Culver City Observer -

Los Angeles Kings veteran defenseman Drew Doughty was recognized for playing in his 1,000th regular-season game in a pregame ceremony versus the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

The Kings fell to the Oilers 5-2, but the highlight of the night at Crypto.com Arena was Doughty’s great accomplishment.

The Kings alternate captain became the 359th player in NHL history to reach the milestone on Jan. 27 versus the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Doughty is the first player from the 2008 draft to do so.

“It didn’t take [Doughty] long to amaze us all right from the get-go,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said in a video tribute played at the ceremony. “Needless to say, he’s been a huge part of this organization.”

Doughty’s parents, wife, sister and children all joined him on the ice where Kings president Luc Robitaille presented him with a crystal trophy on behalf of the NHL and general manager Rob Blake gave him a silver stick on behalf of the Kings organization. It was fitting that both Robitaille and Blake are former Kings greats.

When Doughty addressed the fans, as usual, he had little to say. He thanked his family, teammates, Kings organization, and the fans.

“Who else?” he said. “Edmonton, thanks for going through this. I know it sucks watching it but we’ll get out there in a sec. That’s all I got. Thank you guys and let’s get a win.” Doughty has always let his playing speak for itself.

He’s in his 14th NHL season, all with the Kings and is the fifth player in Kings history to appear in 1,000 NHL games, joining teammates Dustin Brown (1,277), Kopitar (1,177), Dave Taylor (1,111), and Robitaille (1,077).

Doughty has scored 561 points (130 goals, 431 assists) in 1,004 career regular-season games and has more points than any other defenseman in club history.

And don’t forget all of the future Hall of Fame candidate’s other achievements - raising the Stanley Cup twice with the Kings (2012, 2014), five-time NHL All-Star, Norris Trophy winner and a finalist four times as the NHL top defenseman, and won two Olympic gold medals as well as gold at the World Junior Championships and World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada.

“For a goalie, to have [Doughty] playing in front of you for the past 12, 14 years, whatever its been, its made my job a lot easier,” Kings goalie Jonathan Quick said.