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Most underused forward in the NHL this season?

November 25, 2019, 1:35 PM ET [4 Comments]
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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on the most underutilized forwards in the NHL.

Todd Cordell

Tyler Toffoli.

The Kings control a team-leading 8.48% more of the scoring chances with Toffoli on the ice than without and his on-ice numbers are strong across the board.

Individually, he is averaging 1.06 expected goals, 2.07 points, and 10.57 scoring chances per 60 minutes of play. Each total leads Kings regulars – in some cases by fairly significant margins.

Despite his ability to create offense, and the fact the team garners better results with him out there, he ranks 6th among Kings forwards in average ice time per game at 5v5. It’s also worth noting Michael Amadio, Blake Lizotte, and Adrian Kempe are all within 50 seconds of Toffoli’s average.

Considering the team can’t score – they rank 24th in goals/60 at 5v5 – you would think Toffoli would get more ice time. Apparently not.

One might say the Kings are rebuilding and would be better off limiting Toffoli’s ice so he doesn’t score too much and hurt their chances of finishing at or near the bottom of the standings. I could get that.

But Toffoli is also a pending unrestricted free agent. You would think the Kings would put him in every situation possible to inflate his point totals and increase the return on a trade should he be dealt prior to the deadline, which seems quite likely.

Sean Maloughney

Domink Kahun was traded by the Hawks in exchange for Olli Maata. Most pundits expectied Pittsburgh had found another complimentary player to jump up with Malkin or Crosby, however, instead he has found himself away from both players and on a third line with Simon and Hornqvist. Despite averaging the lowest icetime per game of any player who has played at least 10 games (he averages just 12:29 a game), Kahun ranks 5th on the team in EVP/60 at 2.88.

Kahun has also produced all 6 of his goals at EV, placing him tied for second on the team in that category, ahead of Malkin and ahead of Crosby as well.

So far through 22 games, Kahun has handled his assignments with ease and Sullivan should reward the player with some more icetime.

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