As announced during last night’s Kings/Ducks game, defenseman Drew Doughty has been named to the Team Canada roster at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.
“That’s the reputation, that’s the pedigree, that’s the resume, all in one,” Jim Hiller said of Doughty. “To get announced for that, you’ve got to be a special player, you know what I mean, and thought so highly of by Hockey Canada, Team Canada, everything he’s accomplished so far. Awesome for him and I look forward to watching him play.”
Not all that surprising, is it?
Doughty has been lobbying for his spot over the last couple of weeks, since defenseman Alex Pietrangelo withdrew from the event. Doughty almost certainly would have been named to the roster from the start had he been healthy and playing games the entire season. He’s thought of in that group of seven defensemen but his timeline to return to the ice was unknown and where his game would be at when he eventually did come back was also a mystery.
He got the call formally just before his pre-game nap yesterday, in advance of taking on the Anaheim Ducks in the final regular-season game before the tournament. He admitted it was tough to get that nap in after hearing the news, but he got an hour or so of shut eye. Meant a lot to him and simply to get to this point was extremely rewarding.
“I think a lot of people had me written off, do have me written off, so I’m really proud to make this team,” Doughty said. “Any time you put on that jersey, it means the world to me. It means the world to me.”
Frankly, the longer it went, the more likely it was that Doughty would be selected.
If the Hockey Canada brass had another player in mind, they likely would have named him sooner after Pietrangelo’s withdrawal. That points to Doughty always being the number-one choice. Had to wait and see how his recovery process went, how his ankle held up, how he handled those first few games back. Sounds like all went according to plan there, at least from the perspective of those making the decisions.
Doughty has now played six games with the Kings, with role being no object. After a 3-in-4 heading into the break, he said he feels good. Doughty played over 31 minutes last night against Anaheim and he’s been over 23 minutes in each game he’s played to date. While there was certainly some rust in his first week, especially in the defensive zone, most have felt that Saturday’s game versus the Stars was his best since returning. Doughty has felt that his passing has been perhaps the best part of his game in coming back and the defensive side has started to come back as well after a difficult start in that area.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) February 9, 2025
In joining Team Canada, Doughty brings with him a winning pedigree on the international stage. He’s a two-time gold medal winner at the Winter Olympics (2010, 2014) and he was a part of the team that won the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. Doughty was robbed of two additional Olympics in his prime which could have seen him ascend among the most accomplished players ever on that stage. Wearing the maple leaf on his chest is a huge point of pride for Doughty and earning this spot is certainly a feather in the cap for a player who is as competitive as they come, aspiring to continue to be among the league’s best on the blueline.
“To play for Team Canada, there’s no one that’s going to not want to do that,” Doughty said. “They know I have experience and how bad I want to be there and how hard I’ll play for that crest. Happy I’m there.”
For the Kings, this is also a huge win in my opinion. The last thing Doughty needs is more rest. He needs practice time and game sharpness. His selection to this team gives him another week of practice time alongside some of the best players in the world.
Jim Hiller was inclined to agree.
“I sure would think it would be better for him to play, he’s had enough time off,” Hiller said. “He wants to play hockey and I think he needs to, he should. Everyone was going to lock the doors and leave for awhile and he’s just getting started. To keep his motor running, keep it going, he’ll get a couple days off when it’s over but he’ll join us and be in better shape and the timing. He’s going to go play against the best players in the world, so he’ll sharpen himself right up.”
While it’s unknown what Doughty’s role will be, he could get 3-4 additional games in this tournament. All positive things right now for Doughty and for the Kings, who want their top defenseman to get up to speed as quickly as possible.
For Doughty’s part, he’s really not concerned. As pointed out after the game, Doughty started the 2010 Olympics as the seventh defenseman and rose throughout the tournament into a more prominent role. At the end of the day, that’s outside of his control. He’s planning to head to Montreal, give it his best and see where that takes him.
“I’m going to go in there and whatever spot they put me in, I’m going to do my best to play in it,” Doughty said. “If I’m seventh, I’m going to try to move up the lineup just like before. I have no idea who I’ll be playing with or if I’m the seventh, I haven’t got any of that info, but I’m going to go there to play my best hockey and I think if I do that, there’s a good chance to get in the lineup.”
Will have a preview of the upcoming tournament in a couple of days, but Doughty will link up with Canada shortly. Canada opens the tournament in Montreal on Wednesday against Adrian Kempe and Team Sweden. Will get a sense soon if Doughty will play in that game or not. Much more to come on both Kempe and Doughty, as the hockey continues for those two.
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