Kings’ Drew Doughty to make season debut after recovering from damaged ankle

SUNRISE, Fla. – Defenseman Drew Doughty has been activated from injured reserve by the Los Angeles Kings forward of his season debut towards the Florida Panthers.

Doughty missed the primary 47 video games of the season after breaking his ankle in a preseason recreation. He’ll return to the Kings’ lineup once they face the defending Stanley Cup champions on Wednesday night time.

The 35-year-old Doughty enters his seventeenth NHL season as one of the crucial achieved defensemen of his era. He’s a four-time Norris Trophy finalist who received the award in 2016, and he’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings, who drafted him second total in 2008.

Doughty broke his ankle throughout a preseason recreation towards Vegas on Sept. 25. The harm set off one other spherical of debate concerning the extreme size of the NHL preseason. The Kings anticipated Doughty to overlook many of the common season when his harm required surgical procedure, however the defenseman returned to follow final week in a non-contact jersey.

Doughty’s recreation was nonetheless at an elite degree final season, when he recorded 15 objectives and 35 assists whereas ending second within the NHL in ice time, recording practically 26 minutes per recreation. He has 156 objectives and 513 assists 1,177 regular-season video games, together with 57 factors in 95 playoff video games.

Kings coach Jim Hiller stated Doughty might be paired with Jacob Moverare in his return.

Los Angeles (26-15-6) has misplaced two straight and 6 of eight heading into its assembly with the Panthers, however nonetheless sits third within the Pacific Division standings. Brandt Clarke has emerged because the Kings’ top-scoring defenseman in Doughty’s absence, posting a career-best 24 factors in his first full NHL season.

The Kings despatched ahead Samuel Helenius again to their AHL affiliate in Ontario to make room on the roster for Doughty.

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