Sports Prospect Miner - The Best of Darryl Houston Smith  

THE CANADIAN PRESS

2008-08-11 17:40:00

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on three-year entry-level contract with defenceman Drew Doughty, the club's first-round pick in the 2008 entry draft.

Terms of the deal, announced Monday, were not disclosed.

Doughty, 18, played in 58 regular season games this past season for Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League and recorded 13 goals and 37 assists, along with 68 penalty minutes.

In 10 playoff games, the six-foot, 219-pound blue-liner from London, Ont., had 3 goals and 6 six assists.

Doughty, chosen second overall, was one of four 2008 draft-eligible players on Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2008 world junior championships. He was named top defenceman of the tournament after recording four assists in seven games.

He recently took part in Canada's national junior team development camp in Ottawa and the Kings' annual development camp in El Segundo, Calif.

HOUSTON SMITH’S VIEW:  Although he was a fine one-way player in the OHL.  Doughty is not ready to play in the NHL.  Big concerns remain about his skating ability, an ongoing weight problem and his desire.  Needs to play smarter and is prone for prolonged funks when his offensive play struggles.   Consider him pegged for a year with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).