Doughty feels he and Karlsson deserve 'quite a bit more' money than Subban

Most NHL players are tight-lipped when it comes to anything relating to contract negotiations, but Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is the rare exception.

In an interview with Craig Custance of The Athletic, Doughty revealed that he will be in contact with fellow superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson at some point prior to the 2019 free-agency period, when both players are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.

"I know I'm going to talk to Karlsson back and forth, kind of see what money he's looking for. I'll kind of look at what money I'm looking for," Doughty said. "I don't know if he's going to re-sign with Ottawa, I don't know if I'll re-sign with L.A. You just never know what's going to happen."

While Doughty didn't get into exact salary demands, he did note that P.K. Subban's contract, which comes with a $9-million cap hit - the most among NHL defensemen - should be the benchmark.

"Right now, I guess we'd be gauging off what P.K. makes," Doughty said. "I think both of us deserve quite a bit more than that."

Doughty and Karlsson are widely considered the two best defensemen in the NHL, so it's hard to argue that they don't deserve to be paid accordingly.

As to where Doughty would like to wind up if he doesn't reach an extension with the Kings by July 1, 2019, he didn't rule out his boyhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"Growing up, watching them every single time, it's hard to say you'd never want to play for the Leafs," he said.

While that comment may have Leafs fans salivating, Doughty reiterated his love for L.A.

"I love this organization," Doughty said. "I love the players. That's where I would really, really, really feel bad, if I left some of the players. I've done so much in this organization. I'm comfortable here. L.A. is going to be my No. 1 choice to re-sign here. But you never know what can happen, right?"

Only time will tell.