Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will undergo surgery to treat a broken left ankle and is expected to miss the majority of the upcoming season.
Head coach Jim Hiller said Friday that the guard will not miss the entire campaign. He did not give a timeline, adding that Doughty’s condition will be re-evaluated monthly.
Doughty was injured in the first period of a preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The 34-year-old, who is due to play a 17th season, jammed his leg against the boards near the blue line in the Kings’ defensive zone while fighting for a loose puck with the Golden forward Knights Tanner Pearson.
The 2016 Norris Trophy winner was one of the main architects of the Kings’ Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014. He maintained the second-highest average playing time last season, at 25 minutes 48 seconds, and led among Kings defensemen with 15 goals and 35 assists. He has only missed one game in the last two campaigns.
The Kings will therefore begin the season with two new backs among their defensive top-4 since Matt Roy accepted a six-year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 1. Youngsters Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence could fill those roles.
