https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...-lots-growing/
“I think (Dube) and Valimaki are the identical players in terms of where they’re at - their minutes don’t go up unless they become better players,” said Sutter who scratched Valimaki once again for Tuesday’s meaningless 4-2 loss.
“If they become better players this team becomes better. There’s a little bit of entitlement that went on here and that impacts your team in a negative way for sure. You don’t play guys more to help them get better. They have to help themselves get better based on their training, based on their preparation, based on their compete level, not just the skills that they were drafted on.”
Sutter has scratched Dube a handful of times since taking over ten weeks ago, using the second-round pick almost exclusively as a fourth liner when he is in the lineup.
“I sat him out games just based on his inconsistency in terms of when the other team has the puck,” said Sutter, whose harshest assessments have always been aimed at young players.
“If you look at the last game (Sunday) we played, Dillon played on a line with Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane against Brock Boeser. One guy had ten shots, (Boeser) and the other guy had two penalties. Lots of growing up to do.”