The Los Angels Kings and Drew Doughty have agreed on an eight-year contract extension that will kick after next season.
Darren Dreger: It’s sounding like it will be around $11 million per season.
Curtis Zupke: “Can confirm $11 AAV for Doughty. Contract keeps him in a Kings jersey through the 2026-27 season. He turns 29 in December.”
LA Kings: Kings GM Rob Blake.
“Drew Doughty is one of the best defensemen in the world and we are obviously excited to have reached this point in the process in which he has committed to the Kings long-term,” said Blake on reaching an agreement. “This is great news for our organization and our fans and we will comment further once the contract has been signed and formally announced.”
Some early thoughts from the media.
Dan Rosen: “If Doughty’s new contract carries an $11 mil AAV, as reported by @DarrenDreger, it would for the time being give him the 2nd highest cap hit in the NHL for the 2019-20 season behind McDavid ($12.5 mil). Doughty has 1 year left on his current contract, AAV of $7 mil.”
Chris Johnston: “This will become the highest AAV among NHL defencemen — pending the outcome of Erik Karlsson’s next deal.”
Joe Smith: “So Drew Doughty $11 million AAV more than three million higher than this year’s Norris winner Victor Hedman ($7.875 million AAV through 2024-25). #TBLightning. Not that Doughty isn’t worth it, but Hedman may be bargain w Doughty, OEL and whatever Karlsson ends up with.”
Dmitri Filipovic: The Kings now have ~$54M in 2020-21 cap space tied up in: 38 year old Ilya Kovalchuk
36 year old Dustin Brown
36 year old Jeff Carter
36 year old Dion Phaneuf
35 year old Jonathan Quick
33 year old Anze Kopitar
33 year old Alec Martinez
31 year old Drew Doughty