Story Summary
Drew Doughty has been named the 15th captain of the Los Angeles Kings. The 36-year-old defenseman, a Kings fixture since being selected No. 2 in the 2008 NHL Draft, said winning another Stanley Cup is what he plays for as he enters his 19th NHL season. Doughty, who won Cups with the Kings in 2012 and 2014 and has been part of the leadership group since 2016-17, replaces Anze Kopitar, who retired after 20 seasons with the club.
Key Facts
- Doughty is 36 years old and is entering his 19th NHL season.
- The Kings selected Doughty with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft.
- Doughty holds nearly every major franchise record for a defenceman, including regular-season points (709), goals (165), assists (544) and games played (1,279).
- In the Stanley Cup Playoffs Doughty has 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) in 105 games.
- He helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.
- The Kings have not won a playoff series since defeating the New York Rangers in five games in the 2014 Cup Final.
- The Kings have been eliminated in the Western Conference First Round in five straight seasons, including a four-game sweep by the Colorado Avalanche in April.
- Doughty has been part of the Kings’ leadership group since 2016-17 and was named an alternate captain when Anze Kopitar replaced Dustin Brown as captain.
- Anze Kopitar retired after 20 NHL seasons, all with the Kings, and sent Doughty a congratulatory text after the captaincy announcement.
- Adrian Kempe was the first player to reach out to Doughty after the announcement; general manager Ken Holland said Kempe was among the top candidates for the vacancy and Kempe will remain an alternate captain.
- Defenseman Mikey Anderson will remain an alternate captain, and forward Artemi Panarin joins the alternate group in his first full season with the Kings after being acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4.
IHM Discussion
Doughty’s elevation to captain is as much a recognition of long service as it is a declaration of the franchise’s identity. He has been a constant in Los Angeles since the Kings used the No. 2 pick on him in 2008, and the statistical record the club credits him with – 709 regular-season points, 165 goals, 544 assists and 1,279 games played at the position – underlines rare longevity for a defenceman. His playoff totals and two Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014 provide the pedigree for a renewed championship push. That objective carries weight: Doughty himself said, “That’s what I keep playing for. I want to win a championship.”
The timing of the captaincy follows the retirement of Anze Kopitar after a 20-season Kings career. Kopitar’s long tenure and contrasting leadership style – Kopitar as the quiet example, Doughty the loud, emotional presence – set the stage for a change in tone rather than a break with the recent past. Adrian Kempe and Mikey Anderson will remain alternate captains, while Artemi Panarin joins the group in his first full season with the Kings. General manager Ken Holland cited Doughty’s passion and pride as key factors in the decision.
Why It Matters
A captaincy is more than a dressing-room title: it is a public signal of who will set the standard on and off the ice. For the Kings, naming Doughty – a two-time Cup winner and franchise record-holder for defencemen – signals an organisational preference for experienced, outspoken leadership to guide a team that has struggled to win playoff series since 2014. That struggle is concrete: five consecutive first-round exits, most recently a four-game sweep by Colorado, gives Doughty a clear mandate to push the club back toward contention.
Fan Pulse
Supporters will likely welcome a familiar face into the captaincy. Doughty is not only the veteran star who helped bring the franchise its first two Stanley Cups, but also a player with a clear emotional attachment to the club: he grew up with LA Kings pillow covers and jerseys on his bedroom wall. That connection, combined with his on-ice production and stated desire to win another championship, gives fans a clear focal point for optimism and expectation heading into the new season.
Mini Q&A
Who is the new captain of the Los Angeles Kings?
Drew Doughty has been named the 15th captain of the Los Angeles Kings.
What are Doughty’s career highlights with the Kings?
Doughty was the No. 2 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, has franchise-leading totals for a defenceman in regular-season points (709), goals (165), assists (544) and games played (1,279), has 61 playoff points (19 goals, 42 assists) in 105 games, and won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014.
Why did the Kings make this change in captaincy?
Anze Kopitar retired after 20 NHL seasons with the Kings. Ken Holland said Doughty’s passion and pride made it feel natural to make him the next captain.
Who will serve as alternate captains?
Adrian Kempe and Mikey Anderson will remain alternate captains, and Artemi Panarin joins the group as the third alternate in his first full season with the Kings after being acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4.
What is Doughty’s stated priority as captain?
Doughty said his priority is to win a championship: “That’s what I keep playing for. I want to win a championship.”
Coach Mark Comment
Doughty’s louder, more emotional style gives the Kings a different captaincy voice from Kopitar’s quieter example-setting approach. With Kempe, Anderson and Panarin also in the leadership group, the challenge will be to turn that energy into clear, consistent standards across the room and on the ice.
What Comes Next
Doughty will enter his 19th NHL season wearing the ‘C’ for the Kings as the club pursues its first playoff-series victory since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
IHM Final View
Naming Drew Doughty captain is a logical move for the Kings. It honours a franchise cornerstone whose career achievements and emotional stake in the organisation give him clear authority. The more important measure, though, will be whether his leadership helps the Kings break a multi-year pattern of early playoff exits and return to championship contention.