Defenseman Drew Doughty is a franchise mainstay for the Los Angeles Kings in the past couple of decades in the West. Doughty, the all-time goals scored leader in Kings' franchise history, has been able to be a staple for LA in the past 18 years in the league in the NHL.
Drew Doughty has been a leader and impactful defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings in the past two decades
Doughty has been an assistant captain who's led the team in the locker room and on the ice emotionally for the past decade (since the 2016-17 season). I can't think of many other Kings' players who have competed harder and produced more consistently to rise to the moment on the blue line for the team in the past couple of decades than Doughty has since the late 2000s decade in the NHL.
A deep and talented group of leaders for the Kings' franchise over the past couple of decades in LA has emerged since the 2010s decade for the team. The Kings had two faces of the franchise and long-time captains lead the team for the past decade and a half or so, including Dustin Brown and current center captain Anze Kopitar.
Doughty and Kopitar can both lead by example with their play and leadership in the locker room and on the ice for the Kings' franchise.
William Bourget of The Hockey Writers named Doughty among the "seven best active players to never be captain" in the NHL for the Kings this week. Doughty was given the nod for his leadership, consistent production, and postseason success with the Kings franchise over the past couple of decades for the team.
His name was mentioned in a group of NHL stars including Patrick Kane and Evgeni Malkin.
In his career in the league (since the 2008-09 season), Doughty has won the Norris Trophy, two Stanley Cup rings for the Kings, and represented the team multiple times in the NHL All-Star Game in the past couple of decades.