Los Angeles Kings: Tyler Toffoli Should Be Playing Every Night

By Jonathan Katje
LA Kings Tyler Toffoli
Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Kings made the wise decision to call up 2010 second round pick Tyler Toffoli from the AHL. What they have done sincethen makes less sense, as it took three games for Toffoli to get a chance to play, and the Kings sat him out of two games last week before letting him play again Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being with the Kings since Mar. 10, Toffoli has only played in four games. He has scored goals in two of those games and has three points. With the Kings struggling to score some nights, including the two games last week that Toffoli watched from the press box, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be playing every night.

Toffoli earned the call-up thanks to the amazing season he was having in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs. In 55 games he scored 28 goals and added 20 assists, which still leaves him first among rookies. He uses his size to create scoring chances, and has been successful with every team he has played for. Toffoli’s last two seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s saw him score more than 100 goals while racking up more than 200 points. The Kings aren’t going to make it back to the playoffs if they don’t find the back of the net on a regular basis, so when a youngster like Toffoli can do that regularly they need to find a place for him in the lineup.

The Kings will try to maintain their lead over the St. Louis Blues when the two teams face off tonight in an important Western Conference showdown. If the Kings are smart, Toffoli will be in the lineup.

Jonathan Katje is an NHL senior writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JKatje or add him to you network on Google.

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like