During the long months spent recovering from a fractured ankle sustained during an exhibition game, veteran defenceman Drew Doughty was determined to return to the Los Angeles Kings’ lineup.
But the 35-year-old also desperately wanted to be part of the Canadian team for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The round-robin competition began Wednesday night at the Bell Centre when Canada met Sweden.
While Doughty returned to the Kings — the only team for which he has played — on Jan. 29 against Florida, it took an injury to Vegas Golden Knights’ Alex Pietrangelo for him to grab a spot as a late replacement.
The call came last Saturday afternoon, from Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper, as Doughty was preparing for his pre-game nap before that night’s game against Anaheim. According to Doughty, they spoke for five minutes before Cooper delivered the news — not only informing him he was on the team, but was needed.
“This tournament means the world to me, because I haven’t done it in so long,” Doughty said after Tuesday’s practice. “I had this in the back of my mind the whole time, but knew there was a chance I wasn’t going to be on it.”
And now that the obstacle has been overcome, Doughty is prepared for any role Cooper has in mind. Doughty has been partnering with Vegas’s Shea Theodore and understands his mandate for the competition is to be sound defensively.
“I’ll do anything. It doesn’t matter,” Doughty said.
It’s no surprise Doughty was on Canada’s radar as he continued his rehabilitation. Coincidentally, the second game after his return was against Tampa Bay, coached by Cooper. After playing 23:51 against the Panthers, Doughty logged 27:43 the following night, against the Lightning. Cooper undoubtedly was impressed, probably sharing the information with Team Canada’s management.
“We knew from the onset from when Drew got hurt that he would do everything possible to get to play for L.A. and be a part of this tournament,” Team Canada GM Don Sweeney said. “The road wasn’t very long for him in returning to play and how many games he could play. We made sure we watched every inch of ice Drew took once he came back and realize where he was at. We had a front-row seat.
“It shows you the competitor that he is. He has won at every level and will bring a calming effect and energy. It was hard to keep him off the team. Ideally, he would have made the team from the outset.”
Selected second overall by the Kings in 2008, and now famous for the omnipresent grin — minus a couple of his front teeth — that has become his trademark, Doughty has accomplished nearly everything in 17 NHL seasons. A four-time Norris Trophy finalist, he was named the league’s top defenceman in 2016. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Doughty has represented Canada at the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympics, competed in the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, won gold at the ‘08 world juniors and silver the following year at the world championship.
He has scored 156 goals and 670 points in 1,183 games, including the Kings’ 6-3 home-ice victory against the Canadiens on Feb. 5. Last Saturday, against the Ducks, Doughty was on the ice for slightly more than 31 minutes. He has played six games since his return, scoring a goal and assist.
“I think a lot of people have me written off with my game,” said the native of London, Ont. “I want to show them they’re wrong. I just want to represent my country. I haven’t done it in so long. There’s nothing like playing with the best players in the world.”
Doughty admitted the months convalescing weren’t easy, noting that trying to return from an injury is “brutal,” the routine being repetitive, lonely and boring. But he persevered, knowing the end result would be worthwhile. And now it has come to fruition.
“I was nervous to make this team,” he said. “I really wanted to make it. I was nervous when I came back from my injury, that’s for sure. It was probably the first time I’ve been nervous since 2010 to be honest.
“I haven’t accomplished a lot in the last, I don’t know, how many years,” added Doughty, who is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. “I haven’t won a playoff round since we won the (2014) Cup, I believe. I’m a competitor. I want to be playing in big games, Stanley Cup finals. And I want to resurrect my career a little bit.”