Defensive honors

It was a big day for Drew Doughty, who received a Norris Trophy nomination, and also a big day for Kings prospect Jacob Muzzin, who won the Max Kaminsky Trophy for being the top defensman in the Ontario Hockey League. To read more about that, click here.

As for Doughty, he has a chance to become the first Kings player to win a major individual trophy since Rob Blake won the Norris in 1998. To view the Kings’ all-time trophy winners, click here. Finally, here is some more reaction to Doughty’s nomination, from Kings coach Terry Murray, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and Kings captain Dustin Brown…

MURRAY: “It’s very noteworthy. He has had a great first two years in the league. It’s incredible how he’s grown, actually, just from the post-Olympics. He developed another level of a game, I thought, when he came back from playing at the world-class level. He showed that he could make plays at full speed. He can play with the best players in the world. He reads off things effortlessly. He’s just becoming a dynamic player, a very important player, and I think he certainly deserves it. I’ve been saying, all along this year, that he deserves some consideration for it. Now it’s happened. He’s going to be in the final vote, and it’s great for him.”

Question: The ability he has, is it learned or was he just born with some of it?

MURRAY: “It’s all coaching. (laughs) He comes from a great family. To me, that’s a huge part of it. His personality, not a lot bothers him. He’s very serious. He comes to work hard every day, but he knows how to deal with the moment. He knows how to deal with big situations, and I think that comes from parents. Obviously he had good coaching in junior and through the ranks, as a young player coming up through minor hockey. But a lot of it is skill, a lot of it is inate talent. Some guys step on the ice and they’re just able to play the game at a high level. That’s also a part of it with Doughty.”

VIGNEAULT: “There’s a young defenseman that has everything that it takes to be an impact player in this league. He’s got great skill, he competes real hard and plays extremely well under pressure. You just have to look at what he did this year at the Olympics. He was definitely one of the best defensemen on the ice for Team Canada, and he has just continued to progress. It’s a well-deserved honor for him.”

LUONGO: “If you would have asked before the Olympics, I would have been surprised. But now, I mean, I’ve played with him and obviously watched him play this series. So I’m not surprised at all.”

BROWN: “It’s a great honor for him. He has played well. He deserves it. I’ve played with him the last two years, and he has impressed me more and more, the more I play with him. He’s one of those guys who gets himself in tight situations and somehow finds a way out. He’s definitely been fun to watch and play with.”

Question: His nomination, is that another step in the development of this team, in terms of getting players recognized for individual awards?

BROWN: “We’re starting to — I don’t want to maybe put this title on him — but we’re starting to get some superstars maybe to play here in L.A., and that’s a result of good drafting and keeping them here. Drew, Kopi, they’re starting to get recognized around the league as elite players, and rightfully so. That’s a credit to drafting well, by the organization, and the players that are here. What we’re starting to build here, it’s very productive.”