The Los Angeles Kings are searching for answers after defenseman Drew Doughty fractured his ankle in a preseason game last week.
The timetable for his return was unknown, but it is now month-to-month.
With Doughty, unfortunately, out of action for at least a month, who will take his spot on the top pairing and on the power play?
Youngsters Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence seem to be the logical choices to replace him for the time being.
Kings’ Doughty Out of Action
Doughty fractured his ankle on a collision along the boards in last week’s 3-2 preseason win against the Vegas Golden Knights at the T-mobile Arena.
He immediately grabbed his ankle and was helped off the ice. While he will miss some significant time, he has not missed many games throughout his career. In fact, he had the longest streak of consecutive games played (460) between 2014 and 2019. Doughty was the second pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, part of two Stanley Cup teams (2012, 2014), and won the Norris Trophy in the 2015-16 season.
The void left by Doughty will likely be filled in-house by either Jordan Spence or Brandt Clarke.
They will play on the top pairing with Mikey Anderson and be placed on the top power-play unit. While the Kings may have higher expectations for Clarke, they may not want to rush him into that spot yet. Spence might get the nod as he has more NHL experience, and this will give Clarke the appropriate time to get more minutes and experience.
Clarke was the eighth pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and is considered the top offensive defenseman in the organization. For his career totals, he has two goals and six assists for eight points in 25 games. Spence was the 95th pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and has excelled at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Ontario Reign. He has four goals and 29 assists for 33 points in 101 NHL games.
Depending on how long Doughty is out, Spence and Clarke could see time on the top pairing and the power play. Both are young, but the top two young defensemen in the Kings organization.
This could test them immediately, and we will see if they are up to the challenge. It is a big chance for them to show they can handle the workload.
PHOTO: Yannick Peterhans/Imagn Images
The post Kings Defense Face Questions After Drew Doughty Injury appeared first on Los Angeles Sports Nation.