Perhaps the number zero next to Drew Doughty’s name was a bit of a wake-up call? In the Kings’ game last Tuesday at St. Louis, they lost 3-1 and recorded 25 shots on goal, but Doughty didn’t have any. In the next game, Doughty scored a goal, and on Saturday against Phoenix, he had another goal and tied for the team high with three shots on goal. The defensemen were directly involved in three of the four Kings goals — and Matt Greene also started the play that led to the first goal — and Doughty was active throughout the game, something that didn’t escape the attention of Terry Murray.
MURRAY: “In the last half-dozen games, he’s really got his feet going. That’s the big difference in his game, for me, is the skating. He’s alert, he’s jumping, he’s got a nice energy level. We’re seeing a lot of puck-carrying, but we’re also seeing a lot of good things happening away from the puck in the offensive zone.”
looks like doughty is coming around!!! he’s starting to hit more and shoot more just the way we like him =)
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I think he’s slowly getting more comfortable on the ice with contact (witness the recent killer hip check) after the concussion, and now he’s pretty much beyond it and looking at taking his game up another notch.
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Looks like he’s finally adjusting to increased pressure and is driving to the middle finally. HE is the difference in the power play…
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He is still fat and gets burned a lot during the game. Still wish he was in better shape.
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Sako Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
@kylecliffordfan, did clifford and his washboard abs say that?
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TheRussianKing Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
@kylecliffordfan, He’s the only one that can take the puck from his D-zone and get it down and in low to the other teams zone all by himself. Its just hard for him to crash the net when he’s got no one to pass it to and 3-5 guys collapsing down in the slot forcing him to dump it or chip it to the net and get back on D. He’s burning people, not getting burned.
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@TheRussianKing,
Fat? Hes a pro athlete, your sitting in your chair criticizing him. stop…
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Bill M. Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
@Michael_DD8, yeah, really. ask yourself:
do you get 3-4 hours of exercise a day, everyday?
have you been nominated for a norris trophy?
are you in the top 25 among NHL defenseman in scoring?
are you sitting down, RIGHT NOW?
If you answered yes to any of these, you are probably in no posiiton to just the fitness level of Drew Doughty.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@kylecliffordfan, not sure why you think hes fat? If DD is fat then I (6’2 205Lbs) have some serious issues not to mention most of this country! I dont think there is a single professional athlete that is out of shape! Stop with the Doughty is fat already, there is nothing that anyone including you could see or hear from anyone other than drew that would imply that he is fat or out of shape.
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fsd1 Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@kylecliffordfan, no only that, by KC himnself looks a little chunky
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
@all of you guys,
It was a Joke guys a Joke! I see All you armchair Gms have no sense of Humor.
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lvkingaholic Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@kylecliffordfan, he’s not fat, just big boned……
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meanwhile Stamkos is leading the league with 38 goals. Doughty has 4 goals in 42 games. Hes not a forward but we expect much better from a Norris trophy candidate last season.
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Anjin Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
@Sebastian, I look at Doughty this season the same way as the rest of the team. Last season was great, we made the playoffs, got that great experience but apparently didn’t realize that every other team in the NHL was going to play us harder than they did last year so just like the entire Kings team, Doughty has been played tighter and needs to adjust and figure things out.
Personally I see some similarities to the 93-94 team that thought going back to the finals was a guarantee.
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puck73 Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@Anjin, The Kings would have gone back to the finals in 93-94 but Barry Melrose had Corey Millen shipped out of here for a 4th round draft pick. That move destroyed Mike Donnelly, and Tony Granatos goal production dropped. Also, Mcnall decided not to bring back Marty Mcsorely, that move had devastating consequences for the Kings because it put a middleweight like Warren Rychel in the heavyweight role and Warren took some frightful beatings from people like Stu Grimson, Todd Ewen, Tony Twist, and Bob Probert among others….To this day I have never forgiven that crook Mcnall for that move!
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@puck73, which is why we need Westgarth able to play hockey. Now, if he’d get his skill set up…
Paul G Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Sebastian, Im glad to c that Doughty has gotten used to the defensive attention he gets from other teams and he is fully back from his concussion
BUT STOP COMPARING HIM TO STAMKOS we had the 2nd Overall pick in 2008 not the 1st…we never had a chance to draft Stammer
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There’s a reason he’s playing better and it’s not because he’s “coming around.” The reason DD is carrying the puck more is because the coach is letting him. Sure, he’s having to adjust to more attention this year, but if he was allowed to be more creative in a stale system (like he and JJ are now) then this whole problem with the offense would be far less severe. As was discussed last week, changes to the offense are taking place, which includes more up the middle, zone entry by the defense.
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DFW King Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@wavesinair,
Not sure if I fully agree with that. Martinez has been a beast jumping into the play and trying to make something out of nothing. Martinez has been pretty consistent in doing that as well. Even JJ had started to do that before DD.
If you are saying it’s just DD, and him breaking off the chains then I agree. Probably more in agreement with him getting more comfortable with physical contact following the concussion as mentioned above.
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@DFW King, Martinez was told from the start of his call-up, to just continue playing his same game that he was in Manchester, which is what you’re seeing. He was allowed to jump in down there, so he wasn’t brought up with the same clamps on him defensively. I think TM sees that DD and JJ have that same game, and that maybe he should loosen the reigns a little if he hopes to keep his job here long term.
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Now this is the old Doughty we once knew shoot the puck and trying to score
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D. D is the definition of a great d man, he’s still young and he is going to have a off season, but its how you bounce back, and I think the ball has started bouncing in the rite direction. Is thier room for improvement, yes, but the kid did not have much to improve on in the first place. We all have him under a micoscope to the point people complain about his facial hair. I think he’s doing prety good for a kid under the stress he is under, he is only going to get better…
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Whenever Doughty and Brown try to decapitate the opposition, we usually play well. So long as Doughty throws his body around im satisfied, good checking leads to offense
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Kings Fan Vancouver, WA Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
@kingsfaninsano, That sounds awesome!! Doughty and Brown professional decapitators!!! LMAO
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Bill M. Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@Kings Fan Vancouver, WA, I will be waiting with great anticipation for them to produce that web-video series.
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Yeah, definitely disappointed in a huge way with Doughty’s game this season. On both sides of the puck. So many simple, boneheaded miscues and near-backbreakers. He’s my nominee for this year’s JaMarcus Russell Award.
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There is nothing wrong with Doughtys game, Murray’s system isn’t the problem, he’s not too fat, and his head from the concussion has been fine. Murray was correct in saying Drew has gotten more attention this year and is learning how to overcome the extra scrutiny. Look at the 3 finalist for the Norris Trophy last year: Duncan Keith (winner) 3G 28Pts -2, Mike Green 8G 22Pts +10, Drew Doughty 4G 25Pts +14. All three guys aren’t playing for Murray or have weight issues. All three guys are getting a lot more attention this season and the numbers reflect that. Look what happened to Dion Phanef and his numbers in Calgary once he was the marked man.
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YoBro Reply:
January 24th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@Osaka, VERY interesting angle, thanks for that!
Go Kings
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