“Yeah, I think so. I don’t know,” Doughty said. “He might have other plans. I don’t know exactly. I don’t think he does, but I don’t know exactly. So, we’ll see what happens.”

Doughty is the Kings’ all-time leader among defensemen in points (713), goals (166), assists (547) and regular-season games (1,289), including four points (one goal, three assists) while averaging 21:02 in ice time in 10 games this season. 

He spoke to NHL.com about the state of the Kings (3-5-2), succeeding Kopitar as captain, the letter he sent to Wayne Gretzky when he was 5 years old, Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season with the Washington Capitals, and more.

The Kings got off to a slow start, losing their first six games (0-4-2). Do you take those struggles on you more when you’re the captain?

“Actually, it’s probably about the same because back when I was younger, a lot of pressure was on me to perform in all areas of the ice. I had a lot more responsibility back then, played a lot more minutes. Now, I play less minutes, don’t have power-play responsibility and stuff like that, so it’s probably about the same. Now that I’ve become captain and I don’t have the same responsibilities, I feel the shame of losing about the same, I would say.”

When Kopitar retired after last season, you said you wanted to be the next captain. So, what did it mean to you when you were given the role Sept. 16?

“It meant everything to me. I know I’m a very good leader. I know the boys in here think I’m a great leader. But it was really never something I thought I wanted until I got older, and it’s nice to get the recognition, I guess, sometimes.”

What do you think changed from not wanting the captaincy when you were younger?

“I just kind of naturally went into that role. I like doing it, but when I was younger, I was maybe too scared to do it, and then my confidence grew and I was more comfortable doing it. It just happened. I didn’t make a conscious decision to try to improve or anything. It just kind of happened.”

What did you learn from watching Brown and Kopitar as captains before you that maybe could help you with the role?

“Both of them were pretty good at not being too high or too low. ‘Kopi’ was the best at it, but ‘Brownie’ was pretty good at it too. They just kind of stayed even keeled throughout the whole season. Whether we lost five in a row or won five in a row, they didn’t change their attitudes very much. I’m a lot different than them in that sense. I’m more emotional. I’m more up and down. So, just something I’ve learned now that I’m captain is that (you need to be even keeled), and I’m trying to stay more level with my feelings.”

You were teammates with Kopitar for 18 seasons. Is it strange not having him around now?

“It was at the beginning, for sure, like very strange. I’m used to it now, but it was definitely weird at the start.”

Do you still keep in touch with him?

“Yep. Talked to him a couple times, saw him a few times this summer. Yeah, he’s someone I’ll keep in touch with my entire life.”

Speaking of former Kings captains, you posted a letter you wrote to Wayne Gretzky when you were 5 years old on Instagram a few weeks ago. How did that letter come back to you?

“My mom had it. She said the Kings were doing some documentary or something on me, something like that, so they wanted her to bring that note, and she had kept it. So, she photocopied it and brought it. Then, my mom was like, ‘Have you ever seen it?’ And I was like, ‘No, I’ve never seen it.’ I remember writing it and him sending me a picture, but I didn’t remember what I said or any of that. So, I had never read it, and I thought it was kind of cool, so I posted it.”