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Drew Doughty is free to take a chance or two with the puck

Drew Doughty

In this Nov. 4, 2010, photo, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty shoots the puck during an NHL hockey game against Tampa Bay Lightning in Los Angeles. Doughty has agreed to an eight-year contract with the Kings after the star defenseman skipped the first 13 days of training camp. The Kings announced the new deal with Doughty late Thursday night, Sept. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

Have to admit I laughed when I read the headline of Rich Hammond’s latest post over at LA Kings Insider: “Time for defensemen to be more active?”

Just the image of Darryl Sutter wondering if his team – the one with the worst offense in the NHL – should maybe let Drew Doughty off his leash is pretty funny.

In a related story, Sutter is wondering if his brown jacket is too flashy.

OK, that’s not really fair. Sutter actually has no problem letting Doughty push the puck; he just wants the star defenseman to use his teammates at the same time.

“Drew walks that line, of trying to do too much himself or becoming a part of it,” Sutter said. “When he’s really effective, he’s a part of it.”

Doughty has just 25 points in 54 games – not the greatest stat line for a guy that missed training camp while negotiating an eight-year, $56 million deal.