Doughty not in tonight still not cleared for games
As expected, look for Doughty to sit out tonight. He likely gets back into the lineup at some point this weekend but stay tuned for a further update.
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Los Angeles Kings News
Doughty's back on the ice at #LAKings practice. He does NOT have a "no-contact" jersey on...
Sounds like Doughty is making progress and could be good-to-go this weekend. As always, stay tuned for a further update.
Drew Doughty said he doesn't expect to play tomorrow and Murray said he'll probably have a few more days of no contact.
A few more days of no contact would rule Doughty out for the next two games with a new target date set for the 29th or 30th of the month. Stay tuned, as always, for a further update.
Doughty (shoulder) skating but not ready. Terry Murray said doughty Will have workout Sunday, see doctor. Could be ready by mid to late week
Certainly good news for Doughty, the Kings and fantasy hockey owners. The team plays both Thursday and Saturday and could get their number one d-man back around then.
No surprises or changes based on the way the Kings are skating in practice today. Drew Doughty is not on the ice, but that’s not a big surprise given that Doughty can’t play until Tuesday at the earliest and isn’t yet in the 7-to-10 day timeframe for his return.
Certainly an encouraging sign for his fantasy hockey owners but Doughty likely stays sidelined at least until Tuesday. Stay tuned for a further update on his status...
Hot Streak
Kings center Anze Kopitar has notched two points in four of the team's first five games, including a goal and assist in Tuesday's 5-0 win over St. Louis.
Kopitar has been on a tear to start the season. At this point he should be considered an elite center across all fantasy hockey formats.
Terry Murray said Drew Doughty will stay in Los Angeles and will skate tomorrow, and Murray said Doughty is feeling “much better,” but there is no updated timetable on his return.
Certainly an encouraging sign for his fantasy hockey owners but Doughty likely stays sidelined for at least another week. Stay tuned for a further update on his status...
“I think the report, right after the game, is accurate. There’s going to be some time here that he’s going to need. Obviously putting him on the IR, there’s definitely seven days that are required before he can come off of it, so we’ll see where he is at the end of the seven days, with rehab and strengthening it."
No further update from coach Terry Murray. Vyacheslav Voynov will continue to take his place in the lineup.
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is expected to be out at least seven to 10 days after suffering an undisclosed upper-body injury Saturday, though General Manager Dean Lombardi said via email that the injury was not to the defenseman’s head.
Doughty left the game following a big hit by the Flyers' Zac Rinaldo. In his four games this season, Doughty registered one assist with a minus-1 rating. With a shortened training camp Doughty could be more susceptible to injury. More to come...
#LAKings say Drew Doughty has upper-body injury and is not expected to return. No elaboration. Took early hit from Zac Rinaldo.
Doughty took a charge from Zac Rinaldo earlier in the game. Stay tuned for a further update.
Line Change
Energy-wise, conditioning-wise, he’s real good. Now there’s a team thing, where it’s (about) working on our system. He missed a big part of our camp because of the contract. So there’s a great review for him, to go through the fundamental part of it.
Doughty has acclimated to the Kings' system following holding out during the preseason. At this point the offensive isn't quite there -- one assist through two games -- but it should come back with time.
Hot Streak
Kopitar was downright dominant for long stretches of the Kings’ season-opening victory over the New York Rangers, with a goal and an assist, and in Saturday’s loss to Buffalo, he scored the Kings’ two goals
Kopitar has three goals and four points over his first two games, dominating his opposition. At this rate, he could fully break out into the elite and possibly top 100 points.
“I see nothing wrong with two guys at the same level if they chose to drop the gloves,” Carlyle said. “When there’s a mismatch as far as the level of player…Dubinsky’s a pretty good player, and so is Corey Perry. If it’s a different level of player fighting a more skilled player then I look at it differently.”
Good to see coach Randy Carlyle will let Corey Perry fight at his leisure. Last season, the MVP fought twice according to HockeyFights.com; he might break that marker this season.
Line Change
Murray said Drew Doughty would be able to play a full complement of minutes in all situations
Great news for fantasy hockey owners as the more time he spends on the ice, the more opportunities he has to produce. Regardless, his totals of last season -- 11 goals, 40 points -- should be his absolute floor.
The Ducks’ “Big 3? hadn’t done much this preseason, until Tuesday. Perry scored twice and Getzlaf had the game-winner in overtime as the Ducks won their exhibition finale over Jokerit, 4-3.
Sounds like coach Randy Carlyle pondered breaking up the Big 3 in an attempt to get them going. Last season, Perry wowed hockey fans around the glob with 50 goals and 98 points. While the manner he scored those goals will be difficult to replicate, 35-40 tallies are to be expected.
Line Change
Anze Kopitar centering Dustin Penner and Justin Williams
Kopitar is flanked by 22 goals by Williams and 23 goals from Penner not to mention likely having Drew Doughty on the five man unit. Expect around 30 goals and 80 points on the season as he enjoys some alleviated pressure from second line center Mike Richards.
Line Change
Per agreement with the Hamburg team, both teams will dress 22 players. That allows the Kings to play eight defensemen and ease Drew Doughty back into the lineup. Doughty said he had been skating five days a week back home and feels ready.
Expect Doughty to take a couple shifts with the team as he gets back to NHL speed. Starting the season in Europe probably won't help him get acclimated either. Regardless, his totals of last season -- 11 goals, 40 points -- should be his absolute floor.
Line Change
Murray said that Drew Doughty will play tomorrow, and said that Slava Voynov would as well.
Doughty will be playing his first game of the preseason, interesting to see how he adapts.
The deal is for eight years and a total of $56 million ($7 million average) as first reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie. That makes Doughty the highest-paid King, ahead of Anze Kopitar’s average of $6.8 million.
Feel free to draft him as early as the second round with the understanding he may start the season slowly.
Call up / Send down
So, sent packing today for Houston were: Kris Foucault, David McIntyre, Carson McMillan, Warren Peters, Chad Rau, Jeff Taffe, Jon DiSalvatore, Jed Ortmeyer, Jarod Palmer, Tyler Cuma, Chay Genoway, Jeff Penner, Dennis Endras, Matt Hackett and Darcy Kuemper.
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