It was late June 2008 when the LA Kings selected a then-teenage Drew Doughty at the league’s annual Entry Draft. Since then, he’s gone on to become the most decorated defensemen in franchise history and later tonight he’ll become the first blueliner to play 1,000 games with the organization.
STATS CHECK
Re: Doughty's 1k games
– Will be the 12th player to skate in at least 1,000 games with one franchise and miss fewer than 40 games from his first to his 1,000th.
– Only the 5th player in LA Kings history to appear in 1,000 NHL games with the team. (name the others)
— The Mayor | John Hoven (@mayorNHL) January 27, 2022
He will join Dave Taylor, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown, and Anze Kopitar in the 1K club with LA – all forwards. Doughty will also become the first member of the entire 2008 Draft class to reach this milestone.
Drew Doughty on playing his 1,000th #NHL game: “I’m very proud to play this many games and I hope to … I don’t know if I’ll get another thousand, but I hope to get a bunch more. I’m not done. I feel great, I feel younger than I am.” #LAKings
— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) January 27, 2022
As Drew Doughty plays his 1,000th #NHL game, Zdeno Chara will play No. 1,641.
"Chara’s a machine. He’s a great player. It’s crazy that he’s still playing, really.” #LAKings #Isles
— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) January 27, 2022
And for anybody thinking the Kings might have taken a different player had they selected first overall at the 2008 NHL Draft, think again.
Back to the present:
After three out of a possible four points in the first two games of LA’s current East Coast road trip, Kings coach Todd McLellan appears set to slide forward Andreas back into the lineup — he’s been out for more than a month with a groin injury — and continue his frequent goaltender rotation, opting for Cal Petersen in net tonight.
LA KINGS PROJECTED LINEUP vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS on 1/27
Iafallo – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Athanasiou – Byfield – Brown
Lemieux – Lizotte – Kaliyev
Other options: Kupari, Grundstrom
IR: Andersson
Taxi Squad:
Anderson – Doughty
Maatta – Roy
Bjornfot – Durzi
Other options: Strand
Taxi Squad: Moverare
Petersen (starter)
Quick
On the New York side of things:
#Isles Barry Trotz says Ryan Pulock's return from LTIR/lower body will be determined by Pulock and how he feels now that he's resumed skating with the team. Not playing tonight.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 27, 2022
Kyle Palmieri was on the ice for morning skate. He did not stay on with the extras. #Isles
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) January 27, 2022
KINGS MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Anze Kopitar – needs 33 points to pass Dave Taylor for third on the Kings all-time scoring list
Dustin Brown — 6 goals away from passing Bernie Nicholls for fifth place in Kings franchise history
Drew Doughty — 1 game away from playing in his 1,000th NHL regular season game
Puck drop is scheduled for 4pm PST tonight and the game will be televised on ESPN+.
RELATED CONTENT:
VIDEO REVIEW: Kings Add to Point Total with 3-2 Shootout Loss in NY
Lead Image created by ALo Images for MayorsManor
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com
