The Los Angeles Kings are returning from a road trip through Canada that has left them somewhat bruised and battered. With a 3-2-1 record, the team has endured injuries, blowout losses, and a dip in form from some of the depth forwards.
There was fitting news yesterday that at least one fresh troop could be returning from the infirmary for the new year, and the second half soon.
Dwight King has been cleared to practice with the Kings.
Although King will not be back until likely early January, the mere inclusion of him in the lineup is a boost to a Kings squad that has altogether lacked middle ground, bottom six scoring. The 26 year old often gets criticized by some Kings faithful for his low flash, seemingly low production game. However, Dwight King is the quintessential third line forward who compliments a top six very well. What have the Kings lack this year in the forward group? Just that.
If you do not think Kings would be a help to the lineup this year, take a look at his scoring rates over the past few seasons.
In 2013-14, he played 77 games and ranked 8th in points per 60 with a 1.55, 6th in goals per 60 with a 0.78.
The following year he ranked 9th on the team in points per 60 with a 1.34 and 7th on the team with a 0.67 goals per 60.
This season, if you want to predict consistency with Dwight King getting third line minutes and producing the same kind of numbers, he would rank 6th on the team in both point and goal pace. The goal pace would nearly be top five worthy at the moment.
The Kings forward group suffers from a precipitous drop off in scoring rates in all-situations after you get outside of the top five or six forwards. Take a look via stats.hockeyanalysis.com:
That dip this year is far steeper than prior years. Let's visualize it shall we?
That is the scoring rates of the Kings 12 highest scoring forwards from each season dating back to 2012-13. The dip from the gold line, representing 2015-16, comes right in area of the 6th, 7th, and 8th forwards. AKA, right where Dwight King would be filling in historically with his production.
The other thing the Meadow Lake, Ontario native provides outside of needed production is options.
So far Darryl Sutter has had an extremely limited group of players to rotate around the lineup. Penalty killing, powerplay, and top six rotations have been severely limited to a group of about six to seven players. Anze Kopitar is playing the most average penalty kill time a game compared to the last three seasons. Likewise with Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Dustin Brown, Tanner Pearson, and Trevor Lewis. Some of these guys are playing almost 20-30 seconds more on the penalty kill per game than the previous two years. Adding Kings to the mix will help lessen the impact that shorthanded time will have on some of the Kings more regular forwards.
He can also fill in on the powerplay to give another net front option to the Kings. He can also do spot duty on the top six, particularly on the second line left wing, if someone is either A) not playing well, or B) is being over shifted due to special teams play.
In a whole, depth will be increased on the roster. This has always been a staple of Kings hockey. Balanced scoring with players who can chip in from everywhere at anytime. This season, as represented in the graph above, has been pretty much top six or not at all in terms of scoring. While a bit of a feeling out period will be expected for Kings, who was injured in the last game of preseason, his presence should almost immediately be felt amongst the Kings forward group. This season the Kings left wing group has been a bit erratic. Recently it has included Lucic, Mersch, Pearson and Trevor Lewis. However, at times it has included Dustin Brown and Jordan Nolan swapping to off wings to fill in. Another natural left wing option is going to be incredibly helpful.
While his impact on the roster is seemingly minor, it will have a trickle down effect on numerous things. Especially, and this might be the biggest thing, if he can come back and score at a rate that is similar to what he has produced in the past.
I would say that is grounds for excitement in LA Kings land. Someone else who can put the puck in the net with relative consistency! We also get more Dwight King face, which is always special. Hopefully all goes according to plan in his recovery from foot surgery, and we see him back in the lineup for L.A. in the next few weeks.
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