Los Angeles Kings
Doughty Calls Out Critics Ahead of the Kings 2020-21 Season
LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is looking to silence critics with a bounce back 2020-21 season.
After winning two Stanley Cups in a span of two years (2012, 2014), the Los Angeles Kings have slowly faded out of contention. This is somewhat puzzling as the core players from those championship teams — an aging group — are still with the club. In fact, Anže Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Jeff Brown, Jonathan Quick, and Drew Doughty are all two-time champions with the Kings.
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At 31, Doughty is the youngest player of that core group. He is also the highest-paid Kings player and will be expected to be a big factor in bringing this team back into contention. The former 2nd overall selection (2008) also has LA’s lengthiest term and is under contract until 2026-27.
Shortly after the team’s last playoff appearance in 2018 — a four-game series sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights –, the Kings signed the London native to an eight-year, $88 million dollar deal. Apparently, he is a fan of the number eight.
Underperforming in LA
Since signing that contract, the Kings have not been close to making the playoffs – finishing 8th and 7th in the Pacific Division over the last two seasons. As such, the criticism has gotten louder. This is, of course, the normal response when when teams are underperforming despite paying a few hefty and lengthy contracts. Doughty has heard the criticism and is less than thrilled about it.
“A lot of people have me written off as not even a good player anymore,” Doughty told The Athletic’s Lisa Dillman. He went on to say that this criticism has fueled him to have a better individual season but also help the team “get better.” That is good news for Kings fans as he seems like a personality that thrives with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
We or Me?
At the same time, I have to question whether he is more concerned about his team or his own individual legacy. Doughty also expressed frustration with Dillman about being left off of several projections for the next Canadian Olympic team. That feels like mixed messaging about his true motivation to improve. After all, he is being paid to perform as a member of the LA Kings organization and should be his number one priority accordingly.
All that said, Doughty is still capable of being an elite NHL defender. After all, if he is still able to manage a half point per game pace during one of his poorest seasons – seven goals and 28 assists during a Covid shortened 67 games – then it might be a bit too soon to write him off. It is worth noting that he is also only two years removed from a 60 point campaign in 2017-18.
Doughty claims to have used this offseason to get bigger and stronger – in other words he claims to have used this extended lay off to his advantage.
Time will tell. And soon, as we are now within two weeks of a brand-new NHL season!
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