Veteran defenceman Drew Doughty will not receive a contract extension from the Los Angeles Kings this summer, general manager Ken Holland announced during a media availability on Friday at the NHL Draft.
The 36-year-old native of London, Ont., has spent his entire 18-year NHL career in Los Angeles, helping them win two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 as well as capturing the Norris Trophy in 2026.
Doughty is entering the final season of an eight-year, $88 million contract that features an average annual value of $11 million.
Holland said Friday the plan is for Doughty to play out next season before meeting at the end of the 2026-27 campaign to discuss a possible future together.
“He loves it here, he wants to be here and we both agreed that let’s see where he’s at, let’s see where the team is at a year from now,” Holland said. “His desire is to finish as an LA King and only put on one team’s jersey. Certainly that’s something that I’d like to have happen but let’s see where he’s at and let’s see where we’re at.”
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joined TSN 1050’s First Up on Monday morning and said there would be a trade market for Doughty if it gets to that point next season, adding the decision would likely be Doughty’s to make.
“Here’s a player where Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings are going to want to do right by Drew Doughty,” said Dreger. “He is a legacy player. Legacy guy for the Los Angeles Kings, so ultimately I think it’s going to be up to him.”
Holland also made it clear Doughty has earned the right to decide what his hockey future will look like.
“Nothing is going to happen with Drew unless he and I sit down at some point in time and we both decide that something needs to happen. He’s one of the great LA Kings. He’s earned the right to have a lot of say in what happens,” explained Holland. “I’m going to work with Drew. He’s not worried about an extension, I’m not worried about an extension. Let’s just get more information about where things are at before we talk about going forward after the 26-27 season.”
Doughty scored five goals and 18 assists over 72 games with the Kings in 2025-26, but was unable to record a point in four playoff games as the Kings were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round.
An Olympic gold medalist in 2010 and 2014, Doughty was named to Team Canada for Milano Cortina 2026, producing one assist over six games as the Canadians settled for silver.
Selected second overall by the Kings in the 2008 NHL Draft, Doughty has tallied 165 goals and 544 assists over 1,279 games with the Kings.
He has 19 goals and 42 assists over 105 playoff games.
