from Lisa Dillman of the LA Times,

“To be honest, I really don't have much interest into hitting the open market, or even hearing what's out there -- because in my mind, this is where I want to be,” said Lucic. “Why flirt with something when you know what you want?”

Lucic's willingness to stay, at what would almost certainly be at a discount compared to what he could potentially earn as a free agent, might make negotiations on a contract extension easier for Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi. Lucic, whose salary-cap hit to the Kings was $3.25 million this last year, said he didn't think the sides were too far apart.

“Just a little bit more work to do to bridge the gap here,” said Lucic. “It's something I definitely want moving forward and it's something they want too. Hopefully, we can make it work out here.”...

As expected, Vinny Lecavalier, who joined the Kings in January from the Philadelphia Flyers, made it official - he will be retiring. Lecavalier made that promise to the Kings so that his $4.5-million salary-cap charge wouldn't linger on the books.

“I've had a lot of good moments,” said a reflective Lecavalier. “One of the best was winning the Cup [in 2004, with the Tampa Bay Lightning] but to get a second chance at playing when you think you might not play again was great. This was just a really good experience for me, the last three or four months.

“I always had that confidence deep down I could still do well. It was great, and this is a great team. I know they're going to win again, just by the way they act, and the leadership group and the talent they have. It's been great.”

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