Drew Doughty Injury Opens Up Opportunities for More Los Angeles Kings Defensemen – Hockey Writers – Los Angeles Kings

Throughout the 2024-25 NHL preseason, there have been an unusual number of injuries to proven NHL stars. There has been much discussion about whether or not older NHLers should play in these meaningless games, jeopardizing their club's success in the regular season.

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Last Wednesday in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights, defenseman Drew Doughty collided with former Los Angeles Kings Tanner Pearson. It was a bad collision with the boards that saw Doughty leave the ice in great pain, unable to put weight on his left leg. Later it was confirmed that Doughty would be out for a month with a sprained ankle.

Doughty Irreplaceable

It's no secret the kind of importance Doughty has to this Kings team. He has been a cornerstone of their blue line for over a decade and one of the most consistent and reliable defenders in the league. The 34-year-old played in all 82 games in Los Angeles last season and led them with 2,115:04 minutes, second in the league behind John Carlson of the Washington Capitals. Doughty also led the Kings in points by a defenseman with 50, finishing with 15 goals and 35 assists. From being the starting guy, to supporting the first unit on the power play, to playing the penalty kill, to wearing the letter on his chest, the number of roles that Doughty carries is endless. For a player who produces the way he does, eats up the amount of minutes he does, and the kind of impact he has in the locker room, the hole Doughty leaves is huge and impossible to completely fill.

You could go down the Kings list and ask each player what Doughty means to this team and two of the most common things you will hear is how he talks in the locker room and that he is a “one of a kind” player. which cannot be changed. It will take all the efforts of the defending team to step up and try their best to fill that big gap.

Chances from Clarke, Spence, and Other Defenders

Since Doughty can't get back on the ice in a timely manner, it opens up opportunities and opportunities for other defensemen. The two blue-eyed characters who are the future of this franchise will see their roles grow much faster than expected. Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence will be relied upon heavily on the right to take over. The transition to a bigger role and ice time may be easier for Spence as he has only had one full season in the NHL. Regardless of their experience, both Spence and Clarke will not miss the chance to make their mark and prove their worth.

“I think if I have opportunities to get more ice time, play PK and PP, I need to step up and do everything I can and try to contribute and win games,” Spence said.

“I'm up for the challenge, I'm kind of thrown in at the end here but I don't mind at all, I've done that before in my life, and I'm going to do it again now. And that's going to be fun,” said Clarke, “I'm in the best shape I've ever been in my life so I'm ready for what's to come for sure. “

With Clarke's offensive talent, there is one key aspect to his expanded role and that will be getting back on the power play. It's an area where Clarke hopes to thrive and have more time and space to showcase those offensive gifts and create plays off the blue line.

“I think it's just quick puck movement, we have some star guys out there […] “I want to be seamless and match those guys, so if it's going to be like that, I'm going to do everything I can to be another clog in the wheel and help them out, get pucks in the net, and get some of our players on that team,” he said.

The three right tackle spots would have been filled with Doughty, Spence, and Clarke and that right side would look good, but with Doughty out, the right tackle is open. In the mind comes to mind the player that the Kings clearly see that he is important to him (as they sold him this season).

Kyle Burroughs – who was brought to Los Angeles in a trade for Carl Grundstrom – will be the leading candidate to fill in on that right side, most likely in the third pairing depending on how the Kings decide to distribute the talent they have. Burroughs won't help the offensive production and he won't play on the power play, which is fine because they have Spence and Clarke to handle that, but he will be able to help bring the physicality that will do. he is lost and Doughty is not.

It is important that the situations and matchups that Burroughs faces are closely monitored in order to be more successful. If there's one thing that's certain about Burroughs it's how good his work is. He's the seventh defenseman to bring it every night and he was brought in to be a guy who can fill in in case of an injury.

“There are a lot of opportunities for people to step up, but you have to be a deep team to be a good team and for me to get opportunities, maybe touch more, and have a big impact on the game is something I don't want. they want to move around,” Burroughs said.

The Kings have a few different routes they can take if they fit a left winger into a right winger. Caleb Jones, who looked somewhat promising in the preseason, has experience playing on the right side and could be an alternative. Once again, Jones will not bring the Kings any kind of significant production. He played in 25 NHL games last season with the Colorado Avalanche finishing with five assists and a plus-18 rating. Like Burroughs, Jones can be relied upon in the right situations.

It will take a full team effort for the Kings to mitigate the effects of losing Doughty, but it will be even more interesting to see how guys like Clarke and Spence embrace this opportunity and how they handle a big and very important job.