Drew Doughty Achieves Milestone in Historic Night
Drew Doughty has reached a significant milestone in his career with the Los Angeles Kings, marking a historic night for the franchise. His accomplishment reflects both his longevity and consistency as a player over the years.
Drew Doughty’s Record-Setting Achievement
Doughty has been an offensive force, amassing more than 50 points five times during his time in the NHL. He has consistently played 75 or more games in 12 seasons, navigating through various challenges such as lockouts and pandemics.
Consistent Performance
While Doughty has never scored more than 16 goals in a single season, he has achieved double-digit goals in eight different seasons. Notably, he scored 15 goals two seasons ago while playing in all 82 games of the 2023-24 season. His average of over 26 minutes per game shows his significant role on the ice throughout his career.
- Career-high goals in a season: 16 (2009-10)
- Seasons with double-digit goals: 8
- Games played in 2023-24: 82
- Average ice time: over 26 minutes per game
The Importance of Team and Leadership
After a recent game, Doughty reflected on the honor of breaking his milestone. He expressed gratitude towards his teammates and the organization. Kings’ Head Coach Jim Hiller had emphasized the need for confidence, or “swagger,” which he challenged Doughty to embody during the game.
The Kings secured a key victory during this game, coming off a rough start to their season with only five wins out of 13 games. This win marked their first at home, an important factor for the team’s morale. Doughty acknowledged the team’s performance and their determination to maintain aggression on the ice.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, Doughty aims to achieve further milestones with the Kings. His immediate goal is to win a third Stanley Cup, pursuing a historic feat alongside teammate Anze Kopitar. Additionally, he aspires to represent Canada in the Winter Olympics for the third time.
Climbing the Franchise Rankings
In terms of individual records, Doughty is close to surpassing Dustin Brown in both games played and points within the Kings franchise. Currently, he is:
- 75 games away from matching Brown’s total of 1,296 games.
- 9 points shy of reaching 700 career points.
- 21 points behind Brown’s career total of 712.
If Doughty plays another 19 seasons with the Kings, he will become the eighth defenseman in NHL history to do so with one franchise. There are aspirations for him to reach 1,400 career games, a milestone already achieved by teammates Anze Kopitar and Corey Perry.
Doughty’s dedication to excellence in the NHL continues to show, with his latest milestone serving as a testament to his hard work and commitment to the game.
