- Drew Doughty says he can play until over 40
- The Kings captain expects to take a team-friendly deal to stay in L.A.
- Read below for his comments on Ken Holland, Kopitar and Ovechkin
Drew Doughty isn’t thinking about hanging them up anytime soon.
The Kings captain told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti that he believes he can play past 40, and that he’d happily take a team-friendly contract to finish his career in Los Angeles.
Doughty was asked how much longer he wants to keep going. He turns 37 on Dec. 8 and is in the final season of his eight-year, $88 million deal.
“I think I can play until over 40. I believe I can. I’ve just got to stay healthy. The want to do it hasn’t dropped, so, until I lose that, I’m not going to retire.”
The contract talk hasn’t moved far. Kings general manager Ken Holland said in June that the two sides wouldn’t sign an extension over the summer and would revisit it later in the season. Doughty can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.
Doughty was asked where things stand with Holland.
“He knows what I want. I believe he wants me to stay. We just haven’t talked about it yet. I feel like I’m performing better than I have in my past two seasons. So, I think that I’ll take a team-friendly deal and stay in L.A. That’s my plan.”
He doesn’t know what salary or structure that would look like. He just said he’ll do whatever helps the team. Holland already knows he’s flexible, so it comes down to the details once Holland talks with Doughty’s agent, Pat Brisson.
Los Angeles is 2-5-2 and finishes a five-game road trip Tuesday in Chicago. Doughty has one assist in nine games while averaging 20:58 a night. He still holds the franchise records for defensemen in points (710), goals (165), assists (545) and games (1,288).
He was also asked about replacing Anze Kopitar as captain. Doughty said it meant everything to him, and that he’s learning from Kopitar and Dustin Brown to stay more even-keeled, since he describes himself as the more emotional guy.
Then there’s Alex Ovechkin. Doughty was asked what he’ll miss about facing the Capitals star in his final NHL season.
“I won’t miss having to block that one-timer on the PK, but what a career. And he’s an awesome guy too.”
Doughty also told Gulitti that the Stanley Cup is what motivates him now. He said that when he does retire, he’ll be “crying like a baby.” That 5-year-old who wrote Wayne Gretzky a letter still loves the game.
