Great article about Drew.

[CaptHowdy00]

Is it Drew Doughty's time to win the Norris Trophy?

 

[CaptHowdy00]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-norris-trophy-debate-erik-karlsson/80230308/

And another one.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Doughty should have won a Norris at least 1 time in the last 4 years. I think it's a shame that he doesn't get the press like East Coasters do, not to mention a jacked up voting system where he got most 1st place votes but the second guy (Karlsson) got more 2nd place votes so he won it last season.

So what you're telling me is Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL because he got more less weighted votes? Huh???

My gut says he will win it this season because I think since last summer when Karlsson won the voting system went under fire a bit, then the John Scott situation (also voter driven in a screwed up system) and Doughty has sustained his high level of play for several years now. Add in that it seems every week a new "Doughty is the best defender in the NHL" article is popping up and it's coming to the forefront.

I miss the days of guys like Chelios and Bourque winning the Norris, when it truly defined "two way defenseman" instead of glorified forwards like Karlsson and Subban (Karlsson for example didn't play on the PK last season much, if at all, because his coach didn't trust him in defensive situations. His zone starts were also heavily favored in the OZ and he played a lot of shielded minutes).

Doughty does it all, has the ability to put up the points (see the 59 point season) and controls a game in all 3 zones. He can play offensive, he can play defensive, he can play physical, he can play a combination of all 3. Pick your poison.

No other defender in the NHL does it as well. None.

 

[Psych3man]

Agree with all Puck said above. I would also take Duncan Keith in a split second over Karlsson or Subban.

 

[lasportzphan]

Well said, Puck. Thank you for sharing the articles.

Doughty always shows up and more importantly, he's a big game player. Plus, he wears it on his sleeve. One my favorite sports moments was his reaction after beating Chicago in 7.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Agree with all Puck said above. I would also take Duncan Keith in a split second over Karlsson or Subban.

Absolutely. He isn't overly physical or big, but he is just a smart player who makes the right plays 90% of the time. The Hawks scored big time taking him, he was a late 2nd round pick in 2002. They hit the jackpot with him.

I would say the Kings are fortunate to have a player like Doughty, but they paid the price in 2007-08 to draft 2nd overall and get him so they earned the luxury of having a game changing defender. I still look back and wonder what if Dumbo took Stamkos instead, but I never once thought he was going to - he was adamant from the get go he would take Doughty at 2nd or even 1st if they have won the Draft Lottery. Doughty was his target alll along and he didn't do very well keeping it a secret.

Championship teams are built from the net out with a strong goalie (Quick), two T2 defenders (Doughty and Voynov back then) and then strength down the middle on all 4 lines (Kopitar, Richards, Stoll and then Fraser/Lewis), Doughty was and remains a huge part of the formula and the results have spoken for themselves.

Even after Voynov has left and that other T2 defender has not yet been filled, Doughty keeps chugging along and doing excellent work. I remember some folks here screaming he got a 8 year/$56 million deal, how does that look now? Two Cups, an anchor on defense and a perennial Norris candidate. He is a steal at $7 million, it's his next contract I am worried about.

 

[Kings4OT]

I was one that was mad about the contract, mostly because of how it came about. I would agree he has more then delivered

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I was one that was mad about the contract, mostly because of how it came about. I would agree he has more then delivered

The hold out I could have done without, he missed the majority of TC including 4-5 PS games. I think he also suffered a concussion early that season, which affected his game but when Murray was fired and Sutter was hire I saw a different player in him. History shows however that player who hold out tend not to have great seasons afterwards and he was no different, his game speed and conditioning took a hit by holding out.

At least it didn't go into the season, and while that first year was rough he is underpaid by today's standards for elite Norris caliber defenders. Like I said, I am very worried about the next contract, this one is a steal.

 

[Kings4OT]

Im not that worried about the next contract, mostly because that magic window will be mostly closed so paying him will not be that big of a problem or really hurt a team in decline (most likely)

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Im not that worried about the next contract, mostly because that magic window will be mostly closed so paying him will not be that big of a problem or really hurt a team in decline (most likely)

That's the rub though, why bother paying an elite defender when you aren't a contender anymore, you know? The Kings tried to get Hossa, Richards and Kovalchuk by offering very big dollar deals during the rebuild and they all said no because of where the Kings were at that time as a team.

Doughty will be 29 years old and in his prime and what we know about him and how much he likes to win and has that drive to be competitive, I can't see him sticking around LA rebuilding and making say $9 million just so he can stay in LA vs. making $10 million somewhere else who is a contender on a 6-8 year contract. This is going to drive up his price.

The next rebuild won't be like the one we saw from 2006-2010/2011, Dumbo had to gut the team, fielded a shit team with growing prospects like Kopitar, Quick, etc. and got veterans he overpaid for to a) hit the cap floor and b) teach them how to be pros and winners.

That won't be the case next time, the Kings will be bringing kids up from the AHL on ELCs or second contracts and will kind of be stuck in limbo - not a contender, not bad enough to get top 5-10 draft picks. I can't see Doughty sticking around for that simply because of where he will be in his career; if he was 35, won a few Cups, a Norris, etc. and knew his days were winding down and he wanted to pass the torch I could see that but at age 29 he isn't done yet and will look for the money and a chance to win again. I don't see LA as that team 3-4 years from now.

Also, when his contract expires in summer 2019 barring trades/buyouts the Kings will still have Brown, Carter, Kopitar, Quick, Clifford, Gaborik, Martinez and Muzzin on contracts (total of roughly $50 million when I just eyeballed it) so giving him $8-9 million on a long term deal eats up (my guess) about 2/3 of the cap at that time.

Looking at that roster, there are only a few guys there that I think will still be productive so those will be hard contracts to move, which puts some restrictions on the money Doughty would be getting. Also something to consider, if he doesn't get what he is looking for he is gone anyway.