DREW DOUGHTY 
This season: 82 games, 16 goals, 43 assists, 54 penalty minutes, 24:58 average ice time.
The good: Let’s see. All Doughty did, as a 20-year-old in his second NHL season was…lead the Kings in average ice time, lead all defensemen in goals, assists and points, finish second on the team in assists and points, play significant power-play time, win a gold medal in the Olympics with Canada and become a finalist for the Norris Trophy. He’s 20. For those who asked how Doughty could build off a great rookie season, he answered by making subtle improvements to his defensive game and significant improvements to his offensive game. His improved shot from the point now allows him to be a major threat, both 5-on-5 and on the power play. He appears to be unaffected by all the success and seems to be well-liked in the locker room.
The bad: There’s not much, but a 20-year-old player is always going to be a work in progress. Doughty can still stand to improve his conditioning, so that he’s just as strong at the end of a long shift as he is at the beginning. The very best defensemen pull that off. Doughty has a tendency, at times, to try to do too much, but given his skill, it’s tough to blame him too much for that.
Going forward: Wherever he’s going, it’s going to fun to watch him get there. It’s never wise to project what a young player might be able to accomplish in his career, but it’s worth noting that, in general, defensemen often don’t even start figuring out the NHL game until they reach their mid-20s. Some of the league’s other top defensemen average 26-plus minutes per game. Can Doughty reach that mark, at a high level? Can he elevate his offensive game to yet another level, as he said he seeks to?
If anyone puts anything other than an “A” they are a troll just trying to get some attention on this site.
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Josh e. Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@USCG,
Agreed. How can you possibly put B+??? He’s up for the Norris at 20! I’m 20! what the hell!
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HawKings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:15 pm
@USCG, We must have the relatives of Duncan Keith, Mike Greene and Nicholas Lindstrom posting on this blog because what 3 people could even think to give him an F. The only F that should be used regarding DD is that he is just a Freak that he could be this good and this age. I am still giddy that he wanted to be a King.
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OneTimer Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
^ This.
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Irene Attard Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
@OneTimer His hard work and amazing hockey skills have paid off, a well deserving athlete for the “NORRIS”. Way to go DREW!
Agreed. Those were Obviously mis-clicks.
Again, No A+ for the youngest player to get nominated for a Norris since Bobby Orr ?
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Panda Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
@typicaljs, Technically, there’s no such thing as an A+. In a true grading system A is the highest, but there is an A-. With that said, I’d give Doughty an A+++
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Dude’s a finalist for the Norris Trophy… how can he get anything BUT an A?
If he’s this amazing when he’s 20, in his second season, just wait when he’s an established veteran with 10 seasons under his belt.
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Darrell Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 4:16 am
@Kevin Y, That depends.. Will he still be a King then?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:06 am
@Darrell,
Heidi is here, Rich is here, we are here. Why would he leave?
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Darrell Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:42 pm
@Kingsfanone, Been following the Kings long? Let me be clear.. I HOPE he’s here long term, as that would mean the team was successful.
Kevin Y Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:29 am
@Darrell,
He’d gosh darn better me a King in ten years…..
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Doughty has been the man all season long and didn’t skip a beat after the Olympics how can GE not get all A’s.
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The kid deserves an A plus! Talented beyond his years, I can’t wait to see what he will bring to the team next year now that he has some post season experience. As Rich mentioned, it certainly will be fun watching him take his game to the next level. I hope he stays in LA for a long time because he is the heart of this team.
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Ya, he definitely deserves an A
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Okay..10 B+’s and 1 F…really people? C’mon he obviously deserves straight A’s across the board. His offensive game is nothing short of amazing but his calmness and skill in the defensive game is something that is rarely found in D men with his offensive game (e.g. Mike Green). And of course there’s the Norris trophy nomination…
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number 6 Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 8:43 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings,
If he gets a B+ from some people, then what do those people give to Quick?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:10 am
@number 6,
Seriously, if those people give him a B+, what do they give themselves??? Cmon, folks, you can’t graph his learning curve if it’s a vertical line that begins at the top of the chart.
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How there was no A+ on this one baffles me.
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Giving him an “A” is like saying that Penelope Cruz is “attractive”. Ain’t a grade high enough for this kid…
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:42 pm
@rick,
hahaha very well put
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Quisp Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I like how his bad points are that he’s going to get stronger.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:52 pm
@Quisp,
Yeah and judging from his interviews about the season about how he wants a “shot like Shae Weber” and he’s going to work on that and his defense that’s exactly what’s going to happen
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Whoever gave an F needs to be banned from the blog. The B+ voter’s should be warned.
What more could Doughty do this season?
Norris Trophy finalist at age 20. A+
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Anonymous Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
@Sydor25,
Couldn’t agree more..Rich can we ban these people??
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“a”…
next..(!)
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I would give him an “A.” Doughty needs to pop his cherry, in terms of dropping his gloves so opposing players will stop messing with him. Hopefully, he’ll take some fighting lessons from Marty in the offseason and learn to throw em…
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:09 pm
@khanon,
not so sure we’ll see doughty scrapping any time soon
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kingsfan099 Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
@khanon, You don’t want your best players scraping not because you don’t want them to get hurt…but why would u want them in the box for 5 minutes…what does dropping the gloves prove other then the other team rejoices that our best defender is in the box..
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khanon Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:46 pm
@kingsfan099,
2-3 fights a year won’t lead to any rejoicing by the opponent. Rather, the opponent will respect doughty. What’s wrong with dropping the gloves once in a while?
Many top players fight occassionally:
Crosby
Iginla
Chara
Getzlaf
Lecavlier
Richards
Tkachuk
Crosby
Doan
Thornton
The list goes on and on.
Since when is it wrong for your top player to fight? This whole 5 minutes in the box thing is far overblown. Top players did it in the past, i.e., Gordie Howe, and top players do it in today’s game. A fight or two under Doughty’s belt will take him to the next level as an elite player…
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David Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:28 pm
@khanon,
Most of those players are not just good players but they are their team’s Captain.
Rich Hammond Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@khanon,
So far, it’s 2-for-2 today in terms of “dropping gloves.” Let’s see some variety. Thanks.
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khanon Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:48 pm
@Rich Hammond,
Yes sir! I can’t believe I forgot about the anti-toughness internet police.
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Rich Hammond Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
@khanon, If you’re disinterested in following rules, or think they don’t/shouldn’t apply to you, you’re welcome to no longer post.
khanon Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
@Rich Hammond,
Thank you
Quisp Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
@khanon,
I think I made this suggestion before. But, seriously. You should consider changing your “handle” to something that covers this point for once and for all. Something like “mypointisgettougheranddropthegloves.” Then it’s just right there. I would steer clear of “noeuros” or anything else that might be deemed offensive. Your point — toughness good, getting pushed around bad, enforcers useful, small weak teams lose, etc. — is well-taken. It’s just the repetition. I see your name and I know exactly what you’re going to say. I guess that’s a good thing in a way. You have a “brand”! But you’ll weaken the brand if you don’t diversify.
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The Kings Need to Get Tough and Drop the Gloves Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 pm
@Quisp,
I appreciate your opinion. How’s my new screen name?
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Quisp Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:15 pm
@The Kings Need to Get Tough and Drop the Gloves,
Welcome!
Daniel Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:49 pm
@khanon, Why does he need to drop the gloves when he so effectively drops hip-checks? Damage done right there. Westy will drop the gloves next year whenever someone even looks sideways at Doughty. Chill, bro.
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HeyChief Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:14 am
@khanon, I noticed as the season progressed, Doughty got feistier and frequently found himself in the middle of scrums. Several times I though he was going to drop the gloves and go. I think it’s just a matter of time. I hope when he finally does drop the gloves that he kicks a**.
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Quisp Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
@HeyChief re Doughty feisty, etc.
The thing is, he was a very heavy checker in juniors, if memory serves. This is an aspect of his game that we have only seen hints of, because he’s not physically mature enough to crush grown-ups like he crushed his peers in juniors. But that day will come, and we’ve seen a little preview of it this season… Bourque could crush people, too. Orr, also.
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Since we’re doing report cards,I’d say this ones definately the teachers pet.I was almost tempted to give him 100 A’s.
Still a couple of clowns voting F.Why am I not surprised?
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edwood2 Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@Dominick, I think they might be quack fans.
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Is there an “A+” for Doughty?
We need to rank people who post on this blog, I’ll be glad to give them an “F”!
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Obviously there are some people out there that ruin it for everyone. The 3 F’s are unnecessary. However, we should ignore those people from this point on. Otherwise, they are winning the battle and getting the attention and rise that they want.
Doughty, no Dought deserve an A+ go Kings!
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Best King this year.
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I really like how durable Doughty is in that he has played a full 82 game season, he leads the Kings in ice time, and didn’t shy away from contact with 157 hits this season. Let’s hope he’s the team’s iron man in years to come.
It seems to me that Doughty also possesses that Kobe Bryant mentality where he is always looking to improve different areas of his game to make himself the best. He’s a great anchor on the blue line for this team.
I used to go to games and watch for Kopitar to see what he was going to do when he was on the ice. I now find myself looking for Doughty on the ice to see what he’s going to do. It’s definitely going to be fun to see him improve throughout each year. I hope he’s a King for life.
By the way, I noticed that the individuals who voted “F” didn’t care to comment on this blog. I challenge any of you to attempt to articulate a reason for your vote and see how far you get with the rest of us…
Didn’t think so.
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I will give him an “f”
for freakishly fantastic
Love this kid.
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Ez 1. A
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anyone who gives a grade that is so stupid…like giving a F to DD…should have their name/email address published so we know who is STUPID!!!!…I thought about dropping his grade to a B…DD had two bad games this year….Bast..d….LOL.. A all the way!!!!
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Doughty is going to be the last King to ever wear the number “8″. Does a lot of things well and quite of few great. How can he get better? OK, time for a little heresy: He’s not a great defender. Fortunately, one thing he does great is to recover, but he needs to be better positionally, and he’s prone to getting beat around the outside. I would rather he spend his time trying to get a little quicker and faster than trying to get 5-10 more mph on his slap-shot.
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HawKings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 pm
@BringBackTheShieldJersey, I don’t necessarily disagree. But fortunately for us, DD comes across as the type that will work on both. The pairings TM uses with DD also help.
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Too bad we can’t go any higher.Zues in my opinion was an A.If that’s the case,Doughnuts has to be a letter that preceeds the alphabet.
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David Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
@Dominick,
Maybe a Z…
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In four years Doughty will be considered “The Player Who Once Was Graded On a Scale As If He Were Comparable to Other Top-Performing NHL Defensemen And Before the Norris Trophy Was Renamed The Doughty Award.”
A guy can dream, right? It does make you wonder what his nickname will be…the Doughtiest? The Never in Doubter? The Wizard of Doughnuts? Jesus on Skates?
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Dee Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:55 pm
@rontheking,
Jesus on Skates. Most definitely.
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There are more than 50 B+ votes, and I doubt that all of them were made simply to be provocative. I can’t imagine giving Doughty anything less than an ‘A’, but I’m willing to consider a legitimate argument from someone who voted B+. Anyone?
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Arron Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:09 pm
@JonG,
I gave him an A. But I can see how someone might give him a B+. Think about it he is 20 years old and has yet to develop his A game yet. How scary is it that his B game gives him a Norris Trophy Nomination. If he can only get better than maybe this is his B game and his A game will be explosive.
Just a thouhgt
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JonG Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:21 pm
@Arron,
I see your point, and it’s a fair one.
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HawKings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 pm
@Arron, I guess if you are a drinker, you can downgrade him to a B+ because he legally cannot get in a bar.
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Where’s the A+?
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I promise you I wasn’t one of the people who gave Doughty less than an A, but I’m kind of surprised to see the backlash on the people who gave him an F. I was honestly thinking of doing that but only as a joke. So I’m going to assume (benefit of the doubt) that the few who did give him an F were just joking about it.
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For those of you who gave Doughty an “F,” you’re not funny. I can only imagine what you all accomplished at 20 or even now.
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Kevin Y Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:44 am
@gr81scores,
The Fs are from Bobby Ryan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsA4tTXgNuU
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since there really is no letter on the list that aptly defines Doughty, I am adding my own appropriate grade. DD receives the grade of “Mikus”
that is all…
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He will go down in history. One thing I would like to see more are some of his nasty checks. Saw a couple sweet hip checks live and the crowd and team gets really fired up.. Go Drew!
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F’s…lol
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oh by the way. I don’t get the hype, but just for record Jack Johnson had the lowest +/- out of any king this season. Why the heck does no one else notice this. And its not cuz hes always penalty killing
I watched him fail and be out of position all season.
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nykingfan Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:50 am
@jason,
That’s why it’s a meaningless stat
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The Kings Need to Get Tough and Drop the Gloves Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:12 am
@jason,
I think being paired up with Jones added to that stat. However, for long stretches of the season, JJ played awful, but, he did step it up in the playoffs.
Pair the guy up with a tough stay at home D-man
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At the age of 20 I was driving up the 395 in the middle of the night on my way to college wondering if anybody would ever notice if I took a sharp left turn off the road and forever into the darkness, never to return.
Doughty, at the age of 20, has shown that he can stand up to and sometimes out preform many professional athletes much more experienced than him. The Kid has got his stuff together. Next year is the year he blossoms in to a man.
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“Doughty has a tendency, at times, to try to do too much”
He should be encouraged to try anything he thinks is a good idea. He should have the GO sign at all times. Don’t restrict talent now, let him learn. Players of exceptional talent should test those boundaries.
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Where is the A+ button? Doughty rules
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Damn Rich…please figure out a way to fix the username and email address issue. I just commented and forgot to put the info in..AGAIN!
I know, it was a worthless point anyway..but still!
This kid derserves the highest marks possible. I haven’t seen a defenseman come into the league and dominate like this since Leetch. I think he’s a better defender than Leetch was. The sky’s the limit for Doughty.
I’d like to make a comment about the idea of DD needing to fight before he can earn the respect of his peers.
I don’t recall seeing Nicky Lidstrom drop the gloves too often.
You earn respect from your peers by playing the game the right way and giving it your all ever night. Doughty has certainly earned the respect of everyone in the league.
Also I just earned idiot of the year for posting this under Bernier’s thread. Yeah Monday mornings are a thing of beauty, eh? LOL
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:35 am
@nykingfan, I agree. DD has already earned the respect of his peers. Gretzky didn’t fight, and didn’t he have the respect of his peers? Thers would be nothing better for the other team then to get Doughty in the penalty box for 5 minutes.
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ihearthockeyboysx8002 Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 am
@NOW IMPRESSED,
HAHAHA
Jesus on skates. I’d vote for that
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RJC76 Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
@nykingfan,
Agreed
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A+ in my books! Hopefully he will be the next captain for the Kings.
A great playoff run too by the way – they easily could have won the series. Luongo’s save on Frolov’s breakaway in game 4 was the turning point.
Still a great year!
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Yep, I agree with pretty much everything said above. Our man-child is simply amazing, 20 years old, a Norris finalist, he wants to be a King for life….Can take over a shift with his skating, passing, puck handling and shooting, great defender….what more is there to say?
Yes, I do think he’ll be the last King to wear No. 8. I also agree that for Dewey there truly should have been an A+ category. He was the MVP for the Kings this year.
My only knock on what was written above was about the fighting. I love a good scrap like anyone. Dewey doesn’t need to drop the gloves to be great and I don’t buy that “drop the gloves to be respected in the league” crap. Lids doesn’t drop the gloves and his reputation hasn’t exactly been hurt.
DD brings in all, he’s a great team player, a great individual player plus there’s Heidi! What more can you ask for?????
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seriously, what is there to say here that we all don’t already know…?
get in shape Drew! keep having fun Drew! THANK YOU DREW!!!
this is gonna be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Remember DD’s Exit Interview. He said he wants to become a MAN! That scares me! If he is this good right now as a a young adult, what will he be as a MAN? A scary thought.
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Lepper Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:33 am
@Lepper, Another thing. What’s up with the Heidi/DD thing? I keep hearing guys comment that they like each other or give off signals. I’ve never noticed this. Anyone have a video or something, from KingsVision?
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Steve McQueen Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
@Lepper, well, that’s a good way to lose your job with the Kings, and I’m not talking about Drew. An icegirl was fire for getting involved with a player, so they don’t take this stuff lightly. Heidi does have a flirty nature to her, just look at her when she interviews Williams. Probably just interweb talk.
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I’m guessing the person who gave Doughty an F thought we should have drafted Bogosian.
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If there was an A+ I would’ve given it to him as well. What is more unbelievable, that he’s accomplished all he has at age 20? Or that he’s only going to get better? I guess the big question regarding Doughty is how much is he going to make & how long his contract is going to be when he signs his extension? I can’t even guess but based on what he’s already done & what he can potentially do he could very well end up with the largest contract for a defenseman.
And can those people who didn’t vote A (especially those who voted F) at least have the stones to at least identify yourself & justify your position.
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here’s another “award” that drew was a finalist for…
i remember the play…who knew…?
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=320343
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I was thinking, in a straight up one for one trade who would you trade for Doughty? Crosby or Ovechkin or hmm…, that’s a tough one.
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