Doughty, Kings agree to eight-year extension

Defenseman Drew Doughty agreed to an eight-year, $88 million contract extension through the 2026-27 season to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

Los Angeles announced the deal Friday for its two-time Stanley Cup-winning cornerstone. After cracking the Kings’ roster as an 18-yearold, Doughty has been among the NHL’s top defensemen throughout a 10-year career spent entirely with the Kings.

He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 2016. As an aggressive, skilled two-way blueliner, he has been a finalist for the award in three other seasons — including 201718, when he scored a career-high 60 points while playing in all 82 games for the fourth consecutive season.

Doughty played a major role in the Kings’ Stanley Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2014, and he also has two Olympic gold medals from playing for Canada.

Top assistant Todd Reirden will take over the Stanley Cupchampion Washington Capitals, promoted to replace Barry Trotz.

Reirden, 47, coached the defensemen the past four seasons, earned a promotion to associate coach and played a substantial role in the first championship in franchise history.

“We feel that the time is right for Todd to lead our hockey club,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “Based on his coaching experience, communication abilities, his approach to the game and the respect he commands in our locker room, we feel that Todd has earned this opportunity.”

MacLellan said last week this was Reirden’s job to lose.

“He’s got history there and he’s ready to try it as a head coach, and he’s been successful with our defensemen,” he said. “I think he can handle the personalities in our room.”

Reirden was hired less than two weeks after Trotz resigned and eight days after the veteran Cup-winning coach joined the New York Islanders.

Defenseman Michal Kempny re-signed with the Capitals for $10 million over four years. Washington picked up Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline for a 2018 third-round draft pick.