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Sutter on Doughty: “I just don’t think he’s good enough early in games”

Los Angeles Kings v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 26: Head coach Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 26, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Kings coach Darryl Sutter is not usually a guy to mince words. When something bothers him, he’ll tell it like it is. In Drew Doughty’s case, he’s probably wishing he played better.

Sutter tells Jon Rosen of L.A. Kings Insider he hasn’t been thrilled with Doughty’s play this season and doesn’t believe he’s pressing his play.

“I just don’t think he’s good enough early in games. That’s not pressing. We expect a lot out of him. He and his partner are on the ice for too many goals against.”

So far this year, Doughty has a plus/minus rating of -8 and with the Kings not exactly filling the net early on offensively, that deficit helps explain the team’s 3-4-2 start to the year. Doughty does have four assists this season and those four points tie him with Jeff Carter for second on the team. On the downside, there are six Kings players with five points.

It could be worse for Doughty though, Sutter could send him away to his farm to shovel cow manure to teach him a lesson.