Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty suffered a serious leg injury during a preseason game Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, with the full severity still to be determined.
A league source confirmed to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that an X-ray after the game showed an ankle fracture and that further imaging, including a CT scan, will be done Thursday or Friday to rule out further damage. There’s no time frame at this point for Doughty’s return. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff initially reported the injury details on Thursday morning.
The Kings, through a spokesperson, said only that Doughty would be evaluated by their doctors on Thursday.
Doughty was injured Wednesday night when he jammed his left leg into the boards while battling for a puck with Vegas forward Tanner Pearson in the first period of the Kings’ 3-2 preseason win over the Golden Knights.
Replays showed Doughty immediately grabbing his ankle and in clear distress. Doughty was hurt with 12:11 left in the first, after playing only four shifts.
The 34-year-old Doughty, a Norris Trophy winner in 2016 and a two-time Stanley Cup champion, played in all 82 games for the Kings last season and had 15 goals and 35 assists while averaging 25:48 of ice time.
Facing the loss of the longtime anchor of their defense, the Kings figure to lean harder on youngsters Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side. Veteran Kyle Burroughs, who played over 25 minutes on Wednesday, figures to play a larger role now after being acquired from San Jose for forward Carl Grundstrom.
Doughty has missed only one game since the 2021-22 season, when knee and wrist injuries limited him to 37 contests and kept him out of the postseason that year.
(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
