Drew Doughty's return timeline: Sports injury expert doesn't rule out season-ending injury diagnosis

By Evan Bell

Modified Sep 28, 2024 04:56 GMT

In Wednesday's preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights, veteran Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty went down hard. Doughty and Golden Knights winger Tanner Pearson were chasing down a loose puck with a full head of steam.

As Doughty looked to cut an angle and make a play on the puck, he and Pearson both went crashing into the boards. Immediately, it was clear that the situation wasn't good. Doughty was on ice, clutching at his leg, ultimately making his way back to the dressing room with the help of others.

On Thursday, reports indicated that he suffered a left ankle fracture. The diagnosis was made via an x-ray, with various outlets confirming that Drew Doughty would undergo further imaging later in the day.

Dr. Harjas Grewal, who often posts about NHL injuries on X, formerly known as Twitter, explained that if Doughty only sustained the fractured ankle shown in the X-ray, he would be out six weeks. If imaging shows a torn Achilles, he would be out for a season.

"Broken ankle is minimum 6 weeks. Torn Achilles is season ending. Both diagnoses can be evaluated tonight as there’s likely an X-ray machine in the arena to evaluate the bones and the Achilles tendon can be assessed with ultrasound + physical exam (Thompson Test, see below)," he wrote on X.

The LA Kings announced on Friday that Drew Doughty will undergo surgery to repair his fractured left ankle. The team also said that he's listed as month-to-month for his recovery.

What Drew Doughty's injury means for Kings going forward

Given that the Los Angeles Kings are looking to return to the postseason after a first-round elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, if Doughty did sustain an Achilles injury, LA could be hard-pressed to fill the void.

While players like Vladislav Gavrikov and Joel Edmundson could both fill in on the team's starting line, the absence of a vocal veteran like Doughty could spell trouble.

A six-week return timeline would mean that he would miss around 15 games depending on whether he returns for the Nov. 9 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Throughout his 16-year career, 17 if you count the 2024-25 season, Drew Doughty has been a staple of the Los Angeles Kings' defensive unit.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion, five-time All-Star, and 2016 James Norris Memorial Trophy Winner has spent the entirety of his career with the Kings, appearing in 1,177 games for the franchise.

Last season, Drew Doughty had one of his best seasons, logging 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) over 82 games. The 15 goals scored by Doughty were the most he's scored in a single season since his sophomore year, where he logged 16 goals over 82 games during the 2009-10 season.