Kings Not Trading Drew Doughty, Yzerman Says
Los Angeles general manager Steve Yzerman says Drew Doughty will remain with the team, with contract extension talks yet to begin.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Hockey
Los Angeles Kings general manager Steve Yzerman said the team is not trading captain Drew Doughty, telling the defenseman directly he is not being moved. Doughty is in the final season of an eight-year, $88 million contract, and extension talks have not started.
Why it matters
Doughty is the franchise's longest-tenured player and team captain, so his future directly shapes the Kings' roster plans. With his contract expiring, the timing and terms of an extension will determine whether he finishes his career in Los Angeles.
Doughty, 36, has been paid $11 million this season under the final year of his eight-year, $88 million deal. He has produced 1 goal and 8 points in 13 games.
The players
Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman is the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, a Hall of Fame center who won multiple Stanley Cups as a player with the Detroit Red Wings.
Drew Doughty
Drew Doughty is a Los Angeles Kings defenseman and team captain who has won two Stanley Cups with the franchise and the Norris Trophy in 2015-16.
The details
Yzerman spoke to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and told Doughty directly he is not being traded. Yzerman said there is no doubt Doughty will return to the Kings next season, and that the team will find an extension at the appropriate time.
Timeline
2008 NHL Entry Draft: Los Angeles selected Doughty second overall.
2015-16 season: Doughty won the Norris Trophy.
Summer 2026: Holland and Doughty discussed Doughty's future.
November 7, 2026: Yzerman's comments were made public on SiriusXM.
Roadmap
Doughty was drafted second overall in 2008 and has spent his entire career with the Kings, making this contract decision a continuation of nearly two decades in one organization. His final contract year places the franchise at a turning point as it decides how to handle its longtime captain.
Doughty's contract expires after this season, so his status will determine whether Los Angeles keeps its captain beyond his current deal. Fantasy managers should note his limited production so far, with one goal and eight points in 13 games.
The takeaway
Yzerman's public assurance suggests the Kings intend to keep Doughty long-term, with the key variable being the terms of an extension once talks begin. Readers following the franchise should watch for news on that negotiation as the season progresses.
What happens next
Contract extension talks between the Kings and Drew Doughty have not yet started, and Doughty's current deal expires at the end of this season.
Further reading
For more on the franchise's roster moves, see Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
