The Los Angeles Kings have re-signed star defenceman Drew Doughty to a whopping eight-year extension, team president general manager Rob Blake announced on Friday.
The 28-year-old Doughty had one year left on his current contract, which carries a $7 million cap hit. With news that a deal is complete, arguably the top free agent in the 2019 market is no longer available.
The 2016 Norris Trophy winner was drafted second overall by the Kings in 2008, and he's been arguably the top blueliner of the past decade. Along with his Norris Trophy, Doughty led Los Angeles to Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and helped Team Canada win gold at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Doughty is coming off the best scoring season of his career, tallying 10 goals and 60 points in 82 games. Los Angeles made the playoffs for the sixth time in eight years, but the expansion Vegas Golden Knights swept them in the opening round of the playoffs.
Doughty raised some eyebrows last year when he told Matt Larkin of The Hockey News "I want to win Cups. I don’t give a s— where I play. I just want to win Cups, and that’s the bottom line."
The Kings saw massive success with new head coach John Stevens, who replaced the strict and old school style of Darryl Sutter. Doughty admitted that Stevens was easier to approach and work with, so the latter deserves credit for helping No. 8 commit his-long term future to Los Angeles.
With Doughty and Anze Kopitar all locked up, the Kings have their championship window open for several more seasons. They've already won two championships this decade, but one more will put the things in company with the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins as 21st century dynasties.