Though some of that glaring lack of complementary scoring should be attributed to injuries (Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar, Trevor Lewis), the rest of the blame falls squarely on the configuration of L.A.’s bottom six.
Third-line center Jarret Stoll has struggled mightily to start the new season, while Mike Richards has performed nicely but found himself saddled with inferior linemates.
With players not slotted in the best position to succeed, the Kings have looked sloppy and should be considered very fortunate to sit at 6-1-2.
Rectifying this issue would emphasize the value of their forward depth and ensure stronger overall outings from here on out.
The Numbers
Stoll currently sports a club-worst Corsi percentage of 41.8.
By continually fumbling the puck and committing giveaways, he hasn’t merely stifled his unit’s offense—he’s allowed the opposition to hem the Kings in their zone. No line has spent more time defending. No line has spent more time on its heels.
Unfortunately, since hockey is such a team sport, his pitiful showings have dragged his teammates down.
Stoll’s five most frequent on-ice partners have all fared considerably better away from him:
Those with/without figures are shocking. He’s still hustling, taking the body and winning his share of faceoffs, but every other aspect of his game has taken a nosedive. He can’t make a play with the puck on his stick, whereas his coverage has been spotty at best.
His skill set isn’t one that should generate a ton of points, so his goose egg in this regard is palatable. However, he should be much stronger defensively, curtailing the other team's...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Kings
