Kings Name Drew Doughty Captain After Kopitar's Retirement
The 36-year-old defenseman becomes the 15th captain in Kings history as he enters his 19th NHL season, all with Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Kings named Drew Doughty the 15th captain in franchise history Wednesday, succeeding Anze Kopitar after his retirement this summer.
Forwards Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin and defenseman Mikey Anderson will serve as alternate captains during the 2026-27 season. Doughty is the seventh defenseman to wear the captain's "C" for the Kings.
"Being named captain of an NHL team is something I'm truly honored by, and it's something I take great pride in," Doughty said. "The Kings mean everything to me. I've played my entire career here, and I want to lead this team by example, showing what it means to be a King and what it takes to win championships."
Doughty, 36, is entering his 19th NHL season, all with Los Angeles. His 1,279 games leave him 17 from tying Dustin Brown for second in Kings history and 21 from becoming the 22nd defenseman in NHL history to reach 1,300.
The Kings selected Doughty second overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. He won the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014 and the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2016. He is also the franchise's career leader in goals by a defenseman with 165.
Doughty won Olympic gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014 and earned silver at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
"Drew Doughty has earned this," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a champion who's won Stanley Cups and competed at the highest level of this game for a long time, and he's shown he can lead this team by the way he competes every day."
