Kings Defense Steps Up in Doughty’s Absence

After the initial heartbreak of losing Drew Doughty for upwards of 3 months wore off, the question of “How will the Kings replace Doughty?” loomed large around Los Angeles. Kings captain Anze Kopitar summed up his teams path to success perfectly:

After 11 games, not only have the Kings done a more than respectable job filling the Hall of Fame sized hole left by the departure of their legendary rearguard, but they’ve managed to replace his success at both ends of the rink.

At 5-on-5, the Kings solidly sit inside the top 10 in many key defensive analytics:

• Expected Goals Against: 6th

• Shot Attempts Percentage: 10th

• Rebound Shots Against: 6th

• High Danger Chances Against: 7th

• Takeaways: 6th

On the defensive side of the puck, the Kings are anchored by Vladislav Gavrikov, who has looked unfazed by being thrust into a first-pairing role. He currently leads all Kings skaters in average time on ice with 23:31 and all team defensemen in plus/minus with a +5. At 5-on-5, Gavrikov boasts a 58.79 CF% and a 66.25 xGF%, both tops on the team among NHL regulars. When he is on the ice (at 5-on-5), the Kings have nearly doubled their opponents in High Danger Chances (47-24).

It is important to note that some of the Kings’ forwards, namely Alex Turcotte, Philip Danault, and Trevor Moore, have been exceptional on the defensive side at 5-on-5. While the latter two are struggling to score, all three forwards have been very solid regarding suppressing scoring chances for opponents.

On the offensive end, the slack has primarily been picked up by 21-year-old Brandt Clarke, who is playing in his first entire season in the NHL. The young phenom leads LA defensemen in scoring with 11 points in as many games and is currently tied for 3rd in scoring among all NHL defensemen, trailing only Cale Makar (19), Neal Pionk (12), and Alex Pietrangelo (12). The emergence of Clarke as an impactful offensive NHL blue liner has not been a surprise, but the artistry with which he has created that offense has raised eyebrows and heart rates.

Along with Clarke’s early success, LA has received some unexpected offense from Joel Edmundson (3 goals) and Mikey Anderson (6 points), among others. In fact, the Kings have generated 8 goals from their blue line, the second-highest total among all NHL defensive units (Seattle—10).

However, this stretch hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Los Angeles. One aspect where Doughty’s absence can still be felt is their 19th-ranked penalty kill (76%). The Kings have allowed 11 power-play goals, tied for second most in the league. That number represents 30% of the goals they have allowed this season (36 total).

That being said, it is fair to say that LA’s defensive core has outperformed expectations in their star’s absence. The likely goal for them was to survive. Now, eleven games closer to Drew Doughty’s return, they’re on the cusp of thriving.