Los Angeles Kings Drew Doughty is out for 8 weeks with a bruised knee; Sean Walker ready for the season

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Kings defender Drew Doughty will be out for about eight weeks with a bruised right knee.

Doughty needs six weeks to recover from the first serious injury of his 14-year NHL career before he starts skating again. The Kings hope the 2016 Norris Trophy winner can return to the line-up in less than two months, Los Angeles general manager Rob Blake said on Wednesday.

Blake also announced that defender Sean Walker is out of the season after a ligament rupture in his knee. Walker was injured during the Kings’ defeat in St. Louis on Monday.

Doughty was injured in the Stars’ 3-2 win over the Kings last Friday from an illegal knee-to-knee strike from Dallas defender Jani Hakanpaa. Hakanpaa received a five-minute major and a game offense after running into Doughty while the Kings star passed the puck and tried to avoid contact.

Blake described the injury as a significant bruise on the top of Doughty’s shin, but the defender was apparently avoiding ligament damage.

Hakanpaa received no additional NHL discipline for his hit against 31-year-old Doughty, one of the NHL’s top defenders for most of his entire career in Los Angeles. Doughty got off to a strong start to the season with one goal and six assists in four games.

Doughty is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a two-time Olympic champion for Canada. He was also a role model of persistence and persistence throughout his career.

Doughty played five consecutive seasons in all 82 games from 2014-19, and he played all 56 games last year – the eighth time he has played every game of a season.

Walker had two assists in the first six games of his fourth NHL season. Blake said the Kings plan to fill the vacancies on their defensive line-up from within the organization after losing two right-handed shots in quick succession.

The Kings have lost five in a row since a season opener win against Vegas. You return to the Staples Center around Winnipeg on Thursday night.