Alex Pietrangelo opted out of the 23-man roster of Team Canada before the 4 Nations Face-Off took place. His reasons? Due to him dealing with an ailment, and preparing for the remainder of the regular season with the Golden Vegas Knights. Now, that was a choice, and it also became an opportunity for Drew Doughty to take charge as the defenseman of the squad.
The 35-year-old has had a rocky start to his 2024-25 campaign. Why so? If you are a passionate hockey fan, you probably already know that a fractured ankle kept him off the LA Kings roster. It took him a long time to make a return to the Kings, which he did in late January 2025. So for now, he has played only 6 regular-season games, but he wanted to make the most out of his return. By a stroke of luck, he secured a spot on Team Canada.
Doughty’s fans were thrilled to see him in the red sweater. However, Pete DeBoer couldn’t be more excited than them to have him in the squad. As reported by NHLPA, Team Canada’s assistant coach shared his thoughts on the hockey star’s homecoming, stating, “He’s willing to drop everything. Everything. There’s not many guys with that short a runway that you would consider bringing. That shows you how much we value what he brings to the table.”
Now, some might assume Doughty’s willingness to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off as desperation. But it’s just way bigger and brighter than that. For a player like the LA Kings star defenseman, he has seen it all, and even DeBoer claims him as “a throwback type player,” and even a “throwback type leader.” Popularity has never been a question for Doughty, owing to his big fanbase. But the problem?
The Canadian hockey star has a point to prove. Is it too late now? Not really, because the 4 Nations Face-Off is just the start for things to get heated up in the NHL. The moment the regular season will resume, there will be many opportunities for players like Doughty to make a mark. Given the LA Kings’ current situation, he may be the star they need to finish the season.
Pete DeBoer wasn’t the only person to point out the dedication of Doughty. When the 35-year-old made a return to the rink for practice, the LA Kings’ general manager Rob Blake read the mind of the star defenseman. Blake’s thoughts? “He was thinking about Canada, I could tell right away. They just want to be part of the next big thing. It fueled him coming back. It got pretty tense at the end.”
With experience on his side, Blake could tell right away that Doughty wanted to be a part of Team Canada. The Kings’ high chance of being in the playoffs, but as he has missed his fair share of games in the season, getting back on track is something the defenseman needs. However, was it all that easy? Doughty getting into Team Canada couldn’t have been less dramatic.
The phone call that determined Drew Doughty’s destiny
A fractured ankle kept Drew Doughty away from the LA Kings until late January. Drew Doughty missed a significant number of regular season games and had a persistent itch to return to the rink and play hockey. So moments before the final teams for the 4 Nations Face-Off were decided, there was visible frustration on the 35-year-old’s face. Why? Because this was an event he didn’t want to miss.
Before the 4 Nations Face-Off, Doughty played for Team Canada for 13 Olympic matches. The results? He won two Olympic gold medals in 2010, and 2014, in Vancouver, and Sochi, respectively. Even during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, he was a key player for his nation and contributed to winning the championship over Team Europe.
So the LA Kings defenseman’s desire to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off was valid. Doughty recalled the experience of getting into the team, stating, “It was like 1:30 in the afternoon, two o’clock. I usually nap from, like, one ‘til three. And I had a missed call from a Tampa number. Didn’t answer it. I was like, darn, that could have been Coop. And then he texted me and said, ‘It’s Coop. Call me when you can.’ Called him right away.”
This particular phone call sealed the 35-year-old’s fate with Team Canada. While there were plenty of questions for the Canadian coach Jon Cooper, he knew the call that he made was only for the best of his team. Doughty would always have been a valuable addition and a perfect replacement for Alex Pietrangelo. They have a history, as Cooper was a part of Team North America during the 2016 World Cup of hockey. So this reunion was quite emotional for both, as they will be sharing the same goal of winning the 4 Nations Face-Off now.
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