The LA Kings will go through a major leadership change for the first time in a long time. The retirement of Anze Kopitar at the end of this season will leave a significant gap that might seem impossible to fill.
But then again, the LA Kings have a natural successor for the captaincy. This successor is one the organization owes naming him captain, even if for one season. That player is defenseman Drew Doughty.
The 36-year-old has played his entire career in LA. Since being the second-overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, he’s been a stalwart on the Kings’ blue line. Doughty is the lone remaining piece from the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup-winning clubs.
And he’s been waiting in the wings seemingly his entire career to get a shot at wearing the “C” on his chest.
It’s just time for the LA Kings organization to acknowledge the tremendous contributions that Doughty has made across his career. He’s played nearly 1,300 games in a Kings’ uniform and has chipped in over 700 points in that time.
If there’s anyone who deserves that recognition, it’s Doughty. But there might be one minor catch to naming Doughty captain for the 2026-27 season.
Doughty in Final Year of Contract with LA Kings
While naming Doughty captain of the LA Kings makes all the sense in the world, he’s under contract for one more season. Next season, the veteran blueliner will be entering the final year of his eight-year, $88 million contract.
After that, it’s anyone’s guess if Doughty will keep playing or retire.
It’s worth underscoring that Doughty hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Last season, the Kings’ mainstay was limited to 30 games due to a broken ankle. He’s come back this season to play 66 games, including his participation at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
If Doughty chooses to retire, well, naming him captain for his final season would be a great send-off. But if he opts to remain playing, the LA Kings will have their captain in the fold for the foreseeable future.
Either way, it’s a win-win for the player and the organization.
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Kings Must Look to Long-Term Leadership Plans
With Doughty potentially playing a couple of more seasons, the LA Kings must look towards a long-term leadership succession plan. As it stands, there really isn’t any single player that stands out.
Perhaps Adrian Kempe, who’s under contract for the long haul, could be the logical choice. Similarly, defenseman Mikey Anderson, who also wears an A, could be another choice to succeed Doughty.
Of course, this entire discussion hinges on the supposition that the LA Kings will name Doughty. Perhaps the organization might want to get a head start on that long-term succession plan and go with Kempe or Anderson as captain.
Nevertheless, that move seems unlikely as the optics of such a move might make it seem like a slight to the team’s longtime star blueliner.
All told, this offseason will mark some major changes. The club could be looking to hire a new coach, while Kopitar’s retirement promises to usher in a new era of hockey in Tinseltown.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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