The LA Kings cannot score goals. They just can't.
The Kings have been shutout 3 times this season. They've scored 1 goal in 16 games. They've scored 2 goals in 11 games. They've scored 3 goals on 10 occasions.
Their season-long scoring slump has now segued into the second half of the NHL season. As a team, the Kings have scored 120 goals this season. That's 2.55 goals scored for per game. Good thing they've had great goaltending from Jonathon Quick, Martin Jones and Ben Scrivens. Kings tenders have only allowed 96 goals against in 47 games played this season. That's 2.04 goals against per game. The margin of error between winning and losing in the NHL is razor thin. That's why the Kings are caught between a rock and a hard place right now. They cannot keep relying on stellar goaltending to win games every night. At some point, Kings scorers like Kopitar, Richards, Brown, Williams have to light the lamp. The Kings have just 5 players in double-digit goal scoring right now. Carter was lost to a broken foot and missed 10 games, yet he still leads the team in goals with 16. Jason Williams has 14 goals, Anze Kopitar 13, Dustin Brown and Dwight King have 10 goals each. They get little to no secondary scoring from their forward group and they get zero tertiary scoring.
They are a defensive team that can score goals.
So, it makes perfect sense for GM Darryl Sutter to send Tyler Toffoli to AHL Manchester, right.
No. That actually happened on Tuesday afternoon. Toffoli and his 9 goals (5 GWGs) and 8 assists and +14 in just 33 games played is winging his way back to the minors.
Think about that. The kid who served yeoman's work and carried a huge chunk of the Kings' offense and goal scoring when Carter busted his foot is no win the minors. Bear in mind, Toffoli scored his 9 goals on 68 shots. The kid can rip it and loves to score.
Begs the question: Why is he being sent back to Manchester at a time when the Kings desperately need his scoring touch?
I haven't heard word one of Toffoli being a trouble maker or a malcontent in the room or on the ice. One concludes that his demotion is for something other than discipline.
Is Toffoli on the trade block?
If he is, that would explain why a Kings scout have been seen at Buffalo Sabres games in recent weeks.
Pending UFA Matt Moulson is a four time thirty goal man. He knows how to find the back of the net with frequency. Moulson also happens to be Jonathon Quick's brother-in-law. Moulson is the one that got away from LA who claimed him after Pittsburgh had no use for him after they drafted him in the 9th round ( #263 overall ) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. The Kings opted to pass on re-signing the then-free agent and he went on to play lights out with John Tavares on Long Island.
Toffoli is from nearby Scarbrough. Tim Murray knows the kid well having scouted him in his own backyard with with the Ottawa Sentors. Toffoli was a two time 50 goal scorer for the Ottawa 67s. Toffoli was a 2nd round pick of the Kings in 2010.
Toffoli is a natural center and at 6'1 200 would add size, strength and immense skill to Buffalo's lineup. He'd make an immediate impact in Buffalo would be a to two center for years to come. Whats more, Toffoli is the 15th ranked 5 on 5 forward in the NHL right now according to hockeyanalysis.com.