Since the All-Star break, the Kings have seen the player in Pierre Luc Dubois, who was expected out of the acquisition during the offseason. Jim Fox referenced a 'points system' during the Devils game that Jim Hiller implemented directed to Dubois. The details are creatively up for pure speculation, but the affirmative is that non-point plays, just as hits, drawing penalties, which are Dubois' great features when he's going, add up to their internal point system.
The point system has been working. Dubois has 1 goal and 3 assists out of the break in five games. He was the best center iceman and overall, the best forward for the Kings in the shell-shocking defeat in Buffalo. He is still in the 14–17-minute range but has been influential in the time he's deployed.
Now another Jim Hiller adjustment: Putting Quinton Byfield on the wing next to Dubois. When Viktor Arvidsson was on the precipice of returning, the speculation was that he would flank Dubois on the wing. Upon his return, coupled with some practices prior, Arvidsson would return to his sweet spot on the NICE line.
The NICE line has carried the Kings for long stretches during the last two and a half seasons. It made complete sense, though; giving Arvidsson a try on Dubois's wing represents an option untouched to date. Arvidsson on Dubois' wing might have to be considered once Lizotte and Grundstrom return from injury. Laferriere, the long-time reigning winger of Dubois's wing, might be a victim of being exempt from waivers.
Byfield on Dubois' wing has been a thing of beauty. Byfield came out of the break firing on all cylinders and highlighted by his two-goal, three-point performance against Edmonton in the first game back. He's been one of the best wingers on the Kings team, regardless of the need to have him at center in the near future.
Byfield has been having his breakout season; in 51 games, he's registered 17 goals, 23 points, for 40 points and a +16. Putting a winger that has been this productive, with the package he represents speed, size, battle strength, has been remarkably effective for the Kings in the small sample size they have been deployed.
In the 27 minutes the trio of Laferriere-Dubois-Byfield have played together, they have a 68% xGoals %, a 3.76 xGoals for p60, 1.77 xGA p60, and a staggering 97.3 shot attempts for p60. They've put 44 shots for and 20 against, a greater than two for one margin.
They play Kings hockey exceptionally effectively. They were burned for an insufficient coverage goal against the Bruins, but without their overall play in that game, the Kings don't pick up a single point. Their goals were either low-to-high play or crashing the net. I can't think of two more Kings fabric-esque goals.
The duo of Byfield and Dubois represents a conundrum for opposing players to defend. A 6'4 center is flying into the zone with a 6'5 winger, both having the speed and physicality to beat defenders on 50/50 pucks in the corners via a chip-in, or they both can beat you one-on-one with their shiftiness and dangling ability.
For a third line in the NHL, it might represent the best that is offered. For the Kings, it represents an asset that can expose teams with a lesser level of depth that equates to Kings' hockey-type wins. Frustrating opponents by not giving time and space, handing over shift after shift so that when the opposing team gains possession, they are forced to dump and change.
These games take a mental toll on opposing players; see Connor McDavid in the recent Edmonton game and Jack Hughes in New Jersey. When the Kings are on their game, they do this better than any team in the league.
Right now, the driving force of this has been the combo of Dubois and Byfield, and they are just getting started.