There is no question that Kevin Fiala has had a disappointing first half of the season with the Los Angeles Kings. Through 44 games, he is on pace with a typical season in terms of goals with 15 already but is well behind in assists, with only 11, and is on pace for his first season with a negative +/- as it currently is at -9.
Before the game against the Panthers, Jim Hiller shook up the lines but wasn't done there as he would make in-game changes as well. One of those was to move Kevin Fiala up to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe and they immediately got results with Kempe knocking in a goal off a shot by Fiala.
You absolutely love to see it 🤌 pic.twitter.com/pRsbeRzvgu
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 23, 2025
Last season, the line of Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe didn't play much but during the 2022-23 season played over 275 minutes. The results were average at best with a xGoal % of 51.9% according to MoneyPuck and could have been one of the reasons they didn't play together much last season.
Kevin Fiala should stick on that top line for the Los Angeles Kings
On Wednesday night, while the sample size is small, the Kings got immediate returns from this line playing together.
In 4:21 of ice time, the Fiala-Kopi-Kempe line had 100% CF, 100% FF (8-0), 5-0 Scoring Chances For, 3-0 HD Chances for, and 1 goal. #GoKingsGo
— The Bannermen (@TheBannermenPod) January 23, 2025
The reason that the Kings should stick with this line is it could address two issues the team has had. The first is that this could get Kevin Fiala going to play with players like Kopitar and Kempe and not only give him more opportunities for assists but also open up more scoring chances for himself.
The other reason is that Fiala could be the long-term answer at left wing for that top line. It has been a revolving door for most of the season with players like Alex Turcotte, Quinton Byfield, and Trevor Moore all getting time at left wing. There have been flashes by all of them that they could produce in that spot but it hasn't been there consistently.
The Los Angeles Kings are set to go on a five-game road trip and Jim Hiller should stick with this line for at least the road trip to see if the production in the third period against the Florida Panthers is a sign of things to come or more of the same from the 2022-23 season.