Here’s the second half of Don’s interview with Drew Doughty…

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Question: What has been your favorite NHL team growing up?

Doughty: It’s kind of weird, but my favorite team growing up was the L.A. Kings because my favorite player was Wayne Gretzky, and pretty much any team he went to was my favorite team. When I was really young he was on the Kings and he was there through most of those years of watching hockey as a young kid. I even still have an L.A. Kings phone in my room.

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Question: Okay quiz time: Can you name some of Gretzky’s linemates or teammates when he was on the Kings?

Doughty: I don’t know if I could name any linemates, but I can remember my favorite goalie was Kelly Hrudey. I’m pretty sure Jari Kurri was there right?

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Question: Definitely – we were “Edmonton West” out here for a while. Do you still follow the Kings these days?

Doughty: I do, somewhat. I obviously see where they are in the standings and I watched them quite a bit at the beginning of the year because I know Bernier pretty well and I watched a bit early on when he was playing. I guess you could say I kind of follow them.

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Question: If you could select any team in the NHL to take you come draft day, who would it be?

Doughty: Right now I would honestly have to say that it would be L.A. because I see where they are in the standings and I know obviously it is a great place to play and everyone loves it there, I mean it is kind of different there, you get to show up to the rink in shorts and a t-shirt and that would be awesome. And with them being low in the standings I would hope that I could maybe get into their system quicker than maybe a team that is higher up in the standings. It would just be a great place to go and a great fit.

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Question: You ever been out to California?

Doughty: I haven’t been out there yet, but I’ve definitely heard some great things about it, and I watch all the shows on TV that are out that way and I know it would be great to live there.

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Question: Have you talked to any Kings’ scouts or personnel?

Doughty: I’ve talked to Mike Futa (Kings’ Co-Director of Amateur Scouting) quite a few times and I’ve even talked to Lombardi a couple of times as well. So I’ve met them a couple of times, just great people and it was really great to meet them and kind of a getting-to-know-you basis.

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Question: Can you let us behind the curtain a little and tell us what you talked about?

Doughty: It really wasn’t too much about the draft or anything like that; it was just more of an informal conversation, getting to know each other. Mr. Lombardi asked me some questions about how I thought I played in the game, and how I thought season was going. Nothing too important; just nice conversation.

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Question: Do you feel right now that your game is NHL-ready?

Doughty: I’m not sure, it’s kind of hard to say just because I haven’t played at that level or anything, but I would hope to think that it is. I think I’m pretty mature and I think the strength in my game shows out there. I would hope that I could play in the NHL as soon as I can. I felt I did a fairly good job at the World Juniors, and while it is not exactly the same level it is still very close.