The Los Angeles Kings are looking for any way to climb out of this funk and the latest plan is another batch of line changes.
In the third period of Thursday's game against the Nashville Predators, head coach Todd McLellan shuffled his lines, swapping Pierre-Luc Dubois and Quinton Byfield.
This isn't the first time McLellan's gone to the blender when chasing a game, but based on Friday's morning skate, it appears that he's sticking with these changes.
This is a move I've been wanting for a while now and I'm interested to see how it plays out.
Dubois - Kopitar - Kempe:
The first thing that jumps out about this line is the size, strength and skill combo it possesses.
It already had that element with Byfield, but Dubois is a far stronger player than Byfield is at this point and gives this line a little more beef.
He's also posted some impressive playmaking metrics this season and could help Kempe get back to scoring goals for fun.
The big question for this line is how they deal with Byfield's energy and forechecking. I'm not as sold on the "Dubois is lazy" narrative, but he doesn't have the same motor as Byfield.
He's not going to cause chaos on the forecheck in the same Byfield did and that could be a problem.
Anze Kopitar is struggling a bit right now and can't provide that element, leaving Kempe to do a lot of the dirty work for that line.
Retrieving pucks might be an issue for that line, but once they get possession, look out.
They'll be impossible to dispossess in the cycle and have the skill to finish chances. Relieving Dubois of some of his defensive responsibilities will be a big help too.
He can now focus more on creating offense and being a threat with the puck. Given Kopitar and Kempe's defensive ability, the Kings shouldn't be in much trouble in their own zone either.
Two years ago, before the Kings traded for Kevin Fiala, I suggested Dubois as an option to bolster the Kings' wing group and I'll finally see if that was a good call.
There's a lot of negativity surrounding Dubois, and not without reason, but I'd be cautiously optimistic that this will have a positive impact on him and the team.
Laferriere - Byfield - Anderson-Dolan:
This line is nearly perfect in my eyes, my only change would be swapping Jaret Anderson-Dolan for Arthur Kaliyev, which might still happen.
I'm a big fan of moving Byfield back to center after we've seen him sustain quality play with production to match for a few months now.
His long-term future has always been up the middle and now is as good a time as ever to start the process of moving him back to center.
He'll get a chance to take over his own line and be the main guy. Whenever you're playing with Kopitar you are on Kopitar's line, he's the headliner, now Byfield gets to headline his own line.
His speed and size should complement Alex Laferriere's game well and Anderson-Dolan can provide some extra energy for them.
More long-term, Kaliyev should replace Anderson-Dolan, giving that line a finisher.
Byfield and Kaliyev found success together with the Ontario Reign in their first pro season together and reuniting them could bear fruit.
Byfield is, or can be, a high-end creator and Kaliyev can be a high-end goal-scorer. They seem like a natural fit.
This line will also help compensate for Kaliyev's weaknesses. He lacks a strong motor, but Byfield and Laferriere have more than enough energy to make up for Kaliyev.
The big question with this line, whether it's Kaliyev or Anderson-Dolan on the wing is going to be Byfield's handling of faceoffs and the defensive side of things.
He needs to improve in the faceoff circle quickly and he needs to prove he can handle the defensive responsibilities of playing center.
If he can, the Kings could be in business.
The thought of Byfield swinging low and picking the puck up with speed through center ice and setting up Kaliyev should excite all Kings fans.
