Los Angeles Kings place Drew Doughty on injured reserve with concussion
The Los Angeles Kings will be without one of their star players for a while, as the team announced that it had placed defenceman Drew Doughty on the injured reserve with a concussion.
Doughty has missed the Kings’ past two road games after being hit by Erik Cole during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, 20 October. Cole collided with Doughty in the
neutral zone after Doughty had launched a pass. The Hurricanes forward did not receive a fine or suspension from the National Hockey League, as they determined that the hit had happened during regular play.
The 20-year-old native of London, Ontario has only put up a single assist in five games thus far. He remained in Los Angeles while the team embarked on a road trip last week, and has been
skating at the Kings’ training facility. He has also undergone several tests, but the team’s medical staff has not yet given him clearance to return to action.
Doughty, one of the best young defenders in the game, is coming off a solid performance in the 2009-10 season. He scored 16 goals and 43 assists for a total of 59 points last season, thus
earning him a nomination for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman. He is the second-youngest player to receive this honour, with Bobby Orr being the youngest Norris candidate in 1967, when he was just 19 years old.
In the Winter Olympics, which were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Doughty helped Team Canada earn its first gold medal since the 2002 Games. He was the youngest player on the roster,
and played a key role in Canada’s gold medal run.
The man affectionately known as 'DD' is one of the Kings’ most dependable players, and has scored 22 goals and 64 assists for 86 points in 163 career NHL games.
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