Los Angeles Kings star defenseman Drew Doughty underwent surgery to repair his fractured left ankle on Friday and is out month to month, the team announced.
Doughty, 34, suffered the injury during a collision with Tanner Pearson in the Kings' 3-2 preseason win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sept. 25 in Las Vegas.
Doughty won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2015-16 and helped the Kings capture the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.
He is regularly among the league's leaders in minutes per game, and that was the case last season. Doughty was second at 25 minutes, 48 seconds to the Washington Capitals' John Carlson (25:54). Doughty also led Los Angeles defensemen in scoring (15 goals and 35 assists) while playing in all 82 games.
Doughty has collected 669 points (156 goals, 513 assists) in 1,177 career games since being selected by the Kings with the second overall pick of the 2008 NHL Draft.