Kings Forcing Drew Doughty Into Brutal Decision, Trade Coming?

According to Elliotte Friedman, Drew Doughty will potentially play his final season with the Los Angeles Kings in 2026-27. Whether a trade happens before next year remains unclear, but Doughty won’t be back when his current contract comes to an end.

Friedman reports, “Got a bit lost in everything last night, but LA GM Ken Holland said the Kings will not extend Drew Doughty this summer.” He adds, “Holland did say the organization wants Doughty to finish his career as a King, but that will likely be dealt with after the 2026-27 season — when the franchise cornerstone is eligible to be a free agent.”

“He’s not worried about an extension, I’m not worried about an extension,” said Holland.

Doughty Now Facing a Difficult Decision

That leaves a big decision in Doughty’s court. If the Kings decide not to give him a new deal, they are either forcing Doughty to retire after next season or telling him he’ll have to walk away from the only NHL franchise he’s ever known if his plan is to continue playing.

Doughty has a seven-team trade list. That makes him fairly easy to move, assuming there’s an NHL team open to taking on his $11 million cap hit.

At 36, Doughty is not the player he once was. Still, there’s a lot of bite in his game. Advanced metrics from last season show he was the only regular defenceman on the Kings’ blue line with a positive relative rating in shot attempts, scoring chances, and high-danger chances — elite company for a player his age. His contributions to Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off win and a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics reinforced that he can still make a difference at the highest levels.

But his future is far from settled. Doughty enters the final year of his eight-year, $88 million deal. If the Kings ultimately take the stance that they are done with him, it means they want to move on regardless of what he’s willing to re-sign for. In a similar way to Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh — the Penguins said they weren’t going to extend him, but ultimately did — Doughty might have to prove he’s still got something left to give. After that, take a discount to stay.

Will Drew Doughty Tell the Kings to Trade Him?

So what if the Kings say ‘We’re good.’? Will he gladly hang up his stakes and retire as a King? Or, is he out to prove the organization is making a mistake by forcing him into this decision?

Doughty, for his part, has been clear — he wants to finish his career in Los Angeles. However, when the organization tells you they’ve taken control of the narrative, it could change things. Does Doughty consider telling the Kings to trade him if he’s not ready to call it quits?

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Ducks, Blues, Canadiens, Blue Jackets & Canucks