Kings’ Doughty embraces leadership role
He has won two Stanley Cups and a pair of Olympic gold medals. Now Drew Doughty gets to win something else — the respect of his teammates in the Los Angeles Kings’ locker room.
Judging by the early returns, he already might have it.
The 25-year-old from London, Ontario, who is one of the NHL’s top defensemen, has been tasked with being one of the team’s leaders. He has been named alternate captain, a designation he received for his play on the ice and his responsibility and professionalism off it.
“It’s an honor I take very seriously,” Doughty said prior to Saturday’s Frozen Fury NHL preseason game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the Kings had their final tuneup for Wednesday’s regular-season opener against San Jose with a 4-0 win over Colorado. “I’ve played seven years here, and I’ve played with the top players in the world at the Olympics, so I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a leader, and I’m ready to take that next step.”
Doughty had seven goals and 46 points last season and was runner-up to Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson for the Norris Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s top defenseman. He said despite the numerous changes the Kings made in the offseason, he believes the locker room is a good one and that the chemistry should be solid.
“We’ve got a lot of veterans here,” he said. “We’re all on the same page.”
The Kings’ mission for 2016 is simple — get back to the postseason after missing the playoffs last year.
On Saturday, they looked like a team more than capable of doing so as they dominated the Avalanche from the opening puck drop. With goals from Dustin Brown, Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis and Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles showed plenty of balance and firepower.
It was an easy night for goalie Jonathan Quick, who faced just 15 shots while the Kings peppered Reto Berra with 32 as they wrapped up the preseason 4-1-1. Colorado finished the preseason 1-4-1.
“It sucked having to watch everyone else play,” Doughty said of missing the playoffs last spring. “It was a horrible feeling. But when you’re leaving it up to the last five games of the season, more likely than not you’re not going to make the playoffs.”
Doughty spent his time during the offseason wisely. He got himself in better shape and hopes to play under 200 pounds after playing at 212 pounds last season, with the plan of being quicker and faster. He also worked on his shooting and hopes to double his goal output from a year ago.
“It’s all about putting in the time to get better,” he said. “And I had a lot of time this spring and summer.”
Kings president Luc Robitaille said the time is right for Doughty to take on more responsibility off the ice.
“He’s a winner,” Robitaille said. “The kid has been around us long enough, and we think he’s ready to step up. This is his time.”
Doughty said the coaches’ faith in him has given him the confidence to know that he can handle wearing that “A” as well as be a leader in the locker room.
“I’ve always prided myself on the way I prepare,” he said. “You watch and learn from other guys how they lead in the room, and I’ve been fortunate to learn from some veterans.
“I think the coaches have trust in me, and I’m ready to take that jump and do whatever it takes.”
Like many around the NHL, Doughty wouldn’t mind if in a couple of years he and the Kings come to Las Vegas only to find themselves the enemy. He supports the idea of the city getting a team of its own, and he believes it would be a spicy rivalry.
“The fans here are into hockey,” he said. “I think it would be a natural rivalry for us, just like we have with San Jose and with Anaheim.
“When I see San Jose on the schedule, I get extra pumped. Same thing when I see Anaheim on the schedule. So if Vegas gets its own team, I’ll definitely be pumped up. I know the fans will be into it.”
Saturday’s game, which was played in front of a sellout crowd of 12,217, was the final time the Kings will play at the Grand Garden. Robitaille said that next year’s Frozen Fury will be played at the new 17,500-seat MGM-AEG arena currently under construction behind New York-New York. The Kings had a 12-4-3 record at the Grand Garden, playing two games in 1998 and twice in 2013 after the NHL lockout forced the cancellation of the 2012 game.
L.A. also played the New York Rangers in the famous outdoor game at Caesars Palace in 1991 (a 5-2 Kings win) and in 1995 at the Thomas & Mack Center (a 6-4 L.A. win). With Saturday’s victory, the Kings’ all-time record in Las Vegas is 14-4-3.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
