Report: Kings, coach Darryl Sutter agree to 2-year contract extension
With less than two months left before his contract was set to expire, the Los Angeles Kings have extended Darryl Sutter's deal by two years, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday. The team officially announced his return Friday but didn't disclose the terms of the deal.
He's back. https://t.co/qdUolbZee7 pic.twitter.com/Vn8ZUdCNLY
— #LAKings (@LAKings) May 13, 2016
The Kings were eliminated in five games by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs, but Sutter has won two Stanley Cups with the team (in 2012 and 2014) since he was hired in 2011, going 186-112-45 in the regular season.
The Times reported that Sutter will earn excess of the $3 million per season Todd McLellan received from the Edmonton Oilers. The Times also expects there to be an option for a third year.
Sutter, 57, has coached four NHL teams — the Kings, Flames, Sharks and Blackhawks — for a total of 17 seasons and has a 595-432-101-75 record.
"I have lots of coaching left," the 57-year-old Sutter said Friday during a conference call.
The Kings won the Cup in 2012 and 2014 before missing the playoffs last season. They led the Pacific Division for most of this season before finishing one point out of first place. They lost to San Jose in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
Re-signing Sutter was the first major task general manager Dean Lombardi faced this offseason. The Kings have six major unrestricted free agents, including forward Milan Lucic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
