Viktor Arvidsson was a welcomed addition back into the fold during the Los Angeles Kings' most recent three-game homestand.
While he was only in two of the three contests, he was an influential player on both ends of the ice. The Kings have remained perfect while Arvidsson has been in the lineup this season, and while that is only six games, it is still a testament to the level of player and impact he has on the game.
Arvidsson's usual spot has been with Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore to form the NICE line. However, Kevin Fiala has been a significant producer on that line, and the trio has formed an imposing force for opposing teams to match up against.
That line ranks second in the entire league regarding expected goals, with lines of 400-plus minutes played together, only in the shadow of McDavid/Hyman/Nugent-Hopkins. At 500 minutes, they stand on top of the league alone.
While Arvidsson looked exceptionally well in games five and six of the playoffs last year on the top line, it runs with risk. Instead of potentially disrupting the one-and-a-half-season-long chemistry build-up of Anze Kopitar's top line, Adrian Kempe, and Quinton Byfield, Arvidsson has found a new home flanking Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Their sample data is too small currently (16.8 minutes total as of 3/24) to get a good read on the line regarding advanced analytics, but the line has fared decent to the eye and has matched what they have opposed (17 shots for 15 against).
Arvidsson is a play driver who reads the play exceptionally well and is responsible on both ends of the ice. Dubois needs a play driver on his line, as he fared well with both Kempe and Byfield this season.
He has rightfully received plenty of flak for his play this year, with all due regard. The most common linemate for Dubois has been Alex Laferriere, a rookie.
Receiving a veteran, impact winger like Arvidsson has boosted Dubois's play, as he now has a more imposing winger to play off. With the addition to the third line, Arvidsson finally gives the Kings three lines to operate and be dangerous.
While the King's power play hasn't exploded with Arvidsson back into the fold, it has been pleasantly more dangerous with him back on the top unit. Arvidsson has been a significant producer on the power play while in Los Angeles, and this is another reason why Kempe has been an excellent producer himself. Keep an eye on that top unit, for with Arvidsson back, Kempe himself could get hot on the power play down the stretch.
The Kings have maintained the 11-7 format, with Turcotte's injury still hampering their overall poor health this season.
Carl Grundstrom is getting closer, as he practiced in a red no-contact jersey on Saturday. I expect he will return to the fold after the road trip and finally return to a 12-6 configuration.
The road trip they are about to embark on will be daunting. The data will flow by the end of the road to see the true impact of the Dubois-Arvidsson pairing.
Their perfect record with Arvidsson coming in the lineup will almost certainly be wilted by the end of the trip, which will be a testament to their overall playoff capability.