Los Angeles Kings wait left wing Dustin Penner shows fitness, competitiveness for inclusion in squad – NHL News
Los Angeles Kings’ coach, Darryl Sutter, has voiced his concerns about the fitness of their left wing, Dustin Penner, saying the player will need to exhibit that he is out of his slump and competitive before he gets a chance to rejoin their squad.
The coach was commenting on Penner’s fitness level in an answer to journalists query on the player’s chances to join their line-up before the next game against their visitors, Phoenix Coyotes, on Thursday, February 16, 2012.
"Work your (butt) off, then you get a chance to play again," Sutter said. "If you don't, you don't."
Kings have hired the player in a trade from Edmonton last year, hoping that he will provide the team with the required depth at the scoring position.
He failed his team in their expectations and has so far scored only five goals in 43 games that he has played for the side this season.
The last year proved to be equally miserable for him as he could manage only seven goals in the total of 62 games in the regular season.
His form has frustrated his team, and especially their coach, who apparently is not pleased with the level of fitness and competitiveness that the player has shown since his joining of the team.
Sutter was specifically asked about his opinion if the player, given his dismal form and fitness, was back to square one as far as his playing for the team was concerned, and he said: "When you're told to work your (butt) off, that is square one."
Penner’s professional hockey career is marked with surprising ups and downs, especially his form has been down to be insignificant at occasions before he staged a comeback to perform beyond all expectations.
The highlights of his career are the win of Stanley Cup title with the Ducks and then ending of 2009-2010 season with Edmonton with the 30-goal feat, which helped him to fetch a deal from Kings.
A year earlier he had gone through same dismal form and fitness and missed many games, which prompted Edmonton coach, Craig MacTavish, to target him with the criticism of his fitness and readiness.
"When we signed Dustin we thought he'd be a top two-line player," MacTavish had said then. "We thought the contract ($4.25 million average for five years) was a starting point for him but he views it as a finish line. I can't watch it, certainly not for
another 2½ years."
He is going through the same sluggish phase of his career, and with lack of fitness and performance, he is increasingly becoming an unlikelihood for his team, the Los Angeles Kings.
Penner has already missed about a dozen of games this season and his team is still not hopeful for his comeback to the side.
As their coach pointed out, the player will have to show he is fit and able to play a competitive game to be considered for including in the line-up.
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