1 Improvement Each Line Must Make for the Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have seen a number of changes to their lines in recent weeks, and more are coming. 

Marian Gaborik is healthy, but according to LAKingsInsider.com, Kyle Clifford has the flu. The site also has the latest lines from practice. 

1. Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams
2. Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli
3. Trevor Lewis, Jarret Stoll, Dustin Brown
4. Dwight King, Mike Richards, Jordan Nolan

That's right, That '70s Line is back, while the four centers find their regular spots throughout the lineup. With that in mind, this is a look at what each line needs to improve on. 

Line 1: Get the Puck to the Net

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We know this line is capable of possessing the puck and controlling the tempo. It has an elite playmaker, a goal scorer and a clutch winger in Justin Williams. The trio is capable of putting up great offensive numbers, and to do so, it needs to get more pucks to the net. 

Anze Kopitar has just two points in his past eight games, and until last game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he had more than one shot in just two of those games. With Marian Gaborik stepping back into the lineup, it should make a difference. Kopitar can be a playmaker and look to set up Gaborik in the high slot or faceoff dots. 

Meanwhile, Justin Williams needs to be aggressive in the corners and along the boards, dig for loose pucks and go hard to the net. Health will of course be a big factor. Gaborik is the only player who's had great chemistry with Kopitar this season. 

Line 2: Score

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It's simple. That '70s Line exists because it can produce offense. When it's not putting the puck in the back of the net, Darryl Sutter doesn't seem too eager to keep it together. 

Jeff Carter is one of the top snipers in the NHL, but his production has decreased greatly in the past two weeks. He's scoreless in eight games and has just one assist in that stretch. Tyler Toffoli has cooled off as well but at least has a couple of goals in his past five games. 

This young trio just needs to find a way to score, and it doesn't matter how it happens, whether it's off the rush, the cycle or by generating a turnover off the forecheck. And it does not necessarily have to be at the ridiculous pace from early in the season. An even-strength goal per game would probably be enough. 

Line 3: Control the Puck

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It's rare to see Jarret Stoll anywhere but third-line center in the Kings lineup. That's exactly where he is now, and it's where he should stay. Stoll is an excellent defensive center who is capable of shutting down many of the league's top forwards.

To do that, he and his linemates must do a better job possessing the puck. Overall, the Kings haven't been as good as they were in recent years in winning the possession battle, and that starts with faceoffs.

Stoll is winning just over 51 percent of his draws, and that's not good enough. In the past three years, he's won an average of just over 55 percent of his faceoffs. Stoll needs to get closer to that mark, while his linemates, Trevor Lewis and Dustin Brown, need to be physical on the forecheck and make smart decisions with the puck in the neutral zone. 

Nothing fancy needed here, they just need the puck. 

Line 4: Physical Forecheck

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The world’s best fourth-line center is joined by two heavyweights in Dwight King, who is 6’4”, 230 pounds, and Jordan Nolan, who is slightly smaller at 6’3”, 221 pounds.

Regardless of who is on the fourth line, it needs to be more physical and aggressive on the forecheck. With these three in particular, there is an opportunity to generate offense.

King and Nolan can pressure the defensemen and force turnovers, while Mike Richards can act as a playmaker in the offensive zone. King has shown in the past he has a decent shot and can create havoc in front of the net. He will need to start doing more of that for this line to contribute secondary scoring.