This I really believe as with anyone else there the line is soft. Brown makes the room to let Kopi and Gabby be special and that line wasn't until Brown was added. I think Richards is going to be either the 3rd or 4th line center. And if it ends up being 4th his time here will be cut short.
I just disagree with this. Gaby/Kopi did start playing better with Brown instead of Williams, but neither guy (Brown/Williams) is a "playmaker" they are both shoot first go for the rebound.
Not that it will happen, but I would like to see someone like Pearson/Toffoli/Carter with Gaby/Kopi. When you have someone with a shot like Gaborik you want to get him the puck as much as possible. Like Carter any puck on Gaborik's stick can end up in the net.
As far as space goes, how much space would it open for Gaborik having Carter's speed/shot on the other wing? Or Pearson's speed/passing ability. Even Toffoli, where not as fast as Carter still has a good shot and leaves Carter on another line to stretch the opponents defense that much thinner.
I get that the Kings were built on running into people. Just with the influx of skill, Gaborik/Pearson/Toffoli the Kings have an opportunity to get their offense top 5 in the league. They were #1 in goals/game in last years playoffs if I remember right. You take a team with one of the best defenses/goal tending and the offense jumps from 25th last year to top 5 next year you have a powerhouse. No more losing in shoot outs to Buffalo, no more losing games in Detroit because of fluke goals. The Kings aren't trying to win every game 1-0. Offense allows you to not have to play a perfect game on defense.
The Kings should continue to stress their defense and take it as a point of pride. Even with their Jennings level defense the Kings can't keep teams like the Hawks from scoring. They need balance and can't ignore the offense.
There are other ways then running into guys to put pressure on the other teams. Remember back to the Hawks series. Game 7 Sutter had to bench his 4th line because Kane was ripping it apart. The Hawks were able to force the Kings to cut down to 3 lines. Now you go into a series, have home ice because your offense/defense are both top 5, and your offense can force the other team to shorten their bench and play their top players that much more. That will wear a team down over a 7 game series.... not to mention that Brown/Stoll are still be out crushing people.
Imagine if the Kings could put a high powered offense together like the Hawks, while still maintaining their defense. The added offensive pressure will force other teams to try and find an answer for it and get them off their games.
Edit: I'm really excited about the possibilities for the Kings this year.
Couple more things.
Pearson while not having the ability to throw crushing checks and wear down the defense. Picture Pearson against a top pairing like Doughty/Muzzin.... anyone in the Kings D zone gets the puck and ices it. Now you are making that top pairing 25+ mins a game do wind sprints trying to keep up with Pearson/Gaborik. That will take a toll. Or Pearson against a 3rd pairing D like Greene. Everyone loves wind sprints.
If the Kings can hit a 3 goals a game mark that means opponents will have to put up 4 against the Kings D to win.
