Drew Doughty out “month-to-month” with fractured angle, will undergo surgery

As announced by LA Kings PR earlier on today, defenseman Drew Doughty will be out “month-to-month” after suffering a fractured ankle in Wednesday’s preseason game in Vegas. Doughty will undergo surgery on his left ankle.

The @LAKings announced defenseman Drew Doughty will undergo surgery to repair a fractured ankle and is listed as month-to-month.

— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) September 27, 2024

There’s the official report. Expecting Doughty to have the procedure in short order and he’ll begin the process back.

Here’s what we know on Doughty’s status –

– The Kings are expecting to have Doughty back this season. The ankle injury is not expected to be a season-ending injury and Jim Hiller is planning to have Doughty back in the mix at some point.

“He’ll be back, that’s all I know, Hiller said. “I think the most important thing for me and for everybody around here is that he’ll be back, it’s just a matter of when he’ll be back. I expect him to be back.”

Hiller was not willing to speculate regarding a potential return time for Doughty to the lineup. Looking back a few seasons, Quinton Byfield was out for approximately two months with a fractured ankle, while defenseman Alex Edler was closer to three months out. Every injury is different, though, so it’s not clear exactly what Doughty’s timeline is. Any speculation beyond that is exactly that. Doughty has been pretty durable throughout his career, so we’ll see how this recovery process goes.

– Hiller indicated that the team will not revert back to the 1-3-1 to compensate for losing Doughty.

“No, that won’t affect us at all,” Hiller said of the systems. “We put a lot of time, thought and energy into making that adjustment, it wasn’t just about the defensemen, it was more about the forwards than the defensemen. I can appreciate the thought, but we’re moving forward.”

The Kings have switched into a 1-2-2 system in the neutral zone here this fall, working to integrate that system into how the team operates throughout training camp to date. The 1-3-1 was obviously a topic of conversation over the last couple of seasons and part of the team’s overall adjustments here this fall have been getting away from that system. The 1-2-2 will remain in place, despite the injury to Doughty, as the team continues to evolve the approach based on current personnel.

– Hiller expects Doughty to remain around the team throughout his injury. I’m not sure that means traveling to Quebec, but upon returning, expect to see Doughty around the rink.

“I would imagine that,” Hiller said. “It’s not something we’ve talked about yet but I would imagine [he will be]. I know Drew loves the game, Drew’s going to be around the rink as much as he can be. I’m sure he’s going to offer services, I’m sure and he’s already taken a bit of a mentorship role with with Clarkie in particular. I’m sure that’ll carry on.”

In the locker room, the Kings moved Clarke’s locker next to Doughty’s for the upcoming season. It’s the spot formerly occupied by defenseman Mikey Anderson, who learned from Doughty earlier in his career as well.

Doughty spoke at the start of training camp about that mentorship role and helping Clarke with his defensive game, as well as learning and growing as a professional. Clarke is hopeful to see that continue, even with Doughty out of action.

“I know he’s not going to be on every roadtrip, but he’s going to be around,” Clarke said. “I’m still going to see him a lot, still going to get info from him and as the months go on here, I’d love to have his input on what I’m doing, how he thinks I’m doing. I’ll definitely still be talking to him all the time, he has wisdom for days. It’s upsetting he won’t be alongside me on the ice, so I can follow his path there, but that’s how things go at the moment.”

More to come on Clarke later on today, as well as defenseman Kyle Burroughs. Those are the two blueliners who are likely expected to fill the bulk of Doughty’s minutes and role here early in the season. Two very different players and neither of them are Drew Doughty, but they are two players who are capable of taking on more than they were originally slated for.