Up next on our 2025-26 season reviews for the Los Angeles Kings, we turn our attention to the blue line. We've already done our season reviews for all the full and partial seasons for the Kings forwards from the 2025-26 campaign.
Defenseman Drew Doughty's 2025-26 season wasn't going to be judged like a typical campaign for the Kings. After missing significant time the previous season due to a serious ankle injury, Doughty entered the 2025-26 campaign focused on regaining his health and his form on the ice.
Drew Doughty's performance for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025-26 season
In the 2025-26 season, Doughty registered five goals, 18 assists, and 23 total points in 72 games played. He also played all four postseason games for the Kings in the first round vs. the Colorado Avalanche.
Doughty was productive offensively and steady on the defensive end of the ice for the Kings in the season's first few months. He registered at least one goal and four total points in each of the season's first three months before undergoing his toughest stretch of the season after the turn of the calendar year in January.
In the month of January, Doughty registered no goals and one total point in 14 games played, with a dismal -10 plus/minus rating.
Coming out of the Olympic break, Doughty looked more comfortable on both sides of the ice, finishing the regular season with two goals and eight total points over his final 22 games.
The positive of this past regular season for Doughty was the fact that he did stay mostly healthy throughout the campaign for the Kings. After missing half of the 2024-25 season due to a lower-body injury, Doughty only missed 10 games this past regular season.
As has been the case in this past few years, Doughty spent most of the season on the top pairing on the blue line for the Kings with Mikey Anderson. Doughty and Anderson led all Kings' defensive pairings in expected goals for percentage (54.7 percent) in the regular season (per Money Puck).
Despite being a regular on the point on special teams on the power play unit for the Kings this past regular season, Doughty didn't register a single power play marker and only one power play assist. He was also a regular contributor on special teams on the penalty kill, playing over 90 minutes on the penalty kill unit this past season.
Even though Doughty did look quicker this past season than he did the prior year coming off of the ankle injury, he was still having trouble shaking all of the rust off for most of the regular season. He also still missed double-digit games and had a rough run in the month of January on the blue line.
Doughty's age has begun to show in this past couple of years. His offensive production, consistency, and speed aren't what they once were for the Kings.
2025-26 Season Grade: C+
What to expect from Drew Doughty moving forward with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2026-27 season?
Going into the upcoming season, Doughty only has one year remaining on his current contract. This is the first time in nearly a decade that Doughty is going into a contract year with the Kings. There isn't much certainty surrounding Doughty's future with the Kings going into training camp and the preseason this fall.
Based on what we've heard from both general manager Ken Holland and Doughty since the postseason exit interviews last spring, there are a few possibilities for his future with the Kings beyond this upcoming season.
Assuming Doughty remains with the Kings for the entire season, he is expected to be a top-four contributor on the blue line and remain a presence on special teams.
While Doughty isn't the same defenseman he was for the Kings, who regularly competed for NHL All-Star selections and Norris Trophy awards, he still showed he can be an impactful top-four defenseman and one of the team's most important leaders.
Add us as a preferred source on Google