Head coach Darryl Sutter can roll three dependable scoring lines if he so chooses, which makes him the envy of bench bosses around the league.
King is by no means a game-breaker, but the 25-year-old has proven himself as a useful complementary piece during the Kings’ recent surge to the NHL’s elite. His puck-possession and forechecking abilities are vital to the bottom six’s effectiveness, and his development hasn't yet plateaued.
Sure, general manager Dean Lombardi would prefer a bit more salary-cap latitude. CapGeek.com indicates the club is sitting $208,106 beneath the ceiling at present with a full 23-man roster.
However, keeping King in the fold at a palatable salary and term was without question the right decision.
Skill Set
Picked 109th overall in 2007, King was brought along slowly by the organization. Big forwards often require a few years to learn how to leverage their size and reach, and this was certainly the case with King.
The 6’4”, 230-pounder produced well in major junior and the AHL. When he first cracked the NHL, his frame and knack for board battles were enticing qualities.
With that said, he lacked consistency, alternating between sterling and subpar efforts in the trenches.
That changed in 2013-14, when King was consistently a solid presence in the corners, shielding the puck away from opponents and taking nearly perfect angles on the forecheck.
His possession metrics reflected that improvement, as his 58.5 Corsi percentage represented the highest mark of his career, and he also registered the first positive relative Corsi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
