los Angeles FC as well.

Perhaps the Kings should have turned to Burgundy earlier in the season because they have the fewest points in the Western Conference with 58.

Stay classy, hockey players. Ron Burgundy will be in the building for Thursday's game between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings announced Will Ferrell's character, Burgundy, will join the Fox Sports West broadcast of the game in Staples Center.

His appearance will come at the start of the second period:

Burgundy describes himself as "kind of a big deal," but Los Angeles is no stranger to celebrities in attendance. Rapper Snoop Dogg dropped the first puck for a game earlier this season against the Pittsburgh Penguins:

This won't be the first time Ferrell is involved with professional sports either. He suited up at 10 different positions for 10 different MLB teams in five Cactus League games during a single day in 2015 and is a partial owner of Los Angeles FC.

Don't act like you're not impressed when Burgundy drops his hockey knowledge during the game.