Los Angeles Kings’ Star Defenseman Sidelined Indefinitely Following Ankle Surgery
The Los Angeles Kings suffered a significant blow to their defense when star blueliner Drew Doughty was ruled out indefinitely due to an ankle injury requiring surgery. The 2016 Norris Trophy winner sustained the injury during a preseason game against the Golden Knights, colliding with Vegas forward Tanner Pearson in the first period.
Doughty’s absence will be deeply felt, as he has been a stalwart on the Kings’ top pairing and top-four defense since his rookie season in 2008-09. His durability has been impressive, playing in all 82 games last season and completing over 76 games in 11 campaigns.
The 34-year-old defenseman has been a workhorse, logging an average of 25:47 ice time per game, ranking among the league leaders. He also contributed 15 goals and 50 points last season, marking the fifth time he reached the 50-point milestone.
With Doughty sidelined, the Kings’ defense will need to adapt, potentially featuring a top-four mix of Mikey Anderson, Kyle Burroughs, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Jordan Spence. Promising prospect Brandt Clarke may also see increased playing time.
The upcoming season is crucial for the Kings, who have made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons but have been eliminated in the first round each time. As the Western Conference becomes increasingly competitive, the Kings will need to find a way to overcome Doughty’s absence and make a deeper playoff push.
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