Los Angeles Kings defense hinges on Drew Doughty decision

Jon Hoven told Sirius XM that the Kings need 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 defensemen capable of moving the puck out of their zone.

Puck movement tops the wish list

Jon Hoven said on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio that Peter Laviolette wants defensemen who contribute to the offense even if the points do not always appear on the score sheet. The former emphasis on pure shutdown play has limited the transition game for years. Hoven contrasted the Kings’ approach with Joel Edmundson’s more offensive history before he arrived in Los Angeles. The club still values shot blocking and physical play, yet those traits now sit behind puck-moving ability on the priority list.

Hoven noted that most NHL teams, including Los Angeles, prefer larger players. A prototypical target would therefore measure 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 while still skating well enough to join the rush. The organization cannot replace four of its six regular defensemen at once. Only two roster spots are realistically available this summer, narrowing the focus to specific names already under contract.

Tradable contracts and the Doughty variable

Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke are considered untouchable. Cody Ceci’s contract signed last summer is viewed as difficult to move immediately, leaving the Kings likely to retain him for at least half of next season. That leaves Brian Dumoulin and Joel Edmundson as the most movable pieces on the current blue line. Hoven added that Vladislav Gavrikov could return to Los Angeles if salary-cap space opens.

The biggest unknown remains Drew Doughty. If Doughty stays, the Kings can seek a complementary puck-mover. If Doughty is traded, they must find a player who can run a second power-play unit because Clarke would be the only remaining offensive-minded option. Hoven stressed that the Doughty decision shapes every subsequent roster move.

Limited options shape the summer plan

Holland is expected to give Ceci one more year before addressing the contract through trade or buyout. That timeline pushes any major defensive reset into the 2027 offseason. The two available spots must therefore deliver immediate puck movement and size. Any signing or trade will also have to fit the defensive-first culture that has persisted since the Darryl Sutter era.

Hoven ruled out Darnell Nurse as a fit, reinforcing that the Kings are not chasing established top-pair names but rather specific skill sets within a narrow cap window. The combination of two tradable contracts and the Doughty question gives Los Angeles flexibility only if the right 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 puck-mover becomes available before July 1.