Kings re-up with Lombardi, Sutter and Robitaille

Three key figures from LA’s first-ever Stanley Cup are sticking around for the long haul.

On Friday, the Kings announced multi-year extensions for President/GM Dean Lombardi, President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille and head coach Darryl Sutter.

“We are ecstatic that we have kept our leadership team in place both on the hockey side with Dean and Darryl and on the business side with Luc and remain in a position to continue competing for the Stanley Cup for many more years,” Kings Governor Tim Leiweke said in a statement. “They have all done a fantastic job in their respective areas and they have put together outstanding leadership teams.

“They collectively are a huge reason our franchise is enjoying the success we are enjoying. Now the challenge is to stay on top of that mountain.”

News of the Lombardi and Sutter extensions came earlier in the week when Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times reported both signing. Lombardi’s deal is believed to be a four-year extension that runs through 2016-17 while the length of Sutter’s agreement is unknown (though Elliott reported it’s a “long-term agreement.”)

Robitaille’s extension is well-deserved given the Kings’ steadily-increasing public visibility and attendance numbers.

Here’s more, from the Kings website:

Robitaille continues to help impact the Kings business operations department, especially in the areas of sponsorship sales and renewal, fan and customer relations, game entertainment, media relations and broadcasting. He has been a driving force behind unique events including LA Kings Hockey Fest and the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at STAPLES Center.

Since 2007-08 and under Robitaille’s leadership, the Kings have increased their number of sellouts at STAPLES Center each season. Last season the Kings sold out a STAPLES Center-record 37 (of 39 games as the club had two “home” game in Europe) contests and they enter this season expecting to sellout every game. Last year the Kings enjoyed an average attendance of 18,119 – best in club history, while also enjoying record revenues on the whole.

With these moves, the Kings have essentially retained all the key components from their Stanley Cup championship for a good while — Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick are all signed through to the end of 2016.