Kings and Patrick O'Sullivan: Talks continue

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi left his office well after dark Monday after spending most of the day intensely negotiating a new deal for restricted free agent forward Patrick O'Sullivan.

"Close but no cigar," he reported via e-mail.

He also said he expected talks would continue, which is a positive sign.

The Kings will need the offense O'Sullivan provided last season (22 goals, 53 points) if they're going to climb out of the Western Conference cellar. They've kept a roster spot open for him by announcing Monday they had kept only 22 players instead of 23.

A quick resolution would mean O'Sullivan wouldn't be too far behind his teammates and would end questions about when -- or if -- he will show up.

The Kings want to sign O'Sullivan and other players to long-term deals, but O'Sullivan's side has been reluctant to relinquish a chance at free agency. The sides were far apart on money in the early going but may have come closer. The Kings certainly can afford him, since they're near the salary floor of $40.7 million.

More tomorrow -- and maybe a cigar.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Patrick O'Sullivan scores against Vancouver last March. The puck is at the tip of his stick's blade. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[bernie jackson]

Never should have dragged on this long. You can't preach patience and a youth movement to the fans and then decide not pay the youth which pushes the progress of the team back with holdouts, missed training camp, etc. Man I despise AEG.....