Doughty’s growing role in the leadership committee

If you’re looking for an example of an aged, mature, 25-year-old Drew Doughty, it’s evidenced in how he communicates with the officials.

“I used to just yell a lot at the refs, and sometimes I still will,” the star Kings defenseman said. “I just kind of snap sometimes, but I think I’ve done a lot better than I’ve done in the past. I definitely try to be more friendly with them on the ice. The refs are all great guys, they really are. They’re not out there to hurt you or to help the other team, they’re just doing their job, and sometimes you just take it the wrong way and get upset, and I’ve learned to kind of deal with that.”

“If I do get upset, I’m definitely going to go apologize that next shift. Yeah, I’m getting on a better side at the refs, and that’s a good start to becoming a better leader, too.”

Wearing an A in the preseason – as he has done at times this year – isn’t new to Doughty. Nor are the frequent questions about an expanding role in the Kings’ leadership hierarchy. But with the departure of established and accomplished veterans over the last several seasons – Rob Scuderi, Willie Mitchell, Jarret Stoll, Robyn Regehr and Justin Williams, to name several – there is space to be occupied in the group of players who both offer encouragement and set an example for the room, and in the select committee that serves as advisors who regularly communicate with Darryl Sutter and the coaching staff on matters of team travel, the practice regimen, and other aspects that impact the life of an NHL player over an 82-game season.

“I’ve been a few of [those meetings],” he said. “For the most part, the older guys still make those kinds of decisions. But I’ve been involved in them a lot more than I ever have before. It’s nice to kind of be in there and see how things go. Obviously as I get older, I’ll get leaned on even more for more and more leadership. I learned a lot from these older guys, like Sean O’Donnell when I was young, or Matt Greene – I still a lot from him every day. It’s good to be in those meetings because I learned a lot.”

It’s all in the natural progression of a young but experienced player assuming a more comfortable seat at the table, according to Sutter, and the evolution in leadership isn’t limited to Doughty’s expanding role.

“I think he’s to that point where he has to and wants to take more responsibility in it,” Sutter said. “Again, going back to Stolly and Willie, Robyn, Mike, they were always part of that group, that leadership group that you’d always talk to [for] what we were doing and things like that. Now somebody else is going to step into that. Hey I think Drew, Lewie – obviously Jeff has been in it since he’s been here – Cliffy, they’re all part of it now.”

Doughty also noted that there’s no real change in how the leadership expresses itself in the absence of several key figures who had called Toyota Sports Center and Staples Center home during the most accomplished period in club history.

“Obviously there are younger guys who are more experienced in the league, and they need to step up their leadership abilities and qualities, and a lot of guys have done that,” Doughty said. “A lot of us, I guess, are still kind of young in the league, but on this team, we’re kind of old because we have a young team, so we need those guys to step up to the plate. Those guys we lost obviously were veteran guys and guys who had been in the league for a while. I shouldn’t say we won’t miss them, but I know we have guys that can step up to the table and kind of take over those roles.”

Drew Doughty, on his role in the leadership committee:
I’m just finally being included in meetings with the coaches where it comes down to certain things you have to talk about as leaders, whether it’s travel, traveling, or things that we maybe need to do different in games and practice. Getting included in those kinds of meetings is definitely a confidence boost for me, and it makes me feel good because I can finally learn how to become a better leader from those guys. I know I can be a good leader. I really know I can, and I just want to be looked upon that way.

Doughty, on whether there’s a greater “openness” for him to talk:
Definitely. I think I’ve made a lot of strides in that development. I’ve really focused on becoming a better leader and doing things to try and help my team be better. Whether that’s talking on the room or talking on the ice or even just doing things outside of the rink with some of the other guys, I’m always up for doing those kind of things, and I just wanted to help everybody. That way we’re a better team.

Doughty, on whether wearing an “A” changes his approach:
No, I’m the same way. Whether I’m wearing an A on my sweater or not, that’s not really relevant to me. Obviously I’d love to wear one, but we have great captains on this team, and we have a lot of guys who don’t wear letters that are great leaders, too, and that’s just how you’ve got to look at it. We have tons of leaders on this team and just three guys who wear letters, and that’s how it goes.

Doughty, on whether there’s another step in leadership he can take:
Yeah. I’ve taken a lot of steps over the past few years. This year, definitely, even more vocal in the room, more vocal on the ice. I’m just doing a lot of different things. I’m in the gym more, I’m trying to show the young guys the way to make it as a pro. Yeah, I think I’ve been doing a good job. I still obviously have got room to improve, and I have great guys to learn from – guys like Brownie and Greener and Kopi, so I look up to those guys, and that’s what I want the young guys to be doing to me one day, is looking up to me and following my lead.