The problem with the Kings roster, it's very top heavy. But when it comes to the excess forwards and defenseman it's more quantity than quality. I mean you know you have issues when your best bottom six forward is currently on a 28 game goal-less streak and has 3 goals in 45 career playoff games with the club and the team as a whole got 0 goals from the 3rd and 4th lines in three playoff rounds this past season.
As of right now it looks like Frattin replaces Penner rather than strengthening the third line (which I had hoped at the time of the trade).
Kings are strong in the key positions, but man, looks like the bottom six is going to be a major major weakness again.
Before I get into addressing the bottom six, I will not stand for any Visheau badmouthing! That team sucked so much that he was actually a bright spot since he would fight anybody and actually had a good shot from the point since it was usually low and on target. The 98-99 team was such a disappointment: at least he provided some entertainment value.
As for the bottom six being lacking, I completely agree and am still banging the Richards for 3C drum.
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This allows Toffoli to remain at RW where he appeared to have chemistry with Carter. Richards instantly makes the 3rd line better and still gets used in all special teams situations. Stoll doesn't score much anyways and, while sad, Clifford and Nolan pretty much finish just as often as King and Lewis so it's not like Stoll is getting downgraded.
If Sutter feels the need to jumble lines mid-game, he can always put Richards back with Carter and he can do his usual two-competent-faceoff-guys for important draws by plugging Stoll in when needed.
I know some will say "Frattin and Carter and Toffoli are shooters and need someone that can make plays". Well, IMO, Carter can make plays and Toffoli can pass pretty well also. Won't bum me out to have three guys with lethal shots on the ice at the same time.
Stoll is good on the forecheck...much better than Fraser. The 4th lines biggest problem last season was not playing enough in the offensive zone. Having Stoll center the 4th line over Fraser would definitely improve that.
I don't know why there is such negativity for a lineup like this. Carter and Richards don't have to play together just because they are best buddies. They are great players in their own right and can carry a line as its center. We have "insane center depth", yet we have projected lineups with Fraser at a center position. If we have this center depth, we should use it instead of diluting it for an additional RW position that we do not need.
