Deep Dive: Tyler Toffoli

The organization made a big move on Monday afternoon, acquiring forward Tyler Toffoli in exchange for a 2020 2nd round pick, Tim Schaller, prospect Tyler Madden, and a conditional fourth round pick.

The addition of Toffoli is a big boost to the team's top six as it looks to push towards securing a playoff spot in the Pacific Division. He gives the group a bonafide two-way player that has a great release and underrated playmaking abilities that should give a big boost to a forward group that has been battling injuries.
Looking at the underlying number this season, Toffoli has done a very good job at controlling the shot-share for the Kings at a rate of 57.43%. That number led all regulars on the Kings and given that L.A. is currently last in the Western Conference, it makes that number more impressive.
Toffoli's performance this season is just limited to controlling the shots while on the ice, he has come out ahead in terms of scoring chances for (57.25%) and high danger chances for (56.93%).
Including their game on Wednesday night, the L.A. Kings had a goal differential of -45 on the season. In the 58 games that Toffoli dressed for the Kings this season, he actually ended up with a +1 goal differential while on the ice, which is impressive given how many more goals the Kings have given up compared to what they have scored.
All these numbers are clear indicators that the newest Canucks winger has had a good season offensively and with a little more puck luck over the last 18 months, he would've produced a little more offensively.
His 34 points (18-16-34) this season had him third in scoring on the Kings this season and matched his point total from last season. He reached that total last season after shooting 3.5% in 5-on-5 situations and 5.8% in all situations, so it isn't surprising to see him match that production already this season even despite some unfavourable deployment.
It's fair to believe that the thinking that Toffoli will continue to produce good underlying numbers, and with a better placement in the lineup, continue to produce at a high rate. That idea is reinforced by the fact that Toffoli was lined up beside Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller for 5-on-5 play and then landing on the first powerplay unit in his first practice on Tuesday.

Both of those spots were left open, and admirably filled for a short period, since the injury of Brock Boeser and by slotting Toffoli in there, it gives the top line a shooting winger that can help in all three zones.
His history with Tanner Pearson in Los Angeles also gives the coaching staff some different options over the 23 games to find the right mix in the top six. It will be interesting to see how the deployment will shake out over the final six weeks of the season but the trickle down effect should give the Canucks more depth among their forward group and allow them make that push to make the playoffs.