Los Angeles Kings star defenseman Drew Doughty will undergo surgery to repair a fractured left ankle, the team announced Friday.
The perennial All-Star is listed as month-to-month.
Doughty, 34, sustained the injury on Wednesday night in the Kings’ 3-2 preseason win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
Doughty won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2015-16 and helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.
The injury occurred in the first period when he was competing with the Golden Knights’ Tanner Pearson. Doughty tried to play the puck when his left leg slammed into the boards. He eventually was helped off the ice.
Doughty was seen on Thursday at Los Angeles’ practice facility in El Segundo, Calif., in a protective boot and using a knee scooter, according to multiple media reports.
“Can’t do anything about it now,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “We know Drew is going to do everything in his power to be back as early as he can be, and (we’re) just going to have to play without him for the time being.”
Doughty is regularly among the league’s leaders in minutes per game, and that was the case last season. He was second at 25 minutes, 48 seconds to the Washington Capitals’ John Carlson (25:54). Doughty also led Los Angeles defensemen in scoring (15 goals and 35 assists in 82 games).
The London, Ontario, native is entering his 17th NHL season after being selected second overall in the 2008 draft. He has 156 goals, 513 assists and a plus-60 plus-minus in 1,177 career games
–Field Level Media
