Kings announce Drew Doughty's recovery timeline after scary injury

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
September 27, 2024 (1:59 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Los Angeles Kings have announced that defenceman Drew Doughty will have surgery on a broken ankle, and is considered month to month.

In the Kings' last preseason game, Drew Doughty was checking a Golden Knights player along the boards in a routine play. However, Doughty lost his balance, and his left foot collided directly into the boards and bent in the opposite direction.

Doughty was down on the ice for an extended period clearly unable to put weight on his ankle. His teammates came out quickly to assist him off the ice.

Any time a star player sustains an injury meaningless preseason games, it's a major disappointment to the team and the player. The Kings are a fringe playoff team that relies on Doughty to play top minutes, and without him, their blue line is significantly weaker. Not only will the Kings suffer, but Drew Doughty may miss out on his final opportunity to represent Canada in the Four Nations Faceoff tournament due to this injury.

Now 34 years old, Drew Doughty has been a premier defenceman in the NHL for nearly all of his 16 year career. In 1177 career games, Doughty's scored 669 points, won the Stanley Cup twice, and the Norris Trophy once. He's been a fierce rival of the Edmonton Oilers for years, but fans can still recognize him for a great career.

Thankfully, Doughty will be able to return to play this season. The injury could've been much worse if there was any damage to an ACL, which would've held him out all season. All hockey fans will wish the best to Doughty in his recovery from this injury.

Will the LA Kings make the playoffs this year? Let us know in the poll below!