Tanner Pearson Should Become Fixture on Los Angeles Kings' 2nd Line

Tyler Toffoli may deliver a stronger jolt of pure offense on “That '70s Line,” but Tanner Pearson holds a firmer grip on a second-line spot with the Los Angeles Kings.

As it stands, that group performed admirably in the postseason and will likely ride its momentum into 2014-15.

Head coach Darryl Sutter has never hesitated to throw his lines into the blender, though, and it’s almost certain that he’ll mix and match once more as the Kings look to stay focused and defend their championship.

Nevertheless, Pearson should earn himself a permanent role in the top six this season due to a couple of well-defined traits working in his favor.

Speed

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One of the main reasons Jeff Carter and Mike Richards appeared so out of sync in the second half of 2013-14—the latter was relegated to the fourth line and mustered only 14 points in the final 50 games—was a glaring discrepancy in pace.

With his deceptive stride and long reach, Carter routinely dashed up the ice to unleash his shot on opposing netminders. Alas, a weary Richards was continually late in reaching the point of attack.

Pearson has the wheels to not only keep up, but push the play forward:

Coming out of the 2012 draft, many scouting reports harped on Pearson's poor skating. Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus (h/t Jewels from the Crown) listed it as his primary weakness, while The Hockey News still considers him only an “average skater.”

During last season’s Stanley Cup Final, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun sang an entirely different tune:

"

Tanner Pearson has rocket fuel in his skates tonight

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 12, 2014"

The 22-year-old has obviously dedicated himself to improving that element of his game, although it seemed like he didn’t realize just how much of an asset it had become during his first cup of tea with the Kings in 2013-14.

In his first 13 games, he was hesitant, often sputtering instead of hitting full flight to put opponents on their heels. This apprehension yielded one point and a minus-one rating.

Then March 17 happened. Against the Phoenix Coyotes, he was an absolute monster, tormenting the opposition with his raw speed and tireless hustle. He suddenly understood the extent to which he can impact games with his skating.

On his second career goal, Pearson just puts his head down and barrels up the ice from his own end before blowing his bid by Mike Smith:

Including that contest, he enjoyed a 12-game stretch during which he amassed six points and a plus-three rating to close out the season. According to TimeonIce.com, his Corsi percentage rose from 53.4 to 56.1 and his on-ice shooting percentage spiked from 5.2 to 9.7.

He carried that level of play into the postseason, registering 12 points, a plus-10 rating and a 56.8 Corsi percentage in 24 games while offering the Kings a different look in the top six.

With Pearson in tow, L.A. could now legitimately run-and-gun with the more offensive-minded teams in the league.

Toffoli and Carter thrived on his contributions, as the rookie’s electrifying movement soaked up attention and freed his linemates to find quiet spaces in coverage. His insertion into the lineup in the first-round  series against San Jose changed the fabric of the team’s attack, creating both a quicker second line and unrivaled depth in the bottom six.

The Kings ultimately overcame a 3-0 series deficit by winning four straight contests.

In Game 5 of that quarterfinal matchup, Pearson races on to a loose puck near the Sharks' blue line. Against most forwards in this scenario, rock-solid defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic would merely lock up the gap and nullify any offensive potential.

Pearson, however, carries such a head of steam that he buys himself an extra split second with which he carves out a passing angle. Toffoli niftily pulls the puck back before firing it home:

In Game 7, Toffoli flips the puck to an area knowing that his linemate has the speed to get there. Pearson spins off his defender and feathers a gorgeous pass to his fellow freshman for a crucial 3-1 marker:

Throughout the entire championship run, he generated 2.44 points per 60 five-on-five minutes. As a first-year player, he ranked fourth on a Stanley Cup-winning club.

The key for Pearson will be maintaining his motor over the course of the regular season. When he’s cautious, he’s a detriment to the club. When he’s assertive, he manufactures more rush opportunities than just about anyone in L.A.

Though he would represent a good fit on any of the top three lines, he and Carter complement each other seamlessly as two thoroughbreds who must be caught before they can be stopped.

As witnessed in the playoffs, that’s a lot easier said than done.

Versatility

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Pearson isn’t just a burner. He deploys his speed within the framework of L.A.’s puck-possession game, which is fairly unique among current Kings.

He can grind in the corners and create chances off the cycle like many of his teammates—he just gets there quicker than they do. This allows Sutter’s men to really pour the pressure on in relentless fashion, leaning on the opposition until it breaks.

This goal against the Calgary Flames illustrates his grasp of the basics as he fends off a defender down low and feeds the point man:

Slava Voynov sticks to the game plan with a quick shot on net, and Jarret Stoll tips it in for the first entry in a three-goal comeback.

Unlike other Kings who effectively join the forecheck and regain the puck only to squander it shortly thereafter—Kyle Clifford, Jordan Nolan, Trevor Lewis—Pearson actually knows how to retain it, using leverage to absorb contact and separate himself from defenders.

Furthermore, he knows what to do with the biscuit, demonstrating stellar vision and hands to get his linemates involved with high-quality looks.

His knack for holding the puck in congested areas and extending plays in the offensive zone is redolent of Justin Williams’ possession game.

Against the Chicago Blackhawks, he displays his smarts and poise under fire. First, he stays just high enough above the goal line to support Carter. Then, he establishes possession and staves off the 6’3”, 221-pound Brent Seabrook with a Williams-esque swivel before finding an open Carter in the heart of Chicago's defense:

In the regular season, Pearson posted a decent minus-0.4 relative on-ice Corsi. In the playoffs, he had a remarkable coming-out party, putting up a plus-12.3 relative on-ice Corsi (third on the team).

In other words, over 60 five-on-five minutes in the spring, the Kings tallied 12.3 more shot attempts than the club average during Pearson’s shifts.

While he isn’t a great two-way presence yet, his blend of speed and board play also limits the amount of time L.A. spends in the neutral and defensive zones. This is reflected in his goals-against average per 60 five-on-five minutes. His regular-season mark of 1.91 became a team-best 1.11 in the postseason.

With Pearson on the ice, the team is in attack mode in virtually every situation.

In the second round of the playoffs, a routine icing call is negated by Pearson’s drive, as he leaves Anaheim Ducks blueliner Hampus Lindholm—a decent skater in his own right—in the dust and then sets up Toffoli for a pair of glorious looks in the slot:

A would-be defensive-zone faceoff turned into two huge chances for L.A.

He’ll cycle, he’ll muck it up along the wall, he’ll screen goaltenders, he’ll crash the net for rebounds, he’ll take a hit to make a play. He’ll do what must be done to win, and he’s consistently in the right place at the right time.

In addition to his wheels, his penchant for getting his nose dirty and keeping plays alive pairs well with Carter’s need for the puck on his stick.

Toffoli should start the year on the second line, and given his reluctance to hunker down in one-on-one battles and pay the price, Pearson’s importance as a jack-of-all-trades only grows deeper.

Sure, he’s stellar on the counterattack, but he acquits himself really nicely when the tempo decelerates a bit too.

Regardless of the game’s temperature, Pearson has the tools to succeed.

Outlook

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In all likelihood, Sutter will enter the 2014-15 campaign with That '70s Line intact.

Toffoli is very much a hot-and-cold finisher, though. When he's snakebitten, he doesn't provide the three-zone acumen that would cinch a top-six role.

Pearson fares better in this department. In fact, he was perceived by the coaching staff as such a reliable forward that he stayed put while Toffoli was demoted and sheltered in critical moments of the Stanley Cup Final.

With the soon-to-be sophomore by Carter's side, the Kings are stacked and incredibly varied up front: Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik can dominate with possession and talent, the second line can wheel and deal without significant defensive pitfalls, and Richards and Williams can unleash their grit and cageyness on overmatched bottom-sixers.

This team, as configured above, would be a matchup nightmare for every squad in the NHL.

Pearson may not pile up the points—40-45 over a full season in the top six seems reasonable—but his presence on the second line alters the landscape of the forward corps, bolstering L.A.'s amalgam of pace, skill, hockey sense and grunt work.

Rather than a specialty player, the Kings have developed a staple for years to come.

Advanced statistics courtesy of Behind the Net, Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com and Hockey-Reference.com.