NHL Rumors: Los Angeles Kings Heading Down Jonathan Fast Path with Drew Doughty 

May Drew Doughty Observe Jonathan Fast’s Path Out of Los Angeles?

“The Mayor” Jon Hoven joined Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Saturday, July 4th, for the season finale of TFP Hotstove with Dennis Bernstein, Dave Pagnotta, and Ryan Paton. There, he was requested about Hockey-reference.com/gamers/d/doughdr01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-06_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Drew Doughty and the issues now that Hockey-reference.com/gamers/c/clarkbr02.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-05_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Brandt Clarke has signed his new five-year extension. May there be one other Hockey-reference.com/gamers/q/quickjo01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-06_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Jonathan Fast scenario playing out in Los Angeles this season?

NHLRumors.com Transcriptions

NHL Rumors: The Los Angeles Kings and Drew Doughty

Dave Pagnotta: “Now let’s speak about two guys on that blue line as we cycle again on that D Core, Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke. Clarke will get his new contract, will get it signed earlier than July 1, so good transfer. How do you see his utilization growing, and the way do you see Drew’s altering?”

John Hoven: “ I’ve stated this on the subject of Dought. I’ve stated this as many occasions as I probably can on as many reveals, podcasts, and many others. I believe the state of affairs with Drew Doughty is a really risky one. I do know all people’s making an attempt to play good publicly and saying the whole lot’s fantastic; we would like him to retire a King, and he desires to retire a King.

This can be a state of affairs that simply screams Jonathan Fast 2.0. You will have a participant who’s most likely not coming again to Los Angeles past this yr, however he desires to proceed to play and plans on enjoying for a minimum of three or 4 extra years, and there’s cash within the market that may pay him.

Drew Doughty continues to be a really serviceable defenseman. You may argue he’s not a prime pair man anymore, however put him on a second pair or a 3rd pair, restrict his minutes, the Hockey IQ is off the charts, it has been since he was a young person He’s a Hockey savant, whereas he won’t know lots about loads of different issues, he is aware of the whole lot about Hockey, and he’s the kind of man that groups wish to have, each of their locker room, i.e. Workforce Canada, not too long ago and on the market on the ice in huge moments.

Is it down to the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators for Claude Giroux?

That’s additionally a difficulty as a result of it’s good to let the reins unfastened on the subject of Brandt Clarke. Brandt Clarke ought to be the primary defenseman on this crew. He ought to be on the highest pair. He ought to be enjoying on the penalty kill, in addition to enjoying offensively on the facility play. He ought to be anchoring the highest energy play.

For those who have a look at the underlying metrics final yr, Brant Clark was the Kings greatest defenseman. Interval. There’s no argument about it. Each metric will let you know; the attention take a look at will let you know all that; all of the stats and superior numbers will let you know he made all people he performed with higher. He was their greatest defenseman, and it’s important to let him go.”

NHLRumors.com Observe: The Los Angeles Kings have seen Brant Clarke take over because the primary defenseman on the blueline. He was rewarded with a five-year extension earlier than free company. Nonetheless, questions stay about the way forward for defenseman Drew Doughty. Doughty is coming into the ultimate yr of his present contract, which pays him $11 million a season.

Kings GM Hockey-reference.com/gamers/h/hollake01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-05_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Ken Holland has said he’ll speak about an extension with Doughty after the season. This was an identical plan to the one with Jonathan Fast. Fast was then traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and later to the Vegas Golden Knights, the place he gained his third Stanley Cup.

NHL Rumors: How Will the Los Angeles Kings Replace Drew Doughty

Doughty, like Fast, is a Kings legend. The 2012 group of Hockey-reference.com/gamers/okay/kopitan01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-05_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Anze Kopitar, Hockey-reference.com/gamers/b/browndu01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=nhlrumors.com&utm_campaign=2026-07-05_hr” goal=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Dustin Brown, Doughty, and Fast will likely be talked about for bringing two Stanley Cups to Los Angeles, however it’s time for a brand new period for the Kings. However is there a situation the place they commerce him much like Fast?

Doughty desires to play for a pair extra seasons, but when Holland introduced again Doughty, it would be on one-year deals. Is that one thing Doughty desires, or is it a play to power Doughty’s hand?

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