Kings Shake Up Power Play Units - And It Was Long Overdue
The Los Angeles Kings are finally making the kind of adjustment fans have been clamoring for - and frankly, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
During Monday’s practice, head coach Jim Hiller made a significant change to both of the team’s power-play units. For a while now, the Kings have been rolling with a five-forward setup on the top unit - a bold, modern approach that’s become more common around the league. But when you're sitting near the bottom of the NHL in power-play efficiency, bold starts to look a lot more like broken.
So, Hiller pivoted. And the biggest shift?
A defenseman is now manning the blueline on the top unit. That defenseman: Brandt Clarke.
Clarke Gets the Call - And It Makes Sense
This isn’t just a shake-up for the sake of shaking things up. Clarke’s earned this shot.
He leads all Kings defensemen in goals (3) and points (12), and he’s been heating up lately with three points in his last three games. He’s got the offensive instincts and puck-moving ability to quarterback a power play effectively, and he’s shown he can produce when given the opportunity.
Clarke also has something the Kings have lacked on the man advantage: a true point presence who can make plays under pressure and keep the puck moving with purpose. For too long, the Kings leaned on Adrian Kempe to play the point - a forward with plenty of offensive upside, sure, but not a natural fit for that role. Kempe’s skillset is better utilized closer to the net, not patrolling the blue line.
While it’s not yet clear who Clarke is replacing on the top unit, past patterns suggest that Andrei Kuzmenko or Quinton Byfield could be the ones shifting to the second group.
The Numbers Don’t Lie - The Power Play Needed Help
Let’s be blunt: the Kings' power play has been a problem. Heading into December, they rank in the bottom five across the league in power-play percentage.
They’ve managed just 11 goals on 78 opportunities. For context, even the Columbus Blue Jackets - who sit at the bottom of the power-play leaderboard - have nine goals on 58 tries.
That’s not the kind of company you want to keep if you're trying to contend.
The Kings have been getting chances, but the execution just hasn’t been there. Whether it’s zone entries, puck movement, or shooting decisions, the rhythm has been off. Adding Clarke to the mix could inject some much-needed structure and creativity.
Second Unit Gets a New Look Too
The shake-up didn’t stop with the top unit. The second power-play group is also keeping a defenseman on the back end - and with Drew Doughty still sidelined after suffering an injury on November 15 against Ottawa, it’s Brian Dumoulin stepping into that role.
Dumoulin might not be the flashiest name, and his power-play résumé is thin - just five career points with the man advantage, four of which came back in 2016-17 during his Pittsburgh days. But don’t let that fool you into thinking he can’t contribute.
Over the last four games, Dumoulin has quietly become the Kings’ top scorer, notching four assists. He’s showing more confidence with the puck, making smart, efficient plays, and carrying the puck with a calmness that’s been missing from this group. He may not be a long-term power-play quarterback, but right now, he’s playing well enough to earn the opportunity.
A Move That Could Make a Real Difference
These aren’t cosmetic changes - they’re strategic moves aimed at solving a real issue. The Kings have been leaving points on the table because of their power-play struggles, and in a tight Pacific Division race, those missed opportunities add up fast.
If Clarke can bring some stability and vision to the top unit, and Dumoulin continues his strong stretch of play on the second, the Kings could finally start converting on the man advantage at a clip that matches the rest of their game.
For a team with playoff aspirations and a roster built to compete now, this is the kind of mid-season adjustment that can swing a few games - and maybe even a season.
Let’s see if it sticks.