Drew Doughty

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Doughty's journey began with a mini stick on his first birthday, leading to skating by age two and playing soccer as a goalkeeper before focusing entirely on hockey at 16. Selected fifth overall by the Guelph Storm in 2005, he quickly became a standout, winning OHL All-Rookie honors and twice being voted the league's top offensive defenceman. In his final junior season (2007–08), he won the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's outstanding defenceman before the Kings picked him second overall. Entering the NHL in 2008, Doughty impressed with maturity beyond his years, recording six goals and 21 assists in 81 games to earn an All-Rookie spot. His career peaked during the 2011–12 season when he helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup as the eighth seed, ending the playoffs as the top-scoring defenceman with 16 points. He repeated this feat in 2014, becoming one of only eight players to win an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup in the same year. His resilience was evident when he returned from a wrist injury to score his first playoff goal against Roberto Luongo in 2010, and later when he recorded his 100th career assist in December 2011.

In Their Own Story

The 2011–12 season marked a pivotal turning point for Doughty. After missing training camp due to a contract holdout and suffering a concussion early against the Philadelphia Flyers, he struggled upon his return. However, the hiring of head coach Darryl Sutter in December changed everything. Elevated to shut down the opposition's top forwards, Doughty focused on defensive play, recording 36 points—his lowest total in three years—but delivering when it mattered most. In the playoffs, he led the charge as the Kings defeated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in five games and swept the St. Louis Blues. The run culminated in a six-game Stanley Cup Final victory over the New Jersey Devils, where Doughty was praised as the top player for either team with four goals and 12 assists. Two years later, he replicated this heroics during a grueling 2014 playoff run, overcoming deficits against San Jose, Anaheim, and Chicago to defeat the New York Rangers in five games for his second Cup.

Reader's Guide

Fans following Doughty's career should note his consistent elite status. He finished third in scoring among defencemen in 2009–10, earning his first Norris Trophy finalist spot before winning the award in 2016 with a career-high plus-24 rating and 51 points. His longevity is remarkable; he played all 82 games in both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, recording 46 and 51 points respectively. Key milestones include his first NHL goal against Colorado on October 20, 2008, his 100th career assist on December 21, 2010, and his 100th NHL goal against Dallas on January 30, 2018. Internationally, he added a silver medal at the 2009 World Championship and gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics to his collection of accolades that also include four Norris Trophy finalist appearances (2010, 2015, 2016, 2018). His contract signed in September 2011 for eight years at $7 million per season made him the highest-paid player on the team.

Did You Know?

• Doughty was introduced to hockey with a mini stick for his first birthday and was skating by the age of two.
• He played soccer as a goalkeeper in his youth, which he credited for developing an awareness of players and the game.
• In 2014, Doughty became only the seventh player in NHL history to win both an Olympic gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
• Doughty recorded his first career playoff goal in Game 3 against Roberto Luongo while playing with a wrist injury sustained in Game 1.
• He was selected second overall by the Kings because he grew up as a fan of the franchise and specifically wanted to play in Los Angeles.