from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Lucic caught in numbers game

Had Milan Lucic been traded to a team other than the Kings, the ex-Bruin could already have his next contract in place. The 27-year-old left wing, with full health, a primary role, and motivation on his side, is in line to have a good season. An extension now would cost less than a new deal next offseason. But LA’s first priority is re-upping Anze Kopitar, who will also be unrestricted on July 1. And that will be a complicated transaction. Had business proceeded normally, Kopitar would have signed an extension comparable to Jonathan Toews’s eight-year, $84 million blockbuster. Kopitar is LA’s version of Toews. But within the context of a slow-to-rise cap, Toews’s deal is inflationary. As much as they need Kopitar back, the Kings have to be conservative. Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli will be restricted after 2016-17. In that context, Lucic is a secondary priority for the Kings. He may even be a short-term acquisition in the Kings’ push to return to the playoffs.

Masking agents

Anaheim’s goaltending tandem of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson may not continue in 2015-16. The Ducks acquired Anton Khudobin from Carolina for James Wisniewski on June 27. The ex-Bruin could be Andersen’s backup, leaving Gibson to develop in the AHL. If so, it would break up the best mask duo in the league. Andersen will wear another logo-themed lid in 2015-16, this time with a Batman mask over a duck’s face. Gibson will have a mask based on Duck Hunt, the classic 8-bit Nintendo shooter game.

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