While you always think of Panarin and Kempe as being puck-dominant players, it\u2019s actually been Laferriere\u2019s ability to transport the puck that has stood out to Panarin. The way he can flip the script on a shift with his legs, helping to establish things in the offensive zone, which allows them all to get to work.<\/p>\n
Panarin leads the Kings in controlled offensive-zone entries this season, per SportLOGIQ, and that is unsurprising. Second on the team, though? Laferriere, who has done so in quantity but also at a high success rate.<\/p>\n
SportLOGIQ defines a \u201csuccessful play\u201d as the next play after the registered zone entry or zone exit, meaning does that next pass, shot or what have you work.\u00a0Laferriere ranks highly in that area among Kings skaters, at just shy of 65 percent.<\/p>\n
Equally importantly, though, has been Laferriere\u2019s ability to exit the defensive zone with possession. He ranks third among Kings forwards in successful zone exits with possession, behind only Kempe and Panarin. Among NHL players with at least 50 controlled zone exits this season, only New Jersey\u2019s Evan Rodrigues ranks higher than Laferriere, who has seen a \u201csuccessful play\u201d 91.4 percent of the time. Right behind him? Edmonton\u2019s Connor McDavid.<\/p>\n
I put those two stats together after speaking with Panarin. Often times, with Laferriere, you focus on his forechecking and his ability to get to the front of the net. To hear Panarin focus on the puck transportation, though, tells a different story, especially when you think about the player who is saying it, someone who can transport it with the best of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s a pretty powerful skater, and I like his game when he grabs the puck that low, below our goal line and then just brings it to the offensive zone,\u201d Panarin said. \u201cHe\u2019s able to find some passes, and it’s a very important detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
I think as that line continues to develop chemistry, we\u2019ll begin to see Laferriere\u2019s ability to get to the net result in even more of an offensive impact.<\/p>\n
It resulted in the goal against Boston in the most recent home game, which was a great start. His three points since have all been assists, both coming on Kempe\u2019s goals. Even on the Kings goal where he didn\u2019t get a helper, it was Laferriere\u2019s tenacity on the forecheck, a couple of players earlier, which led to Panarin\u2019s goal with just 1.2 seconds left in the period in Washington. He nearly had a goal of his own on Thursday on Long Island, but just missed a puck in front, with Panarin burying seconds later.<\/p>\n
He gets into those areas, though, which is something that encourages his linemates to shoot the puck.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe goes there a lot, I think that helps, he’s always in and around the net,\u201d Kempe said of Laferriere. \u201cYou never have to worry about being on the outside too much, he usually finds finds a way to the net one way or the other and he works on tips a lot, every day pretty much. I think that he’s become really good at it. There’s some guys that are really good at getting a touch on the puck, so obviously, you like to shoot the puck when he\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n