A veteran defenseman has taken over as captain of the Los Angeles Kings, succeeding a long-serving leader who stepped away after a decade in the role. The transition follows the retirement of the previous captain, who had held the position since the 2015-16 season and spent two decades in the NHL. The new captain brings experience and leadership from his time as an alternate captain and key defenseman for the franchise. Fans and analysts will be watching how this change shapes the team’s direction in the coming years.

Drew Doughty was named captain of the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. Doughty replaces Anze Kopitar, who retired following the 2025-26 season after 10 seasons as the Kings’ captain and a 20-year NHL ...