(dramatic music)
- [Drew] I never thought when I came in this league,
oh, I'm like, I gotta play a thousand games.
I never even once thought that.
(dramatic music)
- [Drew] It's a lot of games in the league.
And, you know, it's been tough to get to a thousand games.
It's not easy.
- [Announcer] Welcome to center ice
the newest member of the 1,000 games
played fraternity, Drew Doughty.
(dramatic music)
- [Announcer] The Kings right now hold nine selections
in the first 101 picks.
Who are the LA Kings looking at?
- [Analyst] Well, I think it's almost a foregone conclusion
that they're gonna take Drew Doughty.
- [Drew] I knew from the get go,
when Tampa got the first pick,
you know, they were taking Stamkos.
So it was just between LA and Atlanta.
And I did not want to go to Atlanta.
- With the second selection,
from the Ontario Hockey League's Guelph Storm, Drew Doughty.
(people cheer)
- [Man] Interesting to note that
Drew Doughty grew up cheering
for the Los Angeles Kings.
Wayne Gretzky was his favorite player.
Obviously 99 has moved on,
but Drew Doughty wears 0 8.
- [Interviewer] Do you think you can play
in this league and have an impact right away?
- Yeah, I do.
I think that's my main focus.
I really wanna step in
and make a impact in the NHL next year.
I want to be on the LA Kings.
I always have been and it's a dream come true.
- [Bob Miller] Now here is Doughty. Doughty shoots.
He scores!
(people cheer)
(horn blares)
- Like once the guy got here,
you could tell he was ready to play.
And he came in.
I remember his first year,
by the end of the year
it was pretty clear he was gonna be a really good player
- [Announcer] Burrows through center on the left wing,
and a nice hip check there from Drew Doughty.
- The thing that stuck
out the most about Drew was how confident he was.
For, you know, an 18 year old.
He'd make mistakes like any 18 year old would do
but he would try to make the play again.
You know, he wouldn't shy away from trying to make plays.
- [Man] He came in, and he kind
of changed the face of the franchise
and direction we were goin' just by himself pretty much.
- [Nick Nickson] It's given up to Doughty,
quickly into the zone in the slot.
A shot, he scores!
(horn blares)
- [Miller] Kopitar waits, passes to Doughty, shoots.
He scores!
(horn blares)
His first of the season.
- When I was young, and I just kind of came in,
had a lot of fun.
Didn't work on my flexibility.
Didn't work on that type of stuff,
just went out there and played
and never even really wanted a leadership role at that age.
I was just happy, you know, playing games,
trying to play my best and winning hockey games.
- [Announcer] Doughty gets to it, hammers, and scores!
- [Drew] You know, now as I've evolved,
I put a lot more weight on my own shoulders.
Decide to, you know, become a better pro.
Yeah!
And grow into a leadership role with the young guys
and lead by example, both on and off.
Get in that lane!
That a boy Mo!
- I don't think he's ever changed.
I mean, he still act like he's
about 22 years old which is absolutely great.
It's honestly great just to be around him every day.
- Get outta here. Next play.
- [Brown] I always say he is just a
little kid sometimes in a good way.
- Shoot. (laughs)
- He laughs harder every day than I do every,
probably as hard I laugh maybe once
or twice a year he laughs every day.
- Oh no.
How did you see that?
Waaa waaa (laughs)
- [Matt Roy] He's always bringing the most out of everyone.
He's getting everyone excited for a game.
- Yeah!
- [Roy] He brings the enthusiasm on the ice.
- Nice pass Roysie.
- He's a fun leader to follow
and he's an awesome teammate to play with.
(hockey sticks clank)
- I almost had you back hand eh?
- [Rob Blake] You come in, you want to be able
just to fit in,
to establish yourself as a pro player.
And then you understand what it takes to win.
And now you've gotta keep that going year after year.
So that that's where that leadership evolves.
- Yes, Quicky. Yes.
- [Blake] The one common trait that's been there
from day one is his competitive nature.
(intense music)
- [Blake] Drew loves to play the game of hockey.
(intense music)
- [Miller] Oh! Hard check right there by Doughty.
- [Blake] His level of compete is against
the top players in the league.
He wants to not only go out and score a goal.
He wants to shut down those players
and he wants to be known for that.
And, you know, it's been a tremendous amount
of games that he's been able to do that.
- [Alex Faust] Malkin back to Rust,
Doughty sprawling out.
Terry drive to the net centering pass Henrique.
And how did that not get through?
Doughty got the block.
- [Mikey Anderson] He's a hall of fame player.
Being able to play with him,
is it's pretty surreal.
- [Announcer] Doughty setting, firing and they score.
- That makes it easy to play with.
And I'm fortunate that I, you know,
am able to play with him right now.
And that he likes playing with me.
- [Announcer] Has Stone coming with him.
There's Stone down the middle.
- [Drew] I still can speak as hard as I can every night.
I still love playing the game.
I love coming and winning hockey games for the team
and love playing in LA.
And it's a dream come true for me.
(dramatic music)
- [Drew] Just like went by way too quick.
I know I've been around a long time,
but it doesn't feel that way.
And it's sad to know that I think I played
like 13 years or something like that.
And just how fast it's gone by.
So I don't wanna leave this sport,
I don't wanna stop playing.
And, you know, I just love coming to the rink
and seeing the guys every day.
To my teammates, I love you guys.
All my coaches, the whole organization.
Thank you so much.
I, like I said, love you guys.
- [Blake] I told him go another thousand.
You know, it's quite a few,
but you look, I think he was able
to accomplish this at a at a fairly quick rate.
He's got a number of years in him to keep that going.
- [Announcer] Drew Doughty, takes the shot,
scores! Magic!
- [Quick] How healthy he's been and how many minutes
he's played and playoff games.
- [Nickson] In on goal Doughty, shoots, scores!
- [Quick] Olympics, all star game, like he's done extra,
you know, too, to think about that.
- [Drew] It's just sad thinking, you know,
this is gonna end one day.
I hope it's not anytime soon.
I'm so happy the way everything's worked out.
I can't thank the LA Kings organization enough.