Barry Trotz praises Doughty ahead of Kings-Capitals tilt

Barry Trotz stays up late.

The Washington Capitals coach - who's perhaps had an observant eye on the Western Conference heavyweight Los Angeles Kings all season long - was the latest hockey mind to weigh in on the enduring Drew Doughty-Norris Trophy debate ahead of their marquee clash Wednesday night.

And he heaped strong praise onto the Kings' workhorse.

"He's probably been the best defenseman this year in my opinion," Trotz said, according to Yahoo's Josh Cooper.

The debate, and this line of thinking, is nothing new, of course. Doughty is objectively great and universally extolled, especially by those inside the sport.

But with volume-scoring Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson having a career season offensively, it appears likely that Doughty will once again finish in the bridesmaid position.