"AEG, the Kings' parent company, fast-tracked the construction of an NFL stadium in Los Angeles but so far has been unable to get restricted free agent Drew Doughty under contract.

As expected, Doughty didn't attend the Kings' Hockey Fest on Sunday at Staples Center. General Manager Dean Lombardi said he would soon talk to his boss, Tim Leiweke, who will discuss with owner Philip Anschutz how far the Kings will go to secure the 21-year-old defenseman.

Players are due in El Segundo on Friday for pre-training camp physicals and will take to the ice Saturday.

"I still have hope he'll be here Friday. I don't know if I expect it but I have hope," Lombardi said after fielding questions from a crowd of about 3,000. "It's better than no hope.""