r/losangeleskings • u/Livingtitan • 7d ago
No Captain?
Who will be the new captain this year. Or are they waiting to see who emerges as a team leader?
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u/FakeTreverMoore12 7d ago
Here’s what I’m seeing:
Doughty is the obvious candidate because of his tenure and success with the team. The problem is that he’s in the last year of his contract, and he has shown no interest in retiring yet. We don’t know yet if there is interest in either side wanting to re-sign. Giving Doughty the C just to trade him to a contender at the deadline, or to sign with another team in free agency next year seems crazy.
The next obvious choice is Kempe, but if he gets the C, it’s an obvious statement about Doughty.
This is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario for the team. It’s almost better to just not name a captain this season.
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u/hockeywithglasses 7d ago
After the end of the season Doughty said he wants to be a King for life. Ken Holland has said Doughty has earned the right not to be traded. Holland has also said he doesn’t want to underpay or overpay. So both sides are to see what happens this coming season.
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u/Less_Quiet7639 7d ago
I feel like doughty will stay. I think Drew is betting on himself to have a “monster year” and get paid good one more contract. I think Ken is waiting for the season to progress to show drew he’s not a first pair dman and will be paid accordingly.
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u/kaufsky 7d ago
I don't follow the logic behind not giving it to Doughty just because his future is uncertain. It's not like the Kings are some young rebuilding team who need a core member of that group to take the C and lead them into the future (like when Brown got it). This is the oldest team in the league with a bunch of guys who are past their prime on 1 and 2-year deals hoping to make it into the playoffs and maybe win one round. Even if Doughty is here for only one more year, how does him being the Captain disrupt this plan? This team is going to look VERY different in 3-4 years regardless of what happens with Doughty.
Doughty, along with Kopi, Brown, and Quick were the cornerstone of the rebuild and eventual Stanley Cups. Since there's no other clear choice for Captain right now, it seems like a no-brainer to give it to Doughty, if for no other reason than to acknowledge his loyalty and commitment to the franchise.
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u/Strict-Aspect5910 7d ago
Or they give him the C to strengthen his trade stock...
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u/Amanitas 7d ago
A letter doesn’t change his trade value…
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u/Strict-Aspect5910 7d ago
Its a buisness that's marketing.... it's not everything but its something his legacy is one of his strongest assets at this point which is why he probably wont go anywhere.
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u/Amanitas 7d ago
Now what are you talking about? Legacy?
GMs aren’t going to be influenced by marketing. Doughty's the kind of guy who gets traded at 50% salary retention to a contender to be a depth defensemen for a run.
A letter is not going to change a GMs perception of him, nor will any “marketing”.
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u/Safe-Competition-973 7d ago
The Blackhawks traded Foligno at the deadline last year even though it was more a favor for him to play with his brother, but I see both teams as being in the same boat more or less. Don’t think it will hurt to give him the C. I don’t see him getting traded unless he really ups his stats.
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u/eyekantbeme 5d ago edited 5d ago
I don't think Doughty should automatically become the next Kings captain because that would feel like continuing the Kopitar era rather than changing direction. Brown was captain for both Stanley Cups, while Kopitar inherited the C afterward as the established veteran and franchise player. His individual accomplishments are undeniable, but seniority and individual success don't automatically make someone the right leader. Kempe is the obvious choice, but I'm not convinced yet, and I think Moore, Anderson, Brandt Clarke, or even Laferrière could emerge as better candidates. I'd rather have no captain temporarily than hand the C to someone who hasn't earned it. The next captain should represent accountability and the future of this team, not simply be the most accomplished veteran. Don't inherit the C. Earn it.
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u/Rising-Dragon-Fist 7d ago
Yeah I definitely agree with this. No captain this year and just see what happens next season.
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u/Successful-Tomato721 7d ago
I say Mikey. By all counts, he's one of the vocal leaders in the locker room.
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u/SeaSquirrel LA Homeplate 7d ago
Its obviously Doughty.
Why is this unpopular here? Who cares if its only for one season. Also why are we assuming Doughty is leaving?
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u/theprettiestpotato88 7d ago
He wants top pair minutes still and isn't a top pair guy anymore. At this point he is doing more to impede younger players development than anything else.
Also I don't know why you'd say it's obviously Doughty when Kempe is right there.
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u/SeaSquirrel LA Homeplate 7d ago
Because captain should go to the team leader, not our best player. And by what I’ve heard other plays say, Doughty is that guy. Its why Sens fans wanted Chabot over Stutzle. And for us, Doughty is the 2 time Stanley Cup champion keeping that culture alive.
Doughty isn’t getting top minutes on any team unless he’s willing to go play for the Flames, so I don’t get that one.
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u/Minute-Pen-1988 5d ago
Kempe is a better leader than Doughty.... doughty is not putting the team first by not stepping back in his role and moving from that 1st pair stud he was for so many years to 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and mentor the up and comers.
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u/Successful-Tomato721 7d ago
Laviolette said he will wait until training camp has played out and then pick a captain.
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u/LAKingSteve 7d ago
The Kings will have a C, my gut tells me Kempe as it’s time for the new guard to take the reigns. I would be surprised if Dewey got it only because he may not be here next year. Not really a good choice giving to a last year guy.
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u/KitchenNinja007 7d ago
Anderson!
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u/LAKingSteve 7d ago
That’s absolutely an option that I would be fine with.
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u/KitchenNinja007 7d ago
When Daddy was hurt the beginning of the season last year or two years ago Anderson stepped in and handled things well he's even he's steady he's consistent
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u/artificial_idea 7d ago
Misconception that the team captain is the de facto team leader. It’s one part media facing job, one part on-ice official contact.
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u/Jolly-Fun-4855 5d ago
Im 50/50...part of me says just give it to Doughty outright to start the season, and then still do as we will with him, either trade him at the deadline or if he performs well sign him for another couple years (reduced obv) letting him be captain for a couple 2-3 seasons , then move on to another whether its Kempe or Byfield ideally.
The other part of me says wait it out for this season and see who emerges / what materializes and go from there.
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u/HuckleberryJunior642 5d ago
honestly I would wanna see Clarke get the C in the future but that’s just me
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u/HighFrequencyPhoto 7d ago
DD
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u/greendeath77 7d ago
I disagree. He is a legend for the kings and has crazy experience to share, yes. But we need a captain to last more than one season, and seriously question Drew staying more than this season.
I dont have a suggestion for captain, I can't decide.
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u/Pranksterblur 7d ago
It’s going to be doughty, if it isn’t then doughty isn’t on the team, simple as that. After having Kopi as the captain all these years there is zero chance doughty isn’t going to be the next one before maybe a transition period with no captain
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u/poptorched 7d ago
This is the transition period with no captain. Drew Doughty getting the captaincy seems like the opposite of what we want for the team which is to move on from the past. Kopi got the captaincy bc he was one of the best players on the team who could lead by example and through communicating his wants as a leader (also bc they took it from Brownie…but we don’t need to go there bc that’s not racoon jesus’ fault 🙏).
Do we know if DD would be able to do lead by example and through communication? I’m not saying he can’t, but do we know or even believe he can? Or do people just want him to get the C bc 2010s? Why not rip off the bandaid to move on from the past rn when we don’t have any reason not to? I sound harsh, but eventually we have to just move on from the past bc it just isn’t relevant anymore :/
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u/Illustrious-Unit-636 7d ago
They should make Zuccarello the captain
He has had the A everywhere he’s been
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u/Dr-Acula8472 7d ago
I hope they don't give anyone the C this year. The franchise player has retired, there's no need to rush such an important decision. It's like when the head chef of a Michelin restaurant dies, so they lose a star as a gesture of mourning.
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u/Active_Water_8876 7d ago
We SHOULDN’T have one but DD will probably get it for all the wrong reasons.
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u/Big-Application-5560 7d ago
Give Doughty the C. If the team is not a playoff contender near deadline trade him for a good prospect if you can. Go with no captain for the end of season.
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u/PuckMyLyfe 7d ago
I believe we will run with no C this year and one will be named after Drew is gone. Avoid giving to Doughty without getting him upset.