Space in an NHL locker room is tight, and the Los Angeles Kings are well aware of this. As Drew Doughty's messy contract situation continues to linger over the team, it has manifest itself in one very symbolic way: his locker stall has been given away.
Kings Give Away Drew Doughty’s Locker Stall
To a rookie, nonetheless.
Via the Los Angeles Times, rookies Viatcheslav Voynov and Thomas Hickey are making noise in camp, largely due to Doughty's absence.
Each made a solid impression in the Kings' first Staples Center exhibition Wednesday and stayed in firm contention for a roster spot.
Voynov, who was given Doughty's locker at the Kings' practice rink Wednesday morning, came to the net to poke in a loose puck during a power play and Hickey had a goal disallowed on a dubious goaltender interference call on teammate Kyle Clifford. More important than the Kings' 2-1 shootout loss in a split-squad game against the Phoenix Coyotes was that Hickey, 22, and Voynov, 21, looked poised and determined to seize their opportunity.
This is just getting more and more awkward by the day, and no matter how good these kids look in camp and preseason, replacing Drew Doughty isn’t something that just happens.
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