"The NHL's free agency period begins at 9 a.m. today. For the Kings and Ducks, the top priorities reside in-house.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty becomes a restricted free agent, meaning he's subject to an offer sheet that could, at least temporarily, make him property of another team. While general manager Dean Lombardi plans to match any team's offer, re-signing Doughty gives the Kings a financial framework to guide the rest of their offseason spending.

Future Hall of Fame right wing Teemu Selanne, meanwhile, becomes an unrestricted free agent and either will retire or re-sign in Anaheim.

Beyond that, both teams have some smaller holes to fill. A look at who could be coming to Southern California this summer (ranked in order of 2010-11 salary):

1. Simon Gagne, LW: Health often is a concern with Gagne. When it isn't, he's among the best wingers about to hit the market. The Kings need some scoring touch behind Dustin Penner to bolster the left side, and no other UFA left wing has a 47-goal season on his resume.

2. Michael Ryder, LW: Twice a 30-goal scorer, Ryder thrived as a third-line winger during the Bruins' run to the Stanley Cup. The 31-year-old might not score enough at this stage of his career to satisfy the Kings' needs, but instantly would upgrade a Ducks third line that mostly was inconsistent and ineffective last season."