Kings, Ducks preparing for free-agency period

Not to look past the NHL draft, which begins Friday at Staples Center with the first round and wraps up Saturday with the last six rounds, but the NHL’s free-agency period will start next Thursday and the Kings and Ducks have been as busy preparing for that as for the draft.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said this week he had met with defenseman Sean O’Donnell, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency, but they haven’t agreed on O’Donnell’s future role. Lombardi praised the nearly 39-year-old’s leadership, saying that “as a person, he was everything I could have imagined….as good a veteran signing as I’ve had,” but said O’Donnell might have to agree to play fewer minutes next season.

“It’s clear he still wants to play. Next thing becomes, what’s the role going to be and you have to accept the role,” Lombardi said. “We’re looking at some things to improve the team and until I can give him a definitive job description… From a team standpoint I want to see how some things shake out in terms of trying to get better.”

Lombardi sounded doubtful about the return of unrestricted free-agent winger Alexander Frolov, who is rumored to have gotten an offer from Russia’s KHL.

“I think it’s safe to say we’re going to go to July 1 and look at all our options. And I think this week we’ll get more of a handle on this Russian thing,” Lombardi said. “I think in fairness to Fro, just like he’s going to want to see what’s out there, I think I kind of want to see what’s out there.

“So if you’re asking me if we’re going to make him an offer before the first, no.”

Lombardi also said he anticipated no problems retaining restricted free-agent forwards Brad Richardson and Richard Clune. “They’re not going anywhere,” said Lombardi, who can start discussing extensions with Drew Doughty, Wayne Simmonds and Jack Johnson after July 1.

Bob Murray, the Ducks’ general manager, said he had sent qualifying offers to restricted free agents Bobby Ryan and James Wisniewski but saw little progress in talks with their representatives.

Ryan recently told the Orange County Register he was “worried” about the lack of negotiations, a comment Murray said he didn’t understand.

“We made a pretty decent offer to Bobby. What he said in the papers himself the other day, I was a little confused,” Murray said. “We made a five-year offer between $20 [million] and $25 million. That’s not bad….

“It can’t be that far away that he should be disappointed or nervous, is what I’m surprised at.”

Murray also said he’s prepared to respond if another team makes an offer to Ryan. The Ducks would have the right to match.

“We’re very comfortable with our offer. We’re in it for the long haul here,” Murray said. “We’re set up pretty good for an offer sheet and if that happens we’ll fight the fight, but we’ve made a really good offer so far. A really good offer.”

The Ducks are still awaiting word from right wing Teemu Selanne on whether he will return or retire. They were hoping to hear before Friday’s draft, because his decision could affect their plans. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer announced his retirement early this week, opening salary-cap and roster space.

Big kids, little kids

While the debate raged in Canada whether Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers or Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires will be the No. 1 draft pick, the two 18-year-olds spent part of draft day eve on the ice — but with absolutely no stress.

Both participated in a youth clinic Thursday morning at the Kings’ practice rink in El Segundo, joined by top-ranked Californian Emerson Etem of Long Beach, third-ranked prospect Brett Connolly, fourth-ranked Erik Gudbranson, and fifth-ranked prospect Cam Fowler.

Welcoming a break from the tension that surrounds them, the six helped the energetic kids with warmups, passing drills and shooting. It wasn’t so long ago, really, that they were scooting around the ice like that too.

“Looking back, I was one of those kids on the ice with junior players and it was always exciting, and it brings back really good memories,” Hall said.

“These last couple of days have been really nice for all of us. It’s pretty pressure-packed all season long. We have a lot of media and everything and then you come to L.A. and it’s pretty relaxed. The only pressure-packed day is going to be [Friday].”

That group — minus Gudbranson, who was graduating from high school — watched the Angels’ game against the Dodgers on Wednesday in Anaheim. Connolly took batting practice and hit a pitch out of the park. Unfortunately, neither the Dodgers nor the Angels offered him a contract.

“Too bad,” he said, smiling. “I was seeing the ball good the whole time. I said I was going to step into one and get ahold of it.

“It was fun. The NHL is treating us well and letting us do some pretty fun things.”

Q and A, without the A

The Oilers have the first pick Friday and a reporter from Edmonton, intent on getting the scoop on GM Steve Tambellini’s plans, asked Seguin to guess if the Oilers will choose him or Hall. Seguin politely declined to speculate whether Tambellini had made a decision.

“I couldn’t tell you. I have no idea,” Seguin said. “Everyone has their own opinions. I don’t think anyone is going to know until it happens tomorrow.”

The reporter persisted. “What’s your opinion right now? Day before? This time tomorrow, almost?” he asked.

Seguin wouldn’t bite. “Day before, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be very exciting,” Seguin said.

“Come on. We’ve heard that,” the reporter responded.

“I think it’s a true honor going first, second, 20th in the first round. Going to any NHL team,” Seguin said.

The reporter still wouldn’t let it go. “What are you telling your buddies? That’s the honest part,” the reporter said.

“I’m telling them I have no idea and whatever happens, it will work out for the best and I think it’s meant to be,” Seguin said, still polite.

No. 1 pick or not, he deserves an award for patience and civility.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

twitter.com/helenenothelen