With each passing practice, more of the puzzle is revealed. Following yesterday’s discussion regarding plans to pair Artemi Panarin with center Alex Laferriere and winger Adrian Kempe, coach Jim Hiller provided more insight into his retooled LA Kings lineup on Thursday.
Below are several key takeaways from media availability on Day 2 of the team’s Olympic mini-camp being held in El Segundo. Please note: selected commentary has been slightly edited and/or paraphrased for reading purposes.
Byfield Moving to Kopitar’s Wing
For the second straight day, Byfield skated alongside Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore. When asked about the former first round pick returning to left wing, Hiller stopped short of making it permanent but made clear this is where Byfield will start off when games resume next week.
“I wouldn’t say to expect it for the rest of the season,” said LA’s bench boss. “It looks like he’s going to start there. We’ll just start there and see where things go, but I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent the way it will end up.”
Byfield’s past success alongside Kopitar factored significantly into the decision, according to Hiller.
“It has a lot of input into that. I think Q’s played some of his best hockey there too. For me, this season probably hasn’t gone quite the way we expected for a lot of people. Q may be one of them. I think this is a fresh look for him. It allows him to do less work in the defensive zone and to really get movement — skating on the forecheck. That’s what he does extremely well. He’s a centerman, we know that. He’s going to be a centerman for us for a long time; but for now, he’s going to slot in there.”
Byfield echoed the sentiment, expressing comfort with the move.
“[I’m] just starting there with Kopi and trying to see how it goes. We did that before, and there’s been some success. Hopefully we can get this going again, get back on a winning streak — that’s much needed right now — and get back in a playoff position.”
When asked if playing alongside Kopitar makes the transition easier, Byfield agreed.
“Yeah, at times this year I’ve slid over to the wing, so I’m comfortable moving back and forth. But obviously playing with Kopi, it’s pretty easy to play on his side, so it should be exciting.”
A Shutdown Role?
Hiller later shared thoughts regarding the Byfield-Kopitar-Moore line being deployed in a shutdown role against opposing top lines. That appears to be the plan, at least situationally.
“I think we’ll see some of that. I’m not going to commit a 100 percent to hard match it every time, but at home — given the circumstances and depending on the line — that would be the line we’d lean on the most. With Moore there too; he’s also been a good player that way.”
Meanwhile, Byfield acknowledged that defensive responsibility has defined much of his season, but noted the role is still being worked out.
“I feel like most of the season has been kind of a shutdown [role] for me, but I think there’s still a few days here where we can work everything out, kind of understand that a little bit more.”
Today’s Line Combinations
With Adrian Kempe and Joel Armia not yet back from the Olympics, things are still in flux. Even so, here’s how the forwards aligned at Thursday’s practice:
Panarin – Laferriere – [Malott]
Byfield – Kopitar – Moore
Kuzmenko – Turcotte – Perry
Foegele – Helenius – Ward
Hiller confirmed Kempe is going on the same line with Panarin, so Jeff Malott is just a place holder there. The big question is where Armia slots in. The third line as shown today just doesn’t have the feel of a normal line. Armia could easily slot into any of four spots at wing.
“He’ll probably be in a bottom-six role, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not going to move around,” Hiller said. “I think he’s really carved out an important role for himself wherever he’s played. He’s been on the first and fourth line this year at different times. But he’ll have an important role. He’s having a great Olympics and we’re happy for him that way too.”
Either of these options seem feasible:
Kuzmenko – Turcotte – Perry
Foegele – Helenius – Armia
or
Kuzmenko – Turcotte – Armia
Foegele – Helenius – Perry
Where Armia slots in will ultimately determine how the bottom six rounds out — and who’s left out.
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